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The Chess Board Analogy: Two Paths to Living With Purpose

Every once in a while, a conversation comes along that changes the way you see your entire life. For me, the chess board analogy did exactly that. When I first heard it from a trusted mentor, I realized something profound. Most of us are either planning five moves ahead or reacting to the chaos in front of us. But neither approach is complete. We need both vision and presence. We need long-term clarity and daily trust. We need to know where we are going and we need to trust that we are being led to the right place at the right time.

That realization is freeing for many people. We spend so much energy trying to control everything. We plan. We strategize. We stress about the future. And when things do not go according to plan, we panic. But what if the plan is not about controlling every outcome? What if the plan is about showing up fully in the moment you are in and trusting that the moment you are in is exactly where you are supposed to be?

The Pain Point We All Experience

You wake up and you feel pulled in a thousand directions. Work is demanding. Family needs you. Your health is slipping. Your purpose feels unclear. You wonder if you are on the right path. You wonder if you are wasting your time. You wonder if you are missing something important. And the stress of not knowing creates paralysis. You are so busy worrying about whether you are doing the right thing that you are not fully present in anything you are doing.

It is a painful pattern. And if you have lived long enough, you have probably experienced it more times than you wanted. I have too. I have watched people who were brilliant and capable completely burn out because they could not find peace in the moment. They were always chasing the next thing. They were always second-guessing their decisions. They were always wondering if they were on the right path. And that constant questioning drained them. Not because they were weak. But because they never learned to trust that where they are is exactly where they are supposed to be.

The Two Approaches to Purpose

Here is the question that started the conversation with my friend. What is your core purpose? Why were you put on this earth? Where do you want to head? And his answer surprised me. He said he plays it one day at a time. He tries to be really present. He follows inspiration. He goes where he is supposed to be. And he handles things in the moment.

That got me thinking. There are really two ways to approach purpose. The first way is to have long-term clarity. You figure out your why. You identify your mission. You set your goals. You create a guidepost. And then every decision you make, every action you take, every opportunity you evaluate, you run it through that filter. Does this lead me toward my purpose? Does this use my talents? Does this help me fulfill my mission? If yes, you move forward. If no, you say no. That clarity creates focus. It creates alignment. It creates confidence.

The second way is to play it one day at a time. You wake up. You listen. You follow inspiration. You trust your intuition. You show up fully in the moment. And you trust that you are being led to the right place. You do not have a five-year plan. You do not have a detailed roadmap. You have presence. You have openness. You have trust. And that trust creates peace. It creates flexibility. It creates freedom.

Both approaches are valid. Both approaches work. And the truth is, most of us need both. We need vision. And we need presence. We need clarity. And we need trust. We need to know where we are going. And we need to be fully where we are.

The Chess Board Analogy

My mentor gave me an analogy that changed the way I see everything. He said life is like a number of chess boards stacked on top of each other. Almost like 3D chess. And you have the most important boards at the bottom. Your spirituality. Your relationship with God or the universe or whatever you believe in. Your family. Your marriage. Your kids. Then as it works up, you have your health. Your mission. Your work. Your callings. Your volunteer time. Basically, you have all these chess boards stacked on top of each other.

And here is the key. Trust fate to guide you to the chess board you should be playing in the moment. But when you are playing, play that chess board. Be there. Be present. Give it everything you have. If you are on your family chess board, play that game to win with your family. If you are on your work chess board, play that game to win at work. If you are on your health chess board, play that game to win with your health. Do not be on your family chess board thinking about work. Do not be on your work chess board thinking about family. Be where you are. Play the game. Win the moment.

And trust fate to bring you to the right chess board at the right time. Fate is not predestination. Fate is the unknown timing of any event. You do not control when opportunities show up. You do not control when challenges arrive. You do not control when the right person walks into your life. But you can trust that when they do, it is for a reason. And when you are on that board, you play it with everything you have.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Here is what this looks like practically. You are at work. You are focused. You are solving problems. You are leading your team. You are playing the work chess board. And you play it well. You do not check your phone every five minutes. You do not stress about home. You are present. You are focused. You are winning.

Then you go home. You walk through that door. And you shift. You are on the family chess board now. You are present with your spouse. You are engaged with your kids. You are not thinking about tomorrow’s meeting. You are not replaying today’s problems. You are there. You are playing that board. And you are winning.

The same applies to health. When you are at the gym, be at the gym. When you are running, be running. When you are resting, be resting. Do not be half-present in everything. Be fully present in the moment you are in. Trust that the moment you are in is exactly where you are supposed to be. And play that chess board to win.

The Spiritual Foundation

The bottom chess board is spirituality. Your relationship with God. Your relationship with the universe. Your relationship with whatever you believe gives life meaning. That board is the foundation. When that board is strong, every other board stacks on top of it with stability. When that board is weak, every other board wobbles.

I have watched people who were brilliant professionally completely collapse personally because they had no spiritual foundation. They had no anchor. They had no peace. They had no trust. And when life threw them a curveball, they had nothing to hold onto. The spiritual board is not optional. It is foundational. It is what allows you to trust fate. It is what allows you to be present. It is what allows you to believe that where you are is exactly where you are supposed to be.

Why Nothing Happens By Accident

Here is my message. Nothing ever happens to us by accident. Everything happens for a reason. The book you were given. The information you received. The text from a friend. The person you met. The opportunity that showed up. The challenge that arrived. All of it happened for a reason. We do not always see the reason in the moment. But looking back, we always see it. That person you met five years ago led to the job you have now. That book you read three years ago gave you the idea that changed your career. That challenge you faced last year taught you the lesson you needed to grow.

We have to play the game in a way that we can progress. We have to help others along in their journey. We have to win at life. And winning at life is not about titles or money or achievements. Winning at life is doing your best. Heading in the direction you are supposed to be going. Being open to hear and listen and feel what that is supposed to be. And fitting uniquely within your role and position in this world so you can do remarkable things.

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Two Truths That Cannot Be Ignored

There are two truths I want to leave you with. First, everyone is unique. Everyone is needed. There is no truth to the idea that people would be better off without us or that the situation is hopeless. You are uniquely needed for your talents, your abilities, your personality, and your presence. No one else can play your chess board the way you can. No one else can fill your role the way you can. You are not replaceable. You are irreplaceable. And the world needs you to show up fully where you are.

Second, it always gets better. Always. That is not toxic positivity. That is reality. Things always progress. Things always move forward. Things always improve. Even when it feels darkest, even when it feels hopeless, even when you cannot see the path forward, it always gets better. Trust that. Believe that. Hold onto that.

The Boards You Play Every Day

Here are the chess boards most of us are playing:

• Spirituality: Your foundation, your peace, your connection to something greater than yourself • Family: Your spouse, your kids, your parents, the people who depend on you and love you unconditionally • Health: Your physical well-being, your mental health, your energy, your capacity to show up • Work: Your mission, your contribution, your leadership, your production • Community: Your service, your volunteerism, your impact beyond your immediate circle

You cannot play all of them at once. But you can trust that fate will guide you to the right board at the right time. And when you are on that board, be there. Play it. Win it.

A Challenge for You

This week, ask yourself which chess board you are on in every moment. When you are at work, are you fully at work? When you are with your family, are you fully with your family? When you are taking care of your health, are you fully present? Or are you half-present in everything, never fully winning anywhere?

Stop trying to play every board at once. Trust fate to guide you to the right board. And when you are there, be there. Play the game. Give it everything you have. That is how you win at life. That is how you fulfill your purpose. That is how you live with peace and presence and power.

As Lao Tzu said, “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” Trust fate. Be present. Play the board you are on. And win.

On we go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the chess board analogy for life? The chess board analogy describes life as multiple chess boards stacked on top of each other, with spirituality and family at the bottom, followed by health, work, and community. The key is to trust fate to guide you to the right board in the moment, then play that board fully instead of being half-present everywhere.

How do I know which chess board I should be playing? Trust your intuition, inspiration, and the circumstances you find yourself in. If you are at work, play the work board. If you are home with family, play the family board. The board you are on is the board you should be playing. Be fully present where you are instead of worrying about the other boards.

What does it mean that nothing happens by accident? It means every book you read, person you meet, opportunity that shows up, and challenge you face happens for a reason. You may not see the reason in the moment, but looking back, you always see how it prepared you, connected you, or taught you something essential for where you are now.

How do I balance long-term purpose with daily presence? You need both. Long-term clarity gives you direction and helps you make decisions that align with your mission. Daily presence allows you to show up fully in the moment and trust you are being led to the right place. Use your purpose as a filter for decisions, then be fully present in executing those decisions.

Why is spirituality the bottom chess board? Spirituality is the foundation because it provides peace, trust, and meaning. When your spiritual board is strong, every other board stacks on top with stability. When it is weak, every other board wobbles. Spirituality is what allows you to trust fate and be present in each moment.