Six lessons Puzzles are Teaching Me
I believe that there is a lesson offered in everything. And often the most profound lessons are simple.
As I mentioned in my last post, Returning to Me, I have been in pursuit of the activities, places, people, and states of being that have brought me the most joy. Puzzles have been one of them.
I can remember sprawling the pieces out on the floor and readying myself for the hours of total satisfaction. There is something very gratifying about seeing a picture and building it; one piece at a time.
This time was no different. Before attempting to “conquer” the 1000pc puzzle in the above image, I revisited two 300 pc puzzles to get my patience muscle primed for the process.
I realized that when I dumped out the pieces on the floor, my first thought was “I wonder how fast I can put this together“, especially because I had put them together before. My assumption was that my familiarity would give me a greater advantage on my quest…
…can’t say that it helped in this case 🙃.
Lesson 1: Doing something Once Doesn't Make Me an Expert
Seems like something that I should know, especially since I tell my son and my coaching clients the same thing 😊. The beauty of lessons are that whether I am giving them or receiving them, they are always for me first.
Though I had experience with putting these 300 pc puzzles together, it did not mean that I memorized it each piece or could put them together any faster than the first time. It was an experience; not a continual practice.
After spending about 5.5 – 6hrs on each puzzle. I was ready for something BIGGER. More intensive. Something that would require more of me.
Lesson2: Be Careful What I Ask for...Because the Universe's Answer is Always "Yes"
I had purchased this 1000pc puzzle sometime ago and never had the courage to open it up and dig in. But now was my time.
I reached underneath my bed and there it was…Brand new. Untouched. Unopened. Still in the bag waiting for me. As soon as I opened the bag and tossed the pieces to the floor I immediately felt overwhelmed.
What had I gotten myself into 😂😂😂.
I asked for a challenge but this was swallowing me alive before I even got started. With a few deep breaths I refocused my energy and remembered the goal… I wanted a challenge. I wanted to stretch myself. I also really wanted to learn how to be more in the moment and ENJOY the process.
Lesson 3: Remember Why I Got Started
It is so easy to give up before even getting started. Allowing fear to build up and take me on the “I can’t” rollercoaster without giving myself the chance to take action.
This experience is supposed to be FUN. Not a task to just check off the list; an enjoyable experience!
After all, I am reconnecting with my JOY! Right?
Fear can really suck the joy out of life’s simple pleasures when I’ve allowed it to. I’m not in the practice of giving fear control of my decision-making anymore. Not even in the simple things.
So guess what I did?
I kept shit moving! Hurdle one cleared, on to the next!
Next step: Find all of the pieces that make up the outer frame of the puzzle. I learned this technique from my sister when I was younger. Thanks Sis!
I proceeded to search through the 1000pcs with attentiveness and vigilance to find every single piece of the outer frame. I arranged them according to the appropriate colors, fit them together, took some apart, enlisted counsel and a fresh pair of eyes from my son.
Just like that I had conquered the outer…
OMG…I AM MISSING A DAMN PIECE! 😢 😕 😔
The piece that will hold this entire frame together is nowhere to be found.
🎶 Insert Dramatic Music Here 🎶
By this point, I am a few days into assembling this frame. I have asked my husband and my son to help me look through the 900+ other pieces that are scattered across the floor.
“It’s the only piece with a flat end and it’s green”, I say to them.
They scour over the pieces several times and so do I…
NOTHING
Now I’m getting irritated. I looked under the rug, back in the bag and box.
Why can’t I find it?
Shit, why cant WE find it?
Could it have been kicked across the floor?
Did the manufacturer really forget ONE PIECE?
My blame game and victimhood was on full display. But I had a decision to make…and I needed to make it soon.
Was I going to let ONE PIECE stop me from assembling the other 999?
Was I really having an internal tantrum over ONE PIECE?
Lesson 4: Everything That I Was Experiencing Was Coming From Inside of Me
Even while assembling a puzzle there are opportunities for self-reflection. Here’s what I realized:
The more I focused on not being able to find the piece, the more I was unable to find it.
Let me say that AGAIN for the people in the back.
The more I focused my attention and energy on not being able to find the missing piece, the more I was unable to find it.
WHY?
I’m glad you asked. I have learned that where my attention goes, my energy flows. I was so focused on NOT being able to find the missing piece that I spent more energy to NOT find it.
Following?
It’s like this….when you focus on the problem, you get more of the problem. When you focus on the solution or shift your attention to something else, you get more of that. I had to shift my attention and my energy or I wasn’t going to find ANYTHING!
So what happened…
I decided to shift my attention to the other 900+ pieces. I said to myself, “I am going to work around the section and when it is time, the piece will appear”. Can you feel the ease in that? I could.
I stopped focusing on it. I released the thought of finding it and focused on what I could do….I could continue.