Puzzle Me This

In many instances jigsaw puzzles are generally associated with very young or very old people and are seen as activities to while away time and to keep them occupied or distracted. I do not fit into either of those categories and yet find myself loving putting puzzles together. (This has gained me some teasing among those who have witnessed it but I shall not be deterred.)

I would like to share with you some of the lessons I think this pastime carries.

When you get a jigsaw puzzle it is usually broken up into smaller pieces which are all mixed up. The only thing you have to guide you on what the finished product should look like is the picture on the box containing the pieces. And so your starting point is to study the image and become familiar with it. For me this is just like having a vision. Before launching into any quest, it is important for one to have a vision of where they will end up and what it will look like when completed. Many a project have failed because there is no clear vision for guidance.

All the puzzle pieces required to complete the picture are usually inside the box with the image. The box not only shows you the picture of the finished product but also carries the pieces needed to accomplish it. This says to me that what one needs to accomplish any quest is usually contained and protected by the ‘box’ with the vision. When one has a clear vision it also has with it the resources needed to complete it. A clear vision is compelling and carries with it the energy, the excitement, the motivation and the joy required to tackle it. It creates a sense of eagerness about the journey ahead, even before one starts.

Once the box is opened one does not then throw it away or put it aside, it becomes a reference point. Trying to complete a puzzle when you do not have the image of the finished product is near impossible. Periodically one will need to look at the box again to be reminded of where they are going and to also be guided where they could be going wrong. The lesson here is that one should never lose sight of the bigger picture and should continually refer to it for guidance and as an indicator of how far they are.

When looking at the mixed up pieces of the puzzle one may be overwhelmed and not know where to begin. I have learnt that the best way to begin is to look for obvious pieces, which in this case are the corners and the edges. These are easily identifiable pieces, based on their shape and the image they carry. They also give one an idea of which side of the finished product they belong.

It is important to be strategic when facing an overwhelming task and to ease yourself into it by finding the quick and easy wins. Not only do these give you a starting point but they also create a sense of possibility, which motivates you to continue.

There are many ways to proceed from this point so one needs to have a systematic approach. Some people prefer building the four outer walls of the image completely first, ending up with a completed ‘box’ which they then fill with the remaining pieces. This helps to give a sense of the dimensions of the finished product and creates some clear boundaries. Some people will start with pieces that look similar, whether it be in terms of the shape, colours or image. They then end up with many ‘islands’ of assembled parts and ultimately find a way to put them all together to form one image.

I prefer to build the image in layers, from the bottom up. Yes, I still identify all my corners and edges first, but I then put the others pieces aside and focus on the bottom edge and corner pieces. I love the sense of ‘unveiling’ the image as I go along. I start at the bottom and will not move on until I have that section completed and them move to the middle, ultimately putting the top part last. There is no right or wrong way, there is the way that works for you.

And so, I believe that putting together jigsaw puzzles is a great metaphor for life.

The challenge with many people is that they do not take time to work on their vision. This leads to one having no sense of purpose or direction. And then they end up feeling overwhelmed by all the many mixed up pieces they need to work with.

What you need is a compelling vision which will guide you, energise you and give you a sense of boundaries and dimensions. What you then do to complete the picture will depend on you and what works for you as an individual.