Experimentation

 With the arrival of the new year came a new semester at school, and the harsh reality of needing to move from a rather relaxed schedule to one that includes reading textbooks and completing assignments again.  The two courses I am starting are both based in psychology, focusing on the brain and behaviour, and the differences between human and non-human cognition.  The scientific method plays a large role in both courses, and fortunately for me, it is something I find rather interesting.  The precise and well-thought-out parameters of a scientific experiment, in particular, appeal to me, as does the ability to control for unknowns. Ah, if only life could be so straightforward sometimes. 

As I was concluding my reading the other day, I was struck by the similarities between scientific methodology and the way I often approach issues in my life. I start with a theory or hypothesis about what is happening that I wish to change or modify, and I then try to determine how I could make this desired end-state a reality through the manipulation of inputs and outputs.  Not quite as neat as a real experiment, but considering that these operations are often only involving an N of 1 (that being me), they are close enough to the real thing. 

What I may lack in scientific methodology, I make up for in dedication to the process.  Once I have locked onto a new way of approaching an issue, I will devote my heart and soul to it, ever hopeful that I have found a "fix" to the issue at hand.  Where true scientists and I tend to part ways is in the fact that scientists are willing to end an experiment so they can change and update their findings, before going back to the drawing board and trying again.  I tend to hold fast and either ignore signs of things not working as planned or allow my innate stubbornness to kick in, prolonging the length of time I devote to my newest idea before finally admitting defeat.  

As I continued my reading this week, an idea struck me. What if I tried to emulate the flexibility that comes with experimentation?  What would happen if, instead of refusing to budge or change direction, I allowed more flow and flexibility to enter the picture?  Perhaps allowing for change would invite in new perspectives and ideas that could potentially lead to the exact outcome I was aiming for in the first place.  And maybe sometimes that would not be the case, and I would still be left wondering what the heck, while I attempt to reevaluate my plans.  Either way, I feel like it is time for opening myself up to new perspectives and ways of approaching bumps in the road.  Always feeling like I need to put my head down and lock onto one way of solving problems feels outdated and limiting, two energies I do not want to carry on down the road.