Who cares about the hole in the path? Go around it and discover the pleasure of walking on the grass!

Sitting on the plane returning to Kathmandu and indulging in reading the August issue of O Magazine. There is a section of 10 quizzes designed to help you get to know yourself; ranging from “How do you find joy?” to “How much stress can you take?”. I was drawn by the page with the big, empty white box in the middle, empowered through its separation from the words around it by a three-lined grey border. My eyes returned to the top of the page to see what it would teach me about myself – “What’s your best problem solving approach?”

Part 1, the instructions read: “Think of a dilemma you’re currently facing.” Which one, I giggle to myself. “Now quickly push it aside and switch mental gears: Imagine you’re walking through a park when you come to a hole in the ground blocking your path. In the space below [ah, the gorgeous box!], sketch a scene that illustrates how you manage to continue on your way.”

Once I overcame the fear of sketching anything, I thought, “Well, that’s easy, what’s so hard. You simply step off the path, go on the grass around the hole and rejoin the path on the other side!”

Part 2, the instructions continued: “The way you drew yourself getting past the hole – whether on a tree-branch bridge or in a hot air balloon – may give you a new perspective on getting past the obstacle you’re facing in real life.” Insert screeching tyres sound here – Hgh? Hot air balloon? Who’s making such a big deal out of a little hole in the road?!

Then the article asks a series of questions:

·         “Q. How big is the hole? If it is more like a ditch than a canyon, maybe your real world problem isn’t as severe as you thought.”

·         “Q. Did you use the environment around you to get across the hole? If so, you might benefit from friends/family/counselling support.”

·         “Q. Did you draw your picture quickly? If you were guided by instinct, trust your gut. But if you took your time to think, you might want to learn more about your problem before you continue.”

·         “Q. Did you take a risk, a leap of faith? Bold action just might move you closer to your goal.”

Ah, this made me laugh! For me, it was just a hole, so go off the path and walk around it. No big deal, there will no doubt be more; and who needs the path anyway? Enjoy the feeling of the grass underfoot for a moment and rejoin the path on the other side if you like – or don’t. Maybe continue on the grass! Sure it has its risks – it’s a bumpier ride, you might get lost etc. But it feels amazing and who knows what you’ll find! Besides the path, while clear and sure to get you to the other side, had its holes too, right? And isn’t the purpose to enjoy the park, not get to the other side the fastest?