Lost in isolation and loneliness, I discovered the world of Gundam. From the model kits, video games, and anime, I found that the characters’ struggles often mirrored my own mental health problems. But Gundam inspired hope. In the words of Banagher and Gundam quotes, I found motivation. And in Gundam Unicorn Anime, I finally discovered the true power of possibility.

Why do you give up on your dreams? We get an exciting idea but find excuses instead of pursuing it. Why do you turn your back on your passions, and what happens if you give up on your dreams for good? Using Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, this Refusal of the Call is an important step in our journey to a life of adventure, as we face our fears, and become the heroes that we are meant to be.

Anger begets anger. Our brains radiate their emotional condition outward, much like a wizard casting an area of effect spell in D&D. Looking at Dungeons and Dragons for clues on personal development, is our anger really like casting the Radiance of the Dawn? And are we damaging others when casting our personal anger spells or is it just an emotional radiance that causes no harm?

How is it that time seems to last forever when you’re a kid but races by as we get older? Controlling time is a common theme from sci-fi to fantasy. So many of us want to know how to slow down time. But while we can’t stop the clock, we can change our perception of time. Here are 7 science-backed tips on how to make time go slower and help you spend more time enjoying your life.

Ever had one of those days that just dragged on and felt like forever. Wouldn’t it be great to be like Dr. Strange and manipulate time? We could speed up all those boring days. But while we can’t change time itself, we can change our perception of how fast it’s moving. Without any magic needed, here are 8 tips on how to make time go faster at work or at school, and rush through all boredom.

From superheroes to fantasy heroes, we are inspired to become something more. But how to be a hero in real life, and what makes someone a hero? The truth is that without gaining magical abilities or finding superpowers, the path to heroism may be easier than you think. We all have the ability to become our best selves and embrace our inner hero.

Many games let players personalize their character’s development through a game skill tree. Different combinations allow for a great variety in gameplay and player engagement. What are different player types on RPG skill trees? What about real-life skill trees? How to manage our goals through levels of experience and how we can create our own skill tree for real life?

Whether it’s in a game or in real life, stress happens from the unexpected and things outside of our control. But when faced with difficult situations in RL, we can’t turn it off and walk away. What can we learn from video games and TTRPGs like D&D about stress management and dealing with anxiety in a crisis? Here are 14 techniques to reduce anxiety and stress management for geeks and gamers.

We have big ideas and dreams. We imagine how much better our lives will be. But for all our daydreaming, many of us never get started. What are the reasons we don’t follow our dreams? We need to understand what’s behind the excuses we tell ourselves. It takes courage to follow your dreams and we must face some difficult truths. But knowing how to overcome fear and pursue your dreams, you can finally live the life you imagine.

Over a third of gamers have experienced anxiety and stress-related issues. Stress happens to most of us but there are times that it is too much and we feel overwhelmed. Here are 12 techniques to center ourselves for when stress and anxiety have sent our minds spinning.

Most tabletop role players would tell you of the camaraderie and self-confidence they gain through playing games like D&D.  But researchers have taken notice as well.  Beyond the entertainment value, TTRPGs are a healthy habit to form, granting many benefits for improved mental health and encouraging our personal development.

Superheroes are, by their very nature, special. They exhibit incredible powers and hold themselves to incomparable moral standards. They exist to show us the best possible versions of ourselves. But the X-Men in particular serve to remind us that sometimes we all struggle with self-acceptance and feeling different. But that it is our own uniqueness that makes us special.

I can’t see dice.

I can’t see grid maps.

I can’t read spell cards or manuals.

I can’t operate a character sheet.

When I was first invited into a game I certainly didn’t expect to face my worst fear. I absolutely never expected to overcome it.

The holiday can be a wonderful time of the year. But this time of year can also be a great source of anxiety.

And as a gamer, I find that I would much prefer to spend those cozy winter days online in a dungeon than participating in the festive season. And I am far from alone in seeking this Scrooge-like escape. Here are some ways to use gaming and other tips to help with holiday anxiety.

All Green Lantern had to do was think about something and his ring would make it real. But it’s more than creativity, the ring that runs on willpower and courage. And for me, the Green Lantern has come to mean overcoming fears, both external and those the reside inside of us.

We strive towards big dreams and exciting ideas. But sometimes, it feels that we aren’t getting any closer to our goals. Each step is met with someone telling us our victory is in another castle. How do we find the motivation to keep going despite the frustration? Here are some of the best ways to keep you in the game and ready to level up.

Self-sabotage is a vicious cycle where we attack ourselves and limit our abilities to create our best future. How do we define self-sabotaging behavior and why do we do it? Are the signs of self-sabotaging and most importantly, how do we stop ourselves from doing it so that we can become successful and live a better life?

Everywhere you look, sites are promoting the power of positivity. We hear about all the great benefits from lower stress to better physical immunity. But sometimes, that positivity just feels wrong. Why is it is that sometimes being around positive people can make us unhappy?

Can Dungeons and Dragons help us to trust others? Faced with a mysterious NPC, many of us immediately become suspicious and wary. What are the reasons we don’t trust others and can we learn how to trust someone? And what if they as suspicious of us, are we seen as trustworthy in their eyes? The question of can RPGs help us trust others is yes, if we are willing to learn how to trust others, including ourselves.

In RPGs, a mimic can disguise itself as an everyday object, hidden in its disguise, waiting for its prey.

In real life, we have versions of mimics as well. We call them imposters and fraudsters, disguising themselves as something they are not to gain from their deception.