The Most Valuable Lesson Chess Ever Taught Me
For a long time, chess was a double-edged sword in my life. I have always loved the game for its depth and beauty, and I even have a rich history with Chinese chess. But over time, the passion was replaced by a deep frustration. My natural perfectionism turned every game into a battle, not just against my opponent, but against myself. A single blunder could ruin my entire mood, and winning a game with a mistake felt like a hollow victory. The mental exhaustion from trying to be perfect made me feel like the game was more of a chore than a pleasure. This struggle wasn't limited to the chessboard. I found myself applying the same suffocating standards to my life. I would spend a disproportionate amount of time on a single, difficult physics problem in an exam, only to run out of time for the easier ones, all because my pride couldn't accept an imperfect solution. The stress and frustration from this cycle were overwhelming, and I felt trapped by my own mind. The turning point cam...