It's a tough gig. I'm lvl64 now, GP age (and Whatwhat is right - it'll take a long time more than a month to get to Enlightenment unless you're minted)
I move down in medals anywhere between 300 and 700 - I float up, then medal drop, then float back up again. All through these various level I find a MASSIVE range of players, and a massive different abilities. I smash all of them, and I also get smashed by them. One thing I try for is guys with a lot of food or gold, so like me they are maybe saving for something... or, they aren't playing anymore? Either way - time to get stuck in. I see guys anywhere between 20 and 80 medals between that range. There are a LOT more guys with higher medal counts than there used to be!
Because I'm in GP, and I'm saving for things that cost a lot - when I get hit hard I'm loosing 150-300 food or gold, or both.
But I don't cry about it - I take it as an Opportunity! I don't give a crap when I get hit by someone with 50 archers and they get their ass handed to them by my walls and defenders. What I really care about is the guy that wipes me out! I look over these replays MANY TIMES, so I can see how many players he's loosing, where they're coming at the base, what tactics they use.
I loose right... but I WIN, because I make changes, move things around - think about the layout and design.
Then I get back on with kicking someone else in the arse too. That's my job... it's a game.