--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A game is an opportunity to focus our…" description: "\"A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, ga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/jane-mcgonigal-6871_depression_a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-en_428665.png" --- # A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with… ![“A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, gameplay is the direct emotional opposite of depression.” quote by Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/jane-mcgonigal-6871_depression_a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-en_428665.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/jane-mcgonigal-6871_depression_a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-en_428665.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/jane-mcgonigal-6871_depression_a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-en_428665.png) > “A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, gameplay is the direct emotional opposite of depression.” [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Games channel energy into purposeful, optimistic activity, serving as an antidote to depression by fostering engagement and joy. **In simple terms:** Games boost optimism and purpose. Key Takeaway Play to improve mental health. Themes gaming mental health optimism engagement purpose Mood motivational hopeful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - educational apps - creative hobbies - stress relief Key Concepts flow state positive psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What activities give you a flow state? - How can you integrate gameful mindset into daily tasks? A Different Perspective Games may distract from real problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Relentless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relentless/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [“The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality and my life, as I write this, is vital even when sad. I may wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-opposite-of-depression-is-not-happiness-but-vitality-and-my-life/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [The true opposite of depression is not gaiety or absence of pain, but vitality: the freedom to experience spontaneous feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/the-true-opposite-of-depression-is-not-gaiety-or-absence-of-pain-but/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“Leon Dufour, a world-renowned Jesuit theologian and Scripture scholar, a year before he died at ninety-nine, confided in a Jesuit who was caring for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/leon-dufour-a-world-renowned-jesuit-theologian-and-scripture-scholar/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-opposite-of-depression-is-not-happiness-but-vitality-and-it-was/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I found myself losing interest in almost everything, I didn't want to do any of the things I had previously wanted to do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-found-myself-losing-interest-in-almost-everything-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“Actually travel is the opposite of depression. Depression is a curling inward, and travel is an opening outward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/actually-travel-is-the-opposite-of-depression-depression-is-a-curling/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I often say that the opposite of depression is not happiness but vitality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-often-say-that-the-opposite-of-depression-is-not-happiness-but/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep out of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-opposite-of-depression-is-not-happiness-but-vitality-and-it-was-2/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [What I've learned is that you forget that it's not only a blessing to play this game, but it's an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-frye/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-forget-that-it-s-not-only-a-blessing-to/) [Channing Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-frye/) > [All you can ask for in this game is an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cassel/all-you-can-ask-for-in-this-game-is-an-opportunity/) [Matt Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cassel/) > [I see each game as an opportunity to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/i-see-each-game-as-an-opportunity-to-do-well/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [The one thing you dont want to do is deny young boys and girls, people that want to play the game and support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/the-one-thing-you-dont-want-to-do-is-deny-young-boys-and-girls-people/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [I viewed it as a business, but I always viewed it as a game. An opportunity to show my skills, my basketball skills, amongst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-viewed-it-as-a-business-but-i-always-viewed-it-as-a-game-an/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Every game is an opportunity to measure yourself against your own potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bud-wilkinson/every-game-is-an-opportunity-to-measure-yourself-against-your-own/) [Bud Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bud-wilkinson/) > [Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-singletary/do-you-know-what-my-favorite-part-of-the-game-is-the-opportunity-to/) [Mike Singletary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-singletary/) ## More by Jane McGonigal > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Urgent optimism is the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle, combined with the belief that we have a reasonable hope of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/urgent-optimism-is-the-desire-to-act-immediately-to-tackle-an/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Over time, even the tiniest meaningful actions add up, each one bringing you closer to a life that is truer to your dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/over-time-even-the-tiniest-meaningful-actions-add-up-each-one/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Traditionally, we have needed instructions in order to play a game. But now we’re often invited to learn as we go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/traditionally-we-have-needed-instructions-in-order-to-play-a-game-but/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“No object, no event, no outcome or life circumstance can deliver real happiness to us. We have to make our own happiness—by working hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/no-object-no-event-no-outcome-or-life-circumstance-can-deliver-real/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-always-believe-that-an-epic-win-is-possible-and-that-it-s/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Cory Doctorow is a fast and furious storyteller who gets all the details of alternate reality gaming right, while offering a startling, new vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/cory-doctorow-is-a-fast-and-furious-storyteller-who-gets-all-the/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Gamers who have grown up being intensely engaged by well-designed virtual environments are hungry for better forms of engagement in their real lives. They’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-who-have-grown-up-being-intensely-engaged-by-well-designed/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Games are work. There are economies popping up in games now because people value them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/games-are-work-there-are-economies-popping-up-in-games-now-because/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We are moving towards a new form of collective intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-are-moving-towards-a-new-form-of-collective-intelligence/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I ran through most of college and ran through most of grad school. When I was writing my dissertation for my Ph.D., it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/i-ran-through-most-of-college-and-ran-through-most-of-grad-school/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Every game designer should make one explicitly world-changing game. Lawyers do pro bono work, why can't we?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/every-game-designer-should-make-one-explicitly-world-changing-game/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Nesse’s research focuses on the evolutionary origins of depression. Why does depression exist at all? If it’s stayed in our gene pool for so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/nesse-s-research-focuses-on-the-evolutionary-origins-of-depression/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 97 Jane McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) Heidi Ames > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Why in depression" "If we are human, why not have the right to smile, Why in depression, young, and beautiful as earth, Why in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanilsa-pena/why-in-depression-if-we-are-human-why-not-have-the-right-to-smile-why/) Yanilsa pena > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) Shayamalan > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) Hugh Williamson > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Scars by Papa Roach. <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophielianne/scars-by-papa-roach-3/) Sophielianne [Browse all 4,965 Depression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. 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