Each year follows a familiar pattern. Preparation for Christmas begins in November. Although the holiday officially falls on the 25th of December, it becomes a month of constant social events and family reunions. These gatherings often lead to physical discomfort from rich food and heavy puddings, requiring frequent use of indigestion remedies.
By the 2nd of January,
the celebrations have finally ended. While the month of January is frequently
seen as bleak due to its grey skies and sombre atmosphere, it can provide welcome
relief from the festivities. The conclusion of the holiday season removes the
distractions of bright lights, repetitive music and social obligations.
January often brings
with it a sense of renewal and those delicate new year resolutions. Although
this blog is being published in February, I suspect many of you still have a
few resolutions intact, even if several others have already fallen by the
wayside. Perhaps this is the moment to use February as an opportunity to
recalibrate. Rather than pursuing extreme resolutions that rarely endure, we
might instead choose aims that are more realistic and sustainable.
In truth, we are all
in the same boat, each carrying our own mix of experiences, strengths and
shortcomings. We recognise ourselves as works in progress, aware of the gaps we
wish to address and the effort required to do so. The question that inevitably
follows is how.
Well, I think I have a
tool that might address that question, if you know me well enough you will most
probably have guessed what it might be.
This year, I propose to
embark on a journey of self-discovery. I want to focus on the person I see in
the mirror every morning. My goal is to determine if it is possible for me, and
by extension you the reader, to work on actively becoming the best version of myself.
Such a lofty achievement would be remarkable. Although I believe that we all
desire this outcome, it remains the most difficult task any person can
undertake.
The first step on this journey is to find a point of stillness that brings true insight. To achieve this, we must allow ourselves to be bored.
For some people, the
weight of complete silence can feel overwhelming. Yet we are here trying to
reach a state where thoughts can be allowed reset naturally, a state that can seem
difficult or even impossible for most. However, there are ways to achieve this.
One way to do this requires allotting some time in your schedule, a tidy space
devoid of distractions, a single light source and a simple deck of standard cards.
Next, you must turn
off your mobile phone. For your allotted time, you will not check any
notifications or browse any form of social media. You will avoid all external
communication. The focus here is on the space you have prepared, your
surroundings and the deck of cards.
Look at the clear
surface in front of you and then at your cards. Shuffle the deck seven times
using any method you find most comfortable. Focus on the feeling of the cards
as you move them. Control the cards as they come together and clear your mind. Thoughts
will come, they always do, see them off and return to your space. Once you have
finished, place the deck face down and ensure it is neat. Observe the stillness
of the cards on your chosen surface.
Deal cards from the
deck into seven imaginary columns as follows. Place one card face up in the
first column, then one card face down in each of the remaining six columns.
For the second row,
leave the first column empty. Place one card face up in the second column, then
one card face down in each of the remaining columns.
For the third row,
leave the first two columns empty. Place one card face up in the third column,
then one card face down in each of the remaining columns.
Continue this pattern,
leaving one additional column empty at the start of each new row. In every new
row, place one card face up in the next available column, followed by one card
face down in each of the columns that remain.
Consider what is being
cultivated through this process beyond the simple act of dealing cards. The aim
is to carry out each movement with full intention. You should shuffle and deal
as though the outside world has fallen away. In that moment, the process
becomes the only reality. The cards leave the deck and settle on the surface in
a steady and deliberate sequence. Nothing unexpected occurs. Each card fulfils
its place within a defined pattern
If your thoughts drift,
as will happen, do not berate yourself. Simply acknowledge the distraction, see
those thoughts off and return to your space.
Once you have finished
dealing, you have created the starting layout for a game known as Klondike
Solitaire. This category of single player games is often overlooked. Although
the rules are straightforward, the act of playing helps the mind to settle and
focus on a single task. The process removes unnecessary distractions and allows
the mind to enter a state that is very close to meditation.
Solitaire can stir a
wide range of genuine emotions. With practice, you may develop skills that
improve your chances of success. Even so, you will often face a difficult
arrangement of cards that prevents you from winning. Some cards remain hidden
in the early columns and may block your progress regardless of your ability.
You may experience several losses in one day, which can lead to frustration or self-doubt.
By contrast, completing a game can bring a quiet sense of achievement. Since
you are playing alone, these emotional responses arise from within rather than
from the cards themselves.
The game highlights an
important challenge within the human condition. It shows how easily we can
become overwhelmed by our own feelings. We often allow ourselves to be guided
by emotions that have no logical place in a simple card game.
The solution is to
handle these emotions in the same way we manage distracting thoughts. When a
feeling arises, you should not try to suppress it. Instead, you must pause to
acknowledge the emotion and then let it pass. By doing so, you can return to
the game and focus once again on the task at hand.
Human beings are
social mammals raised to use emotions as a tool for connection. These feelings
often synchronise the actions of a group. For instance, watching a large crowd
cheer or boo at a sporting event usually provokes an emotional response in the observer.
People naturally empathise with a collective sentiment. We also link victory
and failure to strong feelings. It is common for individuals to cry during
moments of great joy or significant loss. This emotional response becomes
stronger when a person identifies closely with a specific team or goal.
