Welcome to the alluring gamble of the uneven playing field—why people get hooked on chasing wins in a rigged system.
In this episode I lay down the foundation of what lands us on the playing field and ultimately why it is so irresistible. I start with these five key psychological hooks that land us on the field and ultimately keep us coming back for more:
We Like the Familiar - We’re drawn to what we know—even if it’s unfair. Familiarity feels safe, so we keep playing the same tilted game instead of imagining new rules.
Safety and Survival - Our nervous systems prioritize survival. If the uneven field offers crumbs, we cling to them rather than risk the unknown.
Our Integrated Beliefs - Internalized conditioning tells us things like “This is the way the world is.” These beliefs as well as others are the invisible scripts that keep us compliant.
Creativity and Sharing - We are curious by nature, and we tap into our divine spark by taking in our world, and expressing, creating and ultimately sharing with others. Yet, in inequity, humans gamble for visibility, potentially using our creativity gain leverage over others.Aliveness and Drama -- Aliveness a key aspect of how we feel and experience our divine spark. This can get twisted on the uneven playing field and even become intoxicating because it’s dramatic. The highs and lows, the risk and reward, mimic aliveness. It feels thrilling, even addictive.
Yes, my lovely lovelies, it seduces us because it dangles the illusion of winning against the odds. It is alluring. It is intoxicating. It is seductive. It is exhilarating. You, my lovely human, are bewitched, looking for your next fabulous high, drinking in the fantasy, calculating what you must do to win.
You are on the playing field, and it is just like a casino: where the outcome is rigged, because the house always wins. Yet, the chance of the "rare win" is what keeps you playing. You feel that intensity burning inside of you -- it is both oppressive and alluring. That my sweet human is the paradox that keeps you coming back for more, making the uneven playing field so sticky.
