Fires raging.

Swords clashing.

With one final swing, you pierce the throat of the monster.

The enemy crumbles and a familiar chime rings out.

"You have gained 100 EXP"

The screen flickers, and suddenly, there's a surge of energy.

"Level Up!"

Your health refills, stats increase, and new abilities unlock.

You are now stronger, better

And a higher level

To face the world.

—

The concept of EXP, or experience points, is one that has been around since the early days of tabletop role-playing games (RPGs).

The idea is simple:

• Earn EXP after slaying an enemy or completing a challenge

• Earn enough EXP and your character goes up a level (LVL+)

• With every level, your character will become stronger and gain rewards

The EXP system was the perfect system to showcase your character’s growth, as well to provide an incentive for the player to keep on playing.

With respect to our Alchemy journey, you can see what I am alluding to.

As Alchemists, the EXP system is one we shall adopt to achieve our greatest potential - we are going to max our character and over-level our lives.

The system is simple and follows this equation:

Let's explore this further.

What is Challenge

Obstacles.

Resistance.

Discomfort.

Uncertainty.

That is challenge.

Challenge is necessary for growth, and is the only input in our EXP formula.

You cannot grow without some form of resistance or obstacle to overcome. A system at rest with no force acting upon it cannot change its state of motion.

We need to acquire that force.

Whether that is through ourselves, or through an external influence.

If it is internal:

- The challenges of keeping a high standard of health and fitness

- The resistance faced to maintain inner-peace and calm

- The discomfort of new opportunities in business

If it is external:

- The pressures of school and education

- The challenges of work and climbing the hierarchy

- The responsibility and uncertainty of providing for loved ones

There is challenge all around us, whether we are in control or not.

As Alchemists, we must be willing and accepting of all challenges that push us out of our comfort zone.

You know the feeling.

Your heart starts to race.

Your chest begins to tighten.

You feel butterflies in your stomach.

Your thoughts tell you to turn back and run.

That's exactly the cue for you to keep going, to keep venturing forth into the unknown.

For us to achieve new heights and gain fresh insights, we must step beyond our familiar limits.

How Do We Know If We Got Stronger

Strength.

To be able to shoulder the challenges of the world

Better than before.

Is there no greater victory?

As we face challenges and overcome obstacles, we become stronger.

But how exactly do we know this is the case?

There are two measures we can look at: external and internal.

External measures are the simplest to understand. They relate to the material, the substance, the body, and the environment.

- We can lift more weight

- We have more connections

- We make more money

There is clear feedback on the result of your effort.

Internal measures on the other hand are more difficult to measure. They relate to the mind, the spirit, and the soul.

- We are more resilient

- We have more wisdom

- We gain more confidence

Unless we are aware, internal growth is mostly an afterthought.

"Oh wow, I know how this works now"

"I would've usually broken down by now"

"I feel like I can take on anything"

This is a travesty.

How much more enjoyable would the game of life be if we knew we had leveled up our courage, our resilience, or even our perception?

The bad news -

We don't have a visual indicator on the bottom corner of our vision that shows how much EXP we have or how far we are to reach the next LVL+.

The good news -

We don't need a visual indicator.

By simply answering these three questions at any stage in our journey, we can get an indicator of how much stronger we are:

• What are you now willing to do?

• What are you no longer willing to do?

• How much longer can you now do it for?

You will notice that the whole premise is around one thing - action.

An act of strength leads to a greater act of strength.

If you can now endure, are you not stronger?

If you can now lift a greater weight, are you not stronger?

If you can now remove a weight on your well-being, are you not stronger?

By accomplishing tasks, and projects, as well as repeating daily habits, we walk closer to our goals.

That in itself, is an expression of ever-growing strength.

How Are We Rewarded

In a similar light to strength, we find the indicators of reward to be the same.

External rewards are those that provide us with material or physical gain in some shape or form:

- More money

- A better body

- More friends

Internal rewards on the other hand are more nuanced and can be easily missed if not given your awareness:

- Joy

- Fulfilment

- Peace

Though they are both rewarding, they do not have the same gravity or weight.

External rewards are subject to the influences of the world.

Your money is finite.

Your relationships are fickle.

Your health is forever deteriorating.

However internal rewards are everlasting and know no bounds.

Your joy can be forever present.

Your peace can be forever lingering.

Your fulfillment can be forever lasting.

Of course, our pursuit of complete fulfillment and maxing our level in this life will garner rewards in both the external and internal world.

In building health, we gain vitality.

In building wealth, we gain freedom.

In building relationships, we gain connections.

Rarely do you find you are rewarded in one aspect of life when you are in pursuit of your vision.

Let's go back to the EXP system.

For a character in a game to attain a LVL+ they must max out their current EXP bar.

How much EXP is required is determined by the player's current level.

If they have only started their adventure, any challenge will allow them to gain a level.

However as you become stronger and gain more levels, you will either need to complete more challenges or surmount more difficult challenges to gain enough EXP to LVL+

But your efforts will not be futile.

The rewards and strength you receive at the higher levels lie in the realm of mastery.

The rewards and strength we obtain at the higher levels are what will fulfil our highest purpose - to max out our character and our lives.

But first, we just need to get to the next LVL+.

Embrace challenge.

Tune in to changes in your strength.

Relish in your rewards, both the external and internal.

If you can do so, you will be playing the most enjoyable and fulfilling game of them all - the game of Life.

Alchemist, I will see you in the next letter.

— Lachlan