Life is a Puzzle

Few months ago, my daughter purchased a 500 pieces puzzle. We laid it on our dining table hoping to solve it in a few days at the most. As the days rolled by, it dawned on us that this puzzle, like life, was not a piece of cake and this was going to be a long-drawn game.

Everyone in the family chipped-in with his/her own unique logic and approach – sometimes together and often separately. The first thing we all learned was: every piece is unique and you can’t force any piece in its destined place. The right piece will easily slip in its own place. Sometimes, we would struggle for over half-an-hour just to fit one piece. At other times, several pieces would just find their own places almost like miracle. Sometimes logic would work in finding right pieces and thus inflating our egos. At other times, all logical and rational thinking would fail leading to huge frustration and head-ache. There were times when we gave-up and switched off. Then, while passing the dining table, we would glance over it and some gut feeling would force us to pick a random piece and some unseen hand would guide the hand to the right place, thus humbling our ego. Such moments were rare, but ecstatic. After nearly four months at last, we completed the puzzle.

However, we learnt many other lessons along the way:

·       It is easier to start in a corner or on the edges rather than jumping in the middle of the puzzle.

·       When you don’t see any way out in one part of the puzzle, move to another part with a fresh mind.

·       Listen to your gut-feelings. It is often correct, even if not complying with any logical thinking.

·       Collect similar shaped pieces together in smaller groups. It is then easier to find the required shaped piece.

·     Challenge the position of a piece, if you are unable to place an obvious piece next to it. That piece might have been inadvertently forced in that place. Be open to all possibilities.

·        Sometimes, follow the theory of elimination to narrow the choice of the desired piece fast.

·       Take frequent look at the big picture and let the eyes naturally fall on any specific part. It would inspire you to locate right piece for the right place.

·       When working together, never criticize other member’s approach, however silly it may appear. Let each member separately focus on his/her chosen area of the puzzle to avoid any clash.

·     When feeling frustrated, review your past progress and trust your ability to move forward with more success.

·       Every piece is important. Often the smallest and seemingly insignificant piece is the key to break a deadlock situation.

·       Take a break, when not able to make any head-way, only to return later with a relaxed mind.

·       Never think of giving-up. If a puzzle has been created, then it must be solvable. Have patience.

·       Be regular in your attempts. Even if the progress is only one piece a day, it is taking you closer to solving the entire puzzle.

Happiness or Sadness – Our Choice

Can we choose happiness or sadness?

Let’s first understand what is happiness or sadness. Both are extreme forms of emotions felt by the mind. Mind builds up some expectations. When these expectations are fulfilled, we feel happy and when they are not, we feel sad. We may not have any control over the factors that help fulfill our expectations. But, we can certainly control our expectations by analyzing whether they are in line with our capacities and resources. The more realistic our expectations will be, the more will be the chances of their fulfillment and hence happiness. However, there is no guarantee of their fulfillment. Sadness is still possible.

We feel happy or sad because we have identified ourselves with our minds. The truth is: our mind is only a tool which we possess. We are beyond and far more powerful than the mind. At the core of our being, there is only ‘Bliss’. But, we are hardly there to experience it. Instead, we live and breathe through our minds. We have allowed our possession, a tool, to rule over our lives. Just as we let our cell phones take over the control of our lives. Our moods are driven by the presence or absence of messages it delivers. We forget that it is only a tool of communication – no more, no less. It’s up to us how we use it. We may put it on silence mode when we don’t want to be disturbed by its noise, or even switch it off when we don’t want to communicate anything.

Mind can similarly be used as and when needed. It will certainly get affected by the external factors over which we have little control. It will experience happiness or sadness from time-to-time. But, we needn’t get affected by its condition. When the cell phone battery dies, we simply plug it into the source of power. Similarly, when the mind experiences sadness, we simply need to feed it with some inspiring thoughts. And, when it is experiencing happiness, we should enjoy its presence and make use of its immense power, just as we use our cell phone when it is fully charged.

It is, however, not easy to disengage from the mind. Years of practice to identify with mind cannot be reversed instantly. Perhaps, we should start by saying, “My mind is feeling sad or happy”, instead of saying, “I am feeling sad or happy.” Also, we should start visualizing the mind as a tool (e.g. a cell phone). Slowly but surely the bondage would break. As we start feeling separation from the mind, we would start becoming free from its emotions. We would also start gaining control over it. We must realize that “Mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.”