The problem
You have 9 dots set out in a 3 by 3 shape. 3 dots in each row and 3 dots in each column.
Without taking your pencil from the page you must draw four straight lines that pass through all 9 dots.
Here are some of my attempts to answer the problem:
I have tried as many different combinations as I can think of but to no avail.
Thinking outside the box
What I didn’t realise, was that I had made an unconscious assumption when trying to solve this problem. I unconsciously made a box around those 9 dots. I assumed I was not allowed to go outside of that box. The four straight lines must stay within the box.
Once I was aware of this assumption, things changed. I started thinking outside the box.
Now that I removed that assumption, my perspective on how to solve this problem changed. I viewed the problem from a different angle. I became a little excited with new possibility. Perhaps a little light bulb has even lit up above my head.
I now had permission to draw outside the box. It’s quite liberating once you realise you were working in a cage of your own making.
The thing is, you don’t have to go very far outside the box, but you do have to go outside the box.
The white glove
I faced a similar problem in martial arts, in stand up sparring. In kicking and punching. To protect yourself, you have a guard. You put your hands in a position to protect yourself, especially your head. Your head drives everything. If you get knocked out, it is game over.
Assume you are stood in a stance with your left foot forward. You would then be shown to keep your rear hand (right hand) in front of your mouth to protect your jaw. The jaw is one of the most favoured targets for knocking someone unconscious. The left hand would be out in front. This would parry, or block, any incoming kicks and punches (if you can’t move out of the way in time).
In this particular session, my partner was wearing a big white boxing glove. He held up this type of guard. All I could see was his left hand wearing this big white glove.
With the left hand out in front. As well as being able to parry and block, it is also halfway to the other person’s head. It is our nearest weapon for a punch, specifically a jab. If your opponent moves towards you (into your punching range), you can just extend your left hand forward, and they will run onto your fist.
Knowing this, I was wary of moving forward into his range. Because I knew I could easily run into his big white glove. I could easily run into a punch in the face. I became so concerned, that my attention became fixed on this white glove. I couldn’t see any way around it. If I tried going round to the left or right, I would still get punched. If I tried going under, I would still get punched. And I couldn’t go over it.
Move it
Afterwards, I was talking to my coach, and he commented on how I appeared hypnotised by the white glove. Like a snake being hypnotised by the snake charmer. I responded saying how I could only see this obstacle and couldn’t figure out a way around it.
He responded with something along the lines of “well if you can’t find a way around the obstacle then move the obstacle.”.
What? Pardon me?
“Move it. Move it out of the way. Get rid of it.”
Am I allowed to do that?
“Why not?”
Then I thought about it.
Then a light bulb of possibility went off.
I had made an unconscious assumption that I wasn’t allowed to move my opponent’s hand. That I couldn’t move the obstacle. I had made a cage. I cage of my own making. And I don’t know that I had made it.
Once I was given ‘permission’ to move my opponent’s hand, my perspective changed.
I now had new possibilities.
I could move the hand down. I could move it across their own body. Up over their own head. I could move it outwards, away from their body.
By pushing it down, and keeping it down, I could trap it, stop it from being used. By moving it across their own body, I could pin it against them. Stopping them from using it and preventing them from punching with the other hand.
By removing the assumption, I now have a new perspective on the situation. New possibilities appeared. I can analyse logically what I think may work and what might not work with this new perspective. I can now make different choices.
Planning and experimentation
I now have this new perspective, with new possibilities and new choices. Before stepping into the ring again, I would like to try some of these things out. To test them. To experiment.
I was talking through this with my coach, and we decided to try some things out. Instead of punching each other in the face, we thought we would try a slap in the face (gently of course). We would take in in turns to trap the hand and slap to the face. Or even a polite punch to the body. By trying things out in a safe and secure environment, I felt more comfortable to experiment. Something might not work the first time. But I could try it a few times. Then decide whether it just needed practice or it was a bad technique and needed to be dropped.
I was now building a new plan. A new plan of attack. The next time I would go to the sparring ring, I had a new perspective. I could make new choices. I could take a different action. I could make a new habit in my fighting style.
Afterwards, I can reflect on what worked and what didn’t work. I could refine my new plan. I could practice those techniques that worked, so they became better, more effective. I could drill those things that didn’t work, to see if I could make them work. I could even think up new techniques and experiment with them during practice too.
A never-ending loop of experimentation, then reflection, analysis and then planning. Before experimenting once again.
Takeaways
If you are trying to solve a problem. If you are becoming frustrated that you can’t find an answer. Perhaps you have made an unconscious assumption. You have created a cage of your own making. A cage you cannot see for yourself. Talk through the problem with someone else. Perhaps a coach or mentor, someone experienced in the area you are looking at. They may just help you see that cage you can’t see for yourself.
If you realise you have made an unconscious assumption. Remove that assumption. New possibilities become open to you. You can view the problem from a new perspective. This new perspective opens up new choices you can make. The power of choice is one of our greatest powers. It is synonymous with freedom. Find others to help remove your own cages and you will have a new perspective. This will lead to the opportunity to make new choices. This leads to new possibilities.
New choices and possibilities are great, but only taking action makes a difference. You need to feel you have permission to experiment. To experiment and see what works and what doesn’t work. Using the continuous feedback loop you can experiment. You can reflect, analyse then make a new plan. Then start all over and experiment again.
Footnotes
The 3 x 3 dot problem came from the book ‘The Art of Possibility’ by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
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