How World of Warcraft Helped Me Break My “Need to Be Right” Habit

I used to think being right was everything.

Not in an obnoxious, “I’m better than you” way (at least I hope not), but more like: if I just explained it clearly enough—if I had the best reasoning, the cleanest logic, the most accurate information—then people would see. They’d agree. We'd all win, right?

Except that’s not how humans work. And I had to learn that the hard way. Not in a therapist’s office or through a self-help book—but in World of Warcraft.

I still remember the raid. We were running ICC back in the day, and I was guild leader—wearing the crown, shouldering the drama, coordinating people who were equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and sleep-deprived. One of our tanks kept insisting on a strat for a boss that I knew wasn’t optimal. I’d read the guides, seen the math, practiced the mechanics. I explained it in Discord. I posted diagrams in guild chat. I even did that thing where you "kindly" repeat yourself using different words. Still, he pushed back.

I could feel the old programming kick in: "Just be more clear. Say it better. Make them understand you're right."

But something stopped me.

Maybe it was the exhaustion of trying to control every outcome. Maybe it was the quiet awareness that winning the argument wasn’t the same as succeeding as a team. Or maybe, for once, I actually listened—not just to what he was saying, but to what mattered.

I took a breath and said: “Okay. Let’s try it your way.”

And guess what? It worked.

Not perfectly. Not without hiccups. But it got us through the fight. And more importantly, it built trust. That tank felt heard. The group laughed more. I wasn’t the infallible raid queen—but I was someone they could count on to keep the bigger goal in sight.

That’s when it clicked: needing to be right was actually costing me more than it was giving me. It was closing doors I didn’t even realize were there.

Over time, WoW became the sandbox where I practiced letting go of that habit. Whether it was letting a newbie learn through mistakes, listening to alternate strats, or realizing that sometimes the “right” choice isn’t the most efficient one—it’s the one that builds connection—I kept practicing.

And the best part? That lesson didn’t stay in Azeroth.

I started noticing it in my real-life conversations. I felt less tense when someone disagreed with me. I stopped rushing to correct people mid-sentence. I asked more questions. And I realized that being open, curious, and present made me a better coach, a better friend, and honestly, a much happier human.

So yeah, World of Warcraft taught me patience, leadership, resilience—and it quietly helped me break a lifelong mental habit.

Not through epiphanies.

Through epic wipes, guild drama, and choosing, again and again, to value people over being right.

If you are ready to start making changes in your habitual responses, let’s talk!