Despite the hopeless situation of my chess playing last night, it didn't cause me distress because I knew I was playing to learn. So in that sense I was guaranteed victory simply by doing my best, regardless of how badly outmatched I was.
The only way to win consistently at life is to regard every situation as a learning experience. That's the only outcome you can really guarantee. If you make that your primary aim, losing becomes impossible.
Even though a game of chess might seem an unfair comparison to a foreclosure, it's the same principle at work. A bigger sting just delivers a more valuable lesson. Not every piece you lose will be a mere pawn.