This behaviour may be
understandable in a social setting, yet it seems misplaced in other situations.
Consider the frustration that can arise when losing a game of Solitaire. Even a
quiet and unassuming activity can reveal something important. As we move along
the path of self-discovery, we must look closely at the triggers behind our
emotions. This helps us set aside what is unnecessary and recognise what truly
matters.
To do this, we should
allow ourselves moments of stillness and even welcome boredom. We need a method
that encourages the mind to turn inward. Card games offer a state of flow that
resembles meditation because they demand attention to a single physical task.
When we commit to such a process, we become more aware of our own thoughts. The
insights that follow can be surprisingly clear.
Modern board games can
provide an ideal extension of this mindful practice. They offer structured
environments where we can observe our reactions to both chance and the presence
of others. By moving from the solitary experience of cards to shared tabletop
sessions, we can apply the same discipline of stillness and emotional awareness
to broader social contexts.
Several games released
between 2022 and 2025 are particularly suited for this purpose. I will be
proposing several for your consideration, highlighting those aspects that make
these game particularly suited to this task. I feel that these titles can help emphasise
a state of flow and provide clear, tactile feedback that can encourage
introspection.
Dorfromantik: The
Board Game (2022) This cooperative title focuses on the peaceful creation of a
village landscape. It is entirely devoid of conflict and rewards players for
building harmonious patterns. It is an excellent choice for groups of up to six
people to practice shared focus.
Earth (2023) This game
offers a sophisticated solo mode where you manage an ecosystem. The complex
card interactions require total concentration, which helps to quiet the mind.
It also works well with four players, as everyone remains active during every
turn, reducing the chance for distraction.
Cascadia (2021/2022)
While technically a 2021 release, its global availability peaked shortly after.
It is a tile-laying game about balancing wildlife and habitats. The game is
known for its serene atmosphere and "low friction" interaction, making
it perfect for a "heads-up" two-player session.
A Place for All My
Books (2025) A more recent release, this game focuses on the simple and
satisfying task of library organisation. It is designed as a slow-burning
puzzle that prioritises a relaxing experience over high-pressure competition.
Art Society (2023) is
an ideal choice for a multiplayer event with four people. You act as art
collectors arranging paintings on a gallery wall. The process of bidding on
artwork and fitting different shapes into your display requires careful
thought. It teaches you to remain calm when others take the items you desire.
This helps you to focus on your own creative process rather than the
competitive actions of your peers.
Meadow (2021) Meadow
works beautifully as both a solo and a multiplayer game for up to four players.
It features hand-painted watercolour cards representing plants and animals. You
must build a personal tableau by layering cards based on the requirements of
the ecosystem. The game rewards patience and observation. It is an excellent
tool for training the mind to see connections and to appreciate a slow,
methodical progression toward a goal.
Harmony (2024) is a
recent release that is perfect for a heads-up session with two players or a
thoughtful solo game. In Harmony, you create a three-dimensional landscape
using coloured wooden tokens. You must arrange these tokens into specific
patterns to attract various animals. The tactile nature of the wooden
components provides a soothing physical connection to the task. It forces you
to balance your immediate actions with long-term patterns, which mirrors the
mental discipline of meditation.
To use these games as
a springboard, it would be best to start from a solo gaming experience. This
allows you to master the mechanics while maintaining the internal quiet found
in the solitaire exercise, I described earlier. Once you feel comfortable, move
to a two-player or "heads-up" game. Here, the challenge is to remain
calm and focused even when another person influences the board.
Finally, engaging in a
multiplayer event with four or more people serves as the ultimate test. The
objective is to enjoy the social connection without becoming enslaved by the
collective excitement or frustration of the group. By treating the game as a series
of logical processes rather than an emotional battle, you can remain present
and attentive to your thoughts as they wax and wane inside you.
As we move into the
heart of February, I come to realise that perhaps this is the perfect time to kickstart
a new constructive habit. Yet this time it will not require grand gestures or
radical changes. All it takes is enabling a kind of internal tranquillity nurtured
through the actuation of a structured form of play. By moving from the silence
of a card deck to the structured puzzles of modern board games, we create a
special space, a kind of laboratory for our own minds.
The aim of these
playful exercises is to help us arrive at the awareness that we are not defined
by the frustration of a difficult turn or the fleeting joy of a win. Instead,
we work towards becoming the calm observer of these moments. These games, as I
am proposing here, are more than mere pastimes. They are tools that can help us
practice being present in a world that constantly demands our attention
elsewhere. When we focus on the placement of a token or the shuffle of a deck,
we reclaim our focus and our inner peace.
I intend to follow
this approach throughout the year. In time, I may share what I have learned and
whether the practice has offered any lasting benefit.
In the end, this is
less about the game and more about the discipline of attention. A simple
ritual, repeated with intent, can reveal the quiet spaces we often overlook.
Within those spaces things can and will get messy, yet we will also hopefully begin
to understand ourselves with greater honesty. And if we can learn to recognise
that clarity in something as modest as a deck of cards or a board game, we may
find it easier to carry the same steadiness into the rest of our lives
Comments
Post a Comment