SuperBetter Summary

“What if achieving your life's goals could feel as exciting and rewarding as finishing a level in your favorite game?”

1. Games Can Be Tools for Growth

Games don’t just entertain—they transform. The author of SuperBetter discovered this firsthand while recovering from a brain injury. Instead of simply healing, she designed a game to help her emerge stronger. This method, called SuperBetter, offered a playful yet structured way to grow beyond personal difficulties, whether they stemmed from trauma or self-imposed challenges.

Human growth often springs from two scenarios: post-traumatic growth and post-ecstatic growth. Post-traumatic growth describes how people become stronger and happier after overcoming adversities, such as recovering from illness or loss. On the other hand, post-ecstatic growth happens when people challenge themselves to stretch their limits, like running a marathon or learning a new skill.

Both forms of growth are the foundation of SuperBetter. By applying seven steps included in the game, players can build physical, emotional, mental, and social resilience. The process transforms imposing challenges into manageable and rewarding adventures.

Examples

• The author used SuperBetter during her brain injury recovery to exceed her pre-injury self.
• Trauma victims reported feeling more fulfilled after conquering their struggles.
• Smokers set challenges through games to successfully quit smoking, using post-ecstatic growth.

2. Games Relieve Pain and Trauma

Games provide relief in the face of physical pain and emotional trauma. Research has shown that burn victims undergoing painful treatments experienced less pain when playing Snow World, a virtual snowball game that redirected attention away from distressing sensations.

What makes games such effective tools for relief is their ability to pull people into a state called “flow.” Unlike passive activities such as watching TV, flow requires full cognitive engagement. This focus not only diverts attention but also reduces anxiety and builds a sense of control over experiences.

Games can also be powerful tools against flashbacks. Studies showed that playing Tetris shortly after traumatic events led to fewer intrusive memories. Thus, gaming doesn’t merely serve as a distraction—it becomes a proactive way to address both physical and psychological challenges.

Examples

• Burn patients felt reduced pain when distracted by Snow World during medical treatments.
• Children playing Super Mario Bros before surgery required less anxiety medication.
• Car accident survivors experienced fewer flashbacks after ten minutes of Tetris.

3. Games Build Empathy and Relationships

When people play together, they connect in profound ways. Whether allies or opponents, players unconsciously sync their expressions, heartbeats, and thought patterns, forming a strong sense of camaraderie.

Games can even dissolve prejudices. For instance, elderly adults playing Wii Sports with younger people not only bonded over the experience but also gained more positive attitudes toward each other’s age groups. Unique programs like the Middle East Gaming Challenge bring people from opposing communities, such as Israelis and Palestinians, together for cooperative play to foster understanding.

However, the environment matters. Playing games in shared spaces nurtures empathy more effectively than isolated online competition. Being physically present with someone amplifies the feelings of connection and reduces the likelihood of frustration or aggression.

Examples

• Roommates playing Mario Kart formed stronger relationships through shared goals and laughter.
• Cross-generational pairings improved their views of one another by bowling on a Wii.
• Middle Eastern participants bonded across cultural divides while engaging in cooperative gaming.

4. Games Motivate Perseverance

Games inspire stamina, positivity, and the belief that obstacles can be conquered. They train players to persist and tackle setbacks with confidence, making them heroes of their own stories.

For instance, Re-Mission was designed for young cancer patients to simulate fighting cancer cells. Not only did it instill more optimism, but it also motivated patients to stick to their treatments more diligently. The game's design mirrored real life: every missed medicine weakened their character’s arsenal.

Dopamine boosts triggered by gaming also play a role. Dopamine helps people focus more on rewards rather than risks, promoting optimism and willingness to put in extra effort. Gaining these qualities through play means gamers are better equipped for real-world challenges.

Examples

• Cancer patients who played Re-Mission reported better medication adherence and outlooks.
• Gamers who actively problem-solve show greater persistence outside virtual environments.
• Games increase dopamine levels, sparking determination and drive.

