3 Lessons from the Squid Game for Your Quarterlife Crisis
Squid Games is one of the hot TV shows this fall, and believe it or not, it conveys some important life lessons that you can use during your quarterlife crisis. This South Korean drama-thriller follows participants as they play children’s games with deathly consequences. And if you’re thinking “What in the Hunger Games is this?!” then keep reading. You never know when you can learn something new.
P.S. If you’re currently in the middle of watching Squid Games, maybe wait until the end of season 1 to read this, so there are no accidental spoilers.
1. Keep networking and building relationships.
Throughout the games, you begin to see characters forming relationships and friendships, despite the high stakes. This is a great life lesson that you should always be building and leveraging relationships in your life. If you’re feeling uncertain about your next career move, romantic life, graduate school, or any other factors that dominate your 20s, then it can be helpful to talk to core people who can support you.
Not sure who that would be in your life? Friends and family are always a good start, but you can also seek out professional and personal mentors who can help steer you in a positive direction and offer lifelong advice if you’re feeling uncertain.
2. Practice empathy.
Each player in the Squid Games is desperate in some way, shape, or form. That’s why they’re playing these games. They need the prize money at the end because life hasn’t gone their way. And while they’re competing against each other, they’re also in it together. In some of the games, they’re playing as teammates. You see certain characters forming relationships and friendships with those that they feel connected with and understood by. In the end, everyone just wants other people to understand where they’re coming from.
You can do this for others by practicing empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. While you may not be going through exactly what someone else is going through, you know that they’re likely going through something, so be kind and compassionate.
3. Play the long game.
At the end of Season 1, we see Seong Gi-Hun experiencing survivor’s guilt. Even though he won, this is a real and raw emotion that affects him well after the games are over. And that’s normal.
In life, you’re going to have success and triumphs. There’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster that comes with that, and even after you achieve your goals, you may not always feel like you think you would. You may feel uneasy, uncertain, guilty, or just a bit “gray.” You may be unsure about how to move forward. And that’s normal.
Life is about playing the long game. It’s about learning how to take on those ebbs and flows. During one of his flashbacks, the billionaire architect says, “There are no ways that watching [life] can be more fun than playing it yourself.”
That’s what you need to remember, even when you’re feeling a bit unsettled or uncertain after a certain season of your life. The challenges and disappointments you’ll face are normal, just like the excitement and pleasure. Take it all in stride and see it as part of the journey.
Final Thoughts
Never thought watching Netflix would teach you so much about life, huh? Check out Squid Games Season 1 on Netflix now and reach out to the Quarterlife Center if you need any additional support.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please call us at 1-844-QLC-TALK (1-844-752-8255) or email us here.
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