Do your Best - Always Move Forward

I’ve been reading Ganbatte! by Albert Liebermann. The book contains a lot of little anecdotes and Japanese philosophical proverbs that inspire you to do your best. Some people translate it to “good luck” but another and more fitting translation is “Do Your Best.”
It contains a handy little chart to distinguish the attitude of a Lethargic and Procrastinating Mentality vs a Ganbatte Mentality. I feel like a lot of this Japanese attitude reflects in every day life in Japan. A lot of people work so hard at their craft and overcome adversity and persevere. Which brings me to the attitude I feel about game design. So many classic games like Ghosts and Goblins and Soulsborne series are about overcoming adversity and that “git gud” attitude a lot of this really resonates with me as I continue my journey on developing Ghost Knight: A Dark Tale.

Lethargic and Procrastinating Attitude

• I don’t feel like it

• It’s not worth it

• I give up

• Maybe I’ll get Lucky

• Success is all that matters; if I’m not sure of achieving it, I won’t make a move.

• What will others think?

• The result is the most important thing.
  

Ganbatte Mentality

• I’m going to start even though I don’t feel like it

• If I don’t try it, I’ll never know if its worth it or not

• I change tack following what I’ve learned and try again.

• I’ll do my best so that lady luck is on my side.

• The most important thing is to learn from the journey.

• What will my future self think if they see me through a time machine?

• Changing myself into a wiser person by means of ganbatte is the most important thing.