There are many moments in life in which we fall victim to yearning for a way to have all the answers laid out before us, about where we should go next and who we are meant to be. However, I am growing to learn that the journey of finding all the puzzle pieces provides far more gratification than finishing the puzzle ever could.
The moment we are born is like opening up a new puzzle and finding those first two connecting pieces right off the bat. Effortless, as though it were always meant to be. For some time, we find it easy to fit one border piece next to another as we follow the precedent of those before us who have established a foundation for us to develop upon. The value of this step in the puzzle-building process must not be overlooked though, as this becomes the root of behaviors, interests, mannerisms and beliefs which develop with us as we continue to grow.
As you begin to tackle the vast sea of pieces before you, the first major snag is bound to come, just as disagreements with friends or siblings and difficulties navigating school. You trek on though, learning which relationships are worth developing and which problems are deserving of attention in order to make your way toward a more discernible image of all that is to come.
To grant you some peace of mind as you work on your puzzle, remember that going through periods of discouragement is absolutely normal. When it feels as though you have tried every possible option with nothing to show for it, succumbing to the temptation of walking away forever may seem to be the most favorable option. I urge you to fight this impulse with everything you have. Sometimes all you need to do in order to get back on track is take a step back, clear your mind and reorient yourself around your goals. You will be so glad you did not give in when you return to face the challenge head-on with a completely new, invigorated outlook and discover just how much of a difference these actions can make. Suddenly, the pieces before you will appear to be in a whole new light with connections and opportunities shining through like never before. When you actively choose the path of perseverance over packing up the pieces and returning the box to the shelf to be ignored, you are already that much closer to your self-defined success.
As time goes on, you fall into a routine as you learn to maneuver the ebbs and flows brought on by the effort put forth to connect these pieces. While this structure may be comfortable, be sure that it has not made you complacent and trapped behind nothing more than the illusion of progress. To infuse some excitement into an all-too-structured life, attempt a new hobby, think from a new perspective, acknowledge when you learn something new and wander outside of your comfort zone. In doing so, you will find that taking interest in connecting the pieces within previously unexplored areas can do wonders for newfound motivation and the expansion of your horizons.
There comes a time for us all where we feel ourselves inching closer and closer to the finish line with each piece making the image that much more transparent. The build-up has been riddled with trials and tribulations, but this all fades away with the endgame appearing to be more and more imminent. You feel yourself becoming elated, the sense of accomplishment lingering just beneath the surface for the moment to arrive. Then, just like that, there is a single empty space ready to be filled to signify your achievement once and for all. Putting this piece in place means you have obtained self-awareness; you know where you are, where exactly you wish to be and how it is you will get there. Everything you are and everything you have done thus far has led to this moment, and it is finally here. You reach out gleefully to clear this final hurdle, but alas, you find nothing. You search high and low, desperately in need of this symbol of validation to indicate that your journey has met a successful end, but are left empty-handed.
This is life. No matter the attitudes, experiences or number of defeats and victories one has, there will always be an open space on the puzzle yearning for its final piece. At times, this missing piece may feel as all-consuming as a gaping hole determined to make us feel uncertain and lost. However, this need not be the case. View it not as a bleak and disappointing hole, but as an everlasting fresh page granting you the opportunity to improve yourself, explore, make mistakes, learn, grow and live to the fullest extent. Doing so will stop you from blindly chasing after the unrealistic idea of a successful life having a singular static endpoint, and will instead place you behind the artist’s canvas with the ability to continuously alter the puzzle image to best represent who you are in the given moment.
So the next time you open a puzzle, I hope you take it in stride and find more enjoyment in the process than the ending. And if it happens to be missing that final piece, no need to be discouraged, just take the space for what it is: a place of infinite possibilities!