One of my absolute guilty pleasures is watching 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Countdown is a British gameshow with words, numbers and conundrums. Jimmy Carr presents a comedy called 8 out of 10 cats. When Cats does Countdown, it’s presented by him with regular contestants and guests that all have a variety of skills, but mostly just comedy. The rules change. There are maddening distractions. The natural progression of humour is ridiculously funny. There is not a fowl mood I can find myself in, that the combination of mind skills and brain-dead humour cannot get me out of.

The lady responsible for the maths is amazing with how she gets to the correct answer through only addition, multiplication, subtraction and division (no fractions!). But – on the odd occasion, the combination of numbers just cannot get to the main number. An impossibility.

We constantly face tests in life. Metaphorical tests, of course. Some we pass with flying colours and some we fail, but get to take it again. Some tests are just the natural occurrence of living. And some tests are set up unwittingly by those around us.

And in the plethora of tests – there might also on occasion be The Impossible test. Setting people up with expectations, we subconsciously know they are going to fail at and then feel like they disappointed us. Because subconsciously, we can’t justify it. Where we