HOL Ravenclaw

The deeper you delve into the mystery, the more the forest seems to whisper its secrets.

No information from the books you read seem to be complete, or any useful information at all, but you still take note on your best buddy, your trusty yellow notepad, hoping you can find something soon.

You inconspicuously stand by the forest, squinting your eyes. Your glances alternate from at the forest to on your notepad, as if you were waiting for the answer to come to you.

And it was starting to.

Hmm…

Here, the hunt begins.

Task:
Solve this cryptogram. Please send your solutions as a Private Message at the Roost to Katherine Laurier with the subject “Week Two - Task 05. - “The Hunt Begins”.

Alternatively, write at least 150 words about what you do when the answer to a problem or any situation doesn’t come to you as fast as you would like it to. How do you handle uncertainty when a solution seems out of reach? Describe one instance you have done so if you would like. What have you learned from experiences where the solution didn’t arrive immediately or at all?

This task is worth 15 beans/sapphires. You can earn an additional 10 bonus beans for completing all Week Two tasks by Friday, October 31st, at 11:59 PM (HOL time).

Upon completion of this task, an additional “task” in the form of a symbol or puzzle will be sent to you by me, Katherine Laurier, through Private Message within 24 hours. You can accomplish this as a means of earning more beans and sapphires, however this is not required for you to complete, just like any other “regular” task. Alternatives for the symbol/puzzle may be requested through the same Private Message. For more detailed information, feel free to check Information and Questions or ask me a question through PM!

When the answer to a problem or any situation doesn’t come to me as fast as I would like it to, I spend every waking hour brainstorming and viewing it from different angles. I allow myself periods of rest in between or sleep on it and call it self-care, then begin brainstorming again. If it is important enough to be difficult to sleep on, I end up dreaming about it. I eliminate everything that doesn't work, one by one. I weigh the pros and cons of each possibility. When a solution seems out of reach, I handle uncertainty by reassuring myself that the universe is with me and something will happen, and if not, there will be an alternative and it won't be the end of my life. I release my expectations and it becomes easier to live in the moment, which in turn, calms my nerves and gives me the energy to brainstorm further.
This is a very small example in comparison to the intended context but can be extrapolated for the meaning. I remember trying to solve a difficult math problem in school. It was taking ages. I didn't know how to do it. I tried several times because I didn't want to give up. It became increasingly frustrating with each failed try. I reminded myself that a solution exists otherwise this math problem wouldn't have been made. In the end, I told myself that I don't have to do everything and can give up on a few things. I just knew that it wouldn't be the end of my life. That eased the pressure and made it fun. I had nothing else to do at the moment and continued to brainstorm and eventually stumbled upon the solution just like that. My takeaway that I learned is that anxiety can be a negative force, but trusting the situation makes it a lot easier.

When an answer in an difficult or unknown situation doesn’t immediately come my way i mostly try to take a deep breath and try to come up with something quickly, though that doesn’t always work. I tend to get anxious really quick or nervous because i hate being in the unknown. I always want to find a solution to everything by myself and stay in control of things. If i really can’t find something by myself i go ask for help, though that is not something i like so also not something i do pretty often. I always get the feeling that i am a burden to someone if i ask for help even though deep down i know that is not true at all. One thing i definitely learned from this is that it’s okay to ask for help and that it’s okay to not always have a quick solution to every little thing.