How closely chess is related to real life?

I was wondering can the principles of chess be accurately applied in real life. In various spheres of life like work, study, relations etc. can analysis of chess be useful. In layman's terms I want to learn that whether chess is just a board game meant for time-pass or it is something much larger which we can aplly in our real lifes to improve them?

There is none.

The lessons of life and chess parallel each other in some ways, but this only seems useful in the abstract.  Some examples: 

If you work hard in chess/life, you can improve.  You can't live/play chess without making mistakes, so you might as well accept this with a dose of humility.  

Some examples that do not work: In chess/life, a tactical strike can defeat a strategic plan.  If you control the center of the board/room, you are usually in charge of the board/room.  In chess there are many winners and losers, while in life there are many drawers.

I would caution against seeking life lessons in chess or vice versa, even if you find a seemingly strong correlation.

When you're faced with obstacles,don.t be hasty. Sit,analyze the situ and you find a way out.Many a problem has been aggravated because of impatience and rash decisions.

Like in real life, expect the unexpected (knights), don't stick your neck out too far (queen) watch your back (bishops) work hard (pawns) and keep the home fires burning (rooks).

in real life, kings are expected to protect queens. in chess, it is the other way around.

in real life, you will be unhappy if your queen mates some other king. in chess, you will be happy.

in real life, having more than one queen is looked down upon. in chess, the more queens, the merrier.

Yes.

The thing is you are to decide, what is analogical to what.

For e. King can be seem as you, but also as something most precious to you, or even your feelings. Based what you chose you can analyse position as in chess.

Well, i hope i helped.

In real life, we may get pushed around like pawns (say on the job...)

the only connection between chess and real life is whatever the pieces are made from that is wood or stone

Chess is like real life in every sense

you definetly should watch Ran by Akira Kurosawa!!!

chess like any other game can draw out the worst in people...they can be very bad losers or arrogant winners

no really Chess is totally like life, work, superior analysis and knowledge gets rewarded.  Observing patterns gets rewarded. Motivation, will and strive gets rewarded. And life is an ongoing accumulation of knowledge, like aa famous writer ones said, we as long as we live, its the same as chess.

if chess is related to real life because of the processes players follow in playing the game, then logically everything is related to real life.

using our imaginations we can make up any analogy we like between chess and real life but in the end chess is a game and teaches nothing about life except you win, lose or draw

Basically, that's it.

Next question ?

chess is a game a royal waste of time when one could be doing productive things like stroke the cat

checkmate.. now thats real life activity!

Chess is art.

Get a Chess, you lot!