5. The Purpose for Playing Shapes the Outcome

Why someone plays matters more than the amount of time spent playing. When gaming becomes a way to escape life's struggles, it risks leading to harmful tendencies like social isolation. But when used for personal development and growth, video games drive creativity, skill-building, and resilience.

Positive gaming rewires our minds to face real-life problems more effectively. It trains us to manage frustration and work collaboratively with others. Even storytelling games enhance creativity and foster better problem-solving abilities.

The power of gaming is immense when approached with the right mindset. It's not about running away from life; it’s about becoming stronger and more capable to navigate it.

Examples

• Educational players outperform escapist players in happiness scores.
• Skills like emotional regulation improve through team-based games.
• Fans of strategy games showed better decision-making under stress.

6. Adopt a Challenge Mindset

SuperBetter revolves around seeing life as a series of challenges, not threats. By framing obstacles in this way, players view tests as opportunities rather than something to fear. A challenge mindset activates excitement, while a threat triggers anxiety.

Simple exercises, like saying “I’m excited!” when nervous, help shift your focus from fear to exhilaration. This small change improves physical responses, too. Open arteries make the body stronger, especially during physical or mental tests.

SuperBetter gamifies this mindset shift, drawing players to willingly engage with life's unknowns. Over time, maintaining a challenge mindset transforms daily stressors into manageable adventures.

Examples

• Golf players embrace joy over difficulty in hitting tiny white balls into distant holes.
• Replacing self-doubt with excitement leads to better performance during presentations.
• Turning job-search uncertainty into a personal challenge made participants report feeling calmer.

7. Identify Your Power-Ups and Bad Guys

In SuperBetter, power-ups are small, joyful actions that boost energy, while bad guys are barriers to progress. The beauty lies in recognizing these elements in daily life and taking small but meaningful actions to thrive.

Power-ups might be as simple as listening to favorite music or taking a walk. Their strength lies in frequency rather than intensity, so multiple bursts of positivity throughout the day bring the best results. On the flip side, bad guys—like chronic distractions or unhealthy habits—test your adaptability and teach resilience.

Consciously integrating power-ups while confronting bad guys helps participants prepare for struggles and embrace victories.

Examples

• Players write gratitude lists (a power-up) during challenging days for emotional clarity.
• Scrabble aficionados study “J” words to defeat their metaphorical bad guy.
• Walking breaks counteract evening stress from demanding workplaces.

8. Allies and Quests Strengthen Resolve

Allies—supportive friends, family, or even online communities—are essential for facing challenges. Interacting with these allies through cooperative gaming fosters creativity, teamwork, and emotional strength. Using quests, players pursue small, deliberate tasks that inch them toward their larger goals.

Quests can be anything—from practicing positive affirmations to building a good habit, like drinking water each morning. They are stepping stones toward ultimate achievements.

When allies and quests come together, players create a support network that speeds personal transformation and guarantees accountability on their adventure.

Examples

• Posting progress on friend groups motivated players to tackle fitness goals.
• Teams who coordinated in games like Overwatch reported better real-life collaboration skills.
• Small daily quests, like complimenting others, nurtured long-term habits.

9. Empowerment Through Secret Identities and Epic Wins

Developing a secret persona adds creativity and inspiration to your goals. Whether envisioning oneself as a healer, an adventurer, or a hero, this self-reflection builds on inner strengths. The author herself became “Jane the Concussion Slayer” during her recovery.

Epic wins emerge when players achieve big milestones, such as running a marathon or conquering social anxiety. Physical victories have especially transformative impacts, drawing on the courage and determination cultivated through smaller quests.

The power of stories, symbols, and victories reminds participants that even small progress can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Examples

• PTSD survivors climbed literal summits to prove they could overcome emotional scars.
• Secret hero personas inspired patients to stick to rehabilitation routines.
• Milestones like finishing a 5k race strengthened individuals with lung conditions.

Takeaways

1. Replace fear with excitement to reframe obstacles as opportunities and boost performance.
2. Set daily "power-ups" and conquer small "bad guys" each day to create steady progress.
3. Create a supportive network of allies to keep you accountable and motivated on your journey.