Effort
I haven’t been near a puzzle for at least a year now. The brains are like the body, if you don’t work them you lose whatever it is you had. One might then understand any worries I could have pertaining to a lack of neurological workout. The assumption however that there are any worries on my part are mainly unjustified.
I would be worried, were it not for the fact that I keep my brains busy in a different way nowadays. There are those who enjoy puzzles, and I did. Then there are those who become obsessed with them, and I did that too. I now know that this obsession was related directly to my insecurities about my intellectual prowess which, I have since become aware, is of a reasonable quality. It is not in itself extraordinary, but I make up for that with a strong motivation and fairly unique perspective. My use of logic is above average but it is hardly on a level of brilliance. Part of the pleasure in this writing then is understanding that it doesn’t need to be, on my part anyway.
Personality is another highly important factor when being involved with intellectual business. A strong character is essential. You have to be willing to work relentlessly and with a complete lack of interest in time. And, just as important, you have to be willing…no, eager…to own up to your mistakes. Progress is made by those honest enough to understand that progress still needs to be made. Those who would rather turn a blind eye to their fallacies or inadequate proof have no place in the world of intellectual challenges. Those who lack that honesty don’t only fool themselves, they might also slow down those with actual interest in and talent for the matter at hand.
And then there is mental prowess, which is of course the carrying factor in any mental task. A strong logic, a well thought out theory…the beauty of that is trumped only by the love a person is capable of giving…which is infinitely more beautiful. One does need to train the mind, and the puzzle obsession I used to have surely added to my overall capacity to analyze and solve problems. But one has to be willing to step away from those puzzles and do the work necessary whenever a true problem comes along. It is always important to learn but it is never wise to hide in the classroom for an entire life. When the important problems are solved, and one is so inclined, one can return to puzzles.
As I said, I haven’t been in touch with a puzzle for over a year now. That was, until a couple of days ago when I spotted a peculiar challenge I felt like picking up for no reason in particular. Regardless of the confidence I have in myself it was quite pleasant to see that my mind was still capable of completing the task I set out for it. Like backing up faith with proof. Faith is sufficient, but proof does add to the overall experience.
In the end an intellectual problem is different to a physical problem only in its format. The essence is exactly the same. The solution, then, is always accomplished simply by exerting oneself.
By doing the work.