Up

... and forward.

Not a combination on a video game controller, necessarily. For that to be the case, one would have to follow up with fierce punch or A, B, X, Y, Y, A, B, A, A, back, back, fierce kick.

Up and forward simply (nothing can ever be truly "simple", can it?) refers to the only logical and effective directions in which one can and must head in their endeavors and pursuits.

Nothing ever good came from heading backwards or downwards, in a physical sense anyway.

In the more philosophical sense, regression makes little sense given that regression and devolution pisses all over progress and the great strides made forward.

Heading backwards only leads to miserable tears, a mutilation of the self and soul, and spitting in the face of the future which only comes back to hit one in the face with a far more painful sting of goodness knows what.

To avoid falling into a miserable trap of misery, melancholy, self-loathing, and all that stuff one is compelled to move up and forward.