Around a month ago I went to the Natick Center Library (Morse Institute) to pick up some books. As someone who enjoys reading and writing, the library is one of my favorite places in Natick. Since it is only open except for pick up, I take every chance I have to go. That particular day, I found out that they were selling books and games for about $1. In a rush, I took the books I wanted to pick up and a Hallmark 500-piece puzzle of bears sharing a cup of tea.

The only previous experience I had with puzzles was taking and hiding a piece from one my dad was trying to make when I was around 3 years old. I was curious to see what actually building one was like. In the week that followed, I had a particularly hard time balancing work and rest, so I chose to follow the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of study/work + 5 minutes of rest). 

My rest became building the puzzle.

I finished it last weekend. More importantly however, I learned some very interesting lessons about creating and finishing things that I would like to share with you.

#1  |  Take the time to get to know the picture and to create the outline. Putting the rest of the pieces will become almost instinctive that way.

The puzzle picture needs to become something you know. Likewise if you have a goal in mind take time to know what it is. Write out what you want in as much detail as possible and visualize it as if it were already a reality. This will allow your brain to create it almost instinctively with the things that surround you.

#2  |  Give it some space.

I had to literally clear out a table at my house to put the puzzle in. Similarly, if you want to do something clear out and block a space in your schedule. This will allow you to get to work on it while still doing all the other things you need to do.

#3  |  You have all the pieces at your disposal. If you are missing any, it is better to focus on the ones that you have.

All the pieces of the puzzle are there, the only job is organizing them (with patience). Applied to real life, you are born with the DNA that will give you your talents and traits. It is literally already inside of you, you do not need to look for it or buy it from anywhere. Meaning, that  everything you will do, you are completely capable of doing or completely capable to learn (with patience). If you don’t have a “piece” or talent, you are using your time in a kinder manner by accepting others DNA is different from yours and focusing on what you do have (Trust me, you have more than what you don't have—look at others to see where you are similar rather than where you are less than).

#4  |  The best thing to do sometimes is leave it alone and come back to it later.

After I got around 100 pieces done, it gradually became an obsession. Yet, the pieces were very similar and I was getting frustrated quickly. I found that I put it together more efficiently and enjoyed it more by looking at it during my 5 minute break leaving it alone afterwards (and being ok with that). 

When trying to accomplish something I’ve noticed it is better to do it in bits. It is very tempting to try to do it all in one sitting. 

Trust me, I know. Right now I am sitting behind in my online classes. I would love to pull an all nighter and be done with it all. Yet, I wouldn’t be done if I did that and I would have a headache and sluggishness tomorrow that would set me behind again. 

It is more effective to make it something you work in intensively for a set period of time.

#5  |  Sometimes it is not that you have pieces for another puzzle or that you can’t do it. Sometimes your pieces are just in the wrong place.

As I mentioned before you have all the parts to make it whole, all the capacities to do what you wish to do. Instead of being unable to do something, maybe you are using your traits in the wrong field. For example, when someone close to me is struggling I often feel that they need me to tell them all the ways I've dealt with that problem. Speak. However, to be helpful that person might only need to be heard. I need to listen and quietly be there. 

#6  |  Building it with others creates a special place where memories grow.

After I began building the puzzle my family and I had times where we would sit around it and just try to make it work together. When you are doing something, even if you don’t notice, the people around you will see that and be inclined to do the same. That principle applies for behaviors that promote growth as well for those that are hurtful. If you do things that make you happy, the right people will be inclined to do those things with you and make memories trought.

#7  |  Sometimes unfinished is finished.

Since it was a thrifted (second hand) puzzle it was missing two pieces. So it was finished with two empty spots. Most times projects are finished, jet they don’t look like the finished version you envisioned. Sometimes the limit is never reached, perfection is never reached. That is ok, because you went from having nothing, or a disorganized pile of little parts, to having a concise product that you made and helped you learn. 

Which brings me to my last point...

#8  |  The fun is in building it, not in having it complete.

Now that the puzzle is complete, the table where it lays isn’t as fun as when we were making it. Yes, it serves as a reminder that I am able to accomplish things. However, it was much more fun going to it and seeing the potential to make progress. Projects are similar, and it's nice to have them finished. Yet, the truly interesting part is in having the space to create something and learning from that experience. Learning these nice 8 lessons.

What are some lessons you have learned recently?