Secrets to the Pleasures of Problem Solving and Puzzling

"I've got a problem!" What this often brings to mind is, "Houston, we have a problem!" The origin of this phrase can be traced back to the crew of the Apollo 13 moon flight, to report a major technical problem back to their Houston base. Typically these words conjure up and bring to mind quite unpleasant thoughts. These words remind us of the mental distress and tension we have experienced of some personal dilemma. Such problems are not much fun and not something we look forward to.

Now that’s not the kind of problem when we work with puzzles. Queryhome Puzzles pose a much different kind of problems – problems that we usually look forward to and sometimes can’t get enough of. These problem-solving puzzles can also be addictive. These puzzle-problems are fun to deal with, immerse ourselves in, and eventually solve.

Problems posed by puzzles are by design of a different kind. Puzzles are created to:

• Stretch our minds,
• Grow our understanding,
• Strengthen our thought processes
• Fine-tune our logical thinking, and
• Expand our imagination...

to name just a few of the subtle, yet definite benefits of puzzling and problem-solving.

However, while these allusive puzzle problems seem to bother us with their trickery, they are always designed with a positive purpose to amuse and delight us. This also generates two kinds of pleasures and fun.

Firstly, there is the delight in the discovery in unraveling the challenging mystery that is derived simply from working on a problem - the fun of the thinking process in itself. This is attributable to many reasons –

• The joy of being able to rapidly solve a puzzle;
• The thrill of the revelation of our focused problem solving ability;
• By overcoming the helpless confusion when you crack a challenging seemingly impossible problem;
• Surmounting the confusion and helplessness we feel when we the problem seems otherwise unsolvable in any;
• Getting to grips with, understanding, and tackling the subtle nuances of a smart puzzle and unraveling the carefully crafted clues hidden within the puzzle; or
• The thrill in the sudden flash of lightening-like thought process that gives us a sudden insight into the puzzle, that all of a sudden simplifies the complex problem that makes us smile and laugh out in excitement – the true Eureka moment!

And then, there is what we lovers of problem solving and puzzling fondly refer to as, "the thrill of success." Solving a tough problem can be just as rewarding or more than even getting a six over the fence, hitting a home run, or sinking a difficult 3-pointer swishing down the hoop. There is this immense sense of joyful excitement and exhilaration that Inventors, Scientists, and other such habitual problem solvers feel working on a challenging problem, when they crack it and solve the problem.

Knowing how to solve puzzles or the answer of a puzzle is a good thing. But, that in itself is not enough, if we do not put this valuable knowledge to practice and good use and execute them with our puzzling and problem solving activities. There are several interactive sites for puzzles that focus on puzzling and solving problems.

As in most other activities and in business as well, the challenge is almost always in the execution. The various rules to help in putting the problem-solving processes to practice, and to effectively execute them is a subject for another article.To Solve mind blowing puzzles you can click here Queryhome Puzzles

Anumit Agarwal is software programming and Puzzle solution Evangelist working with company QueryHome.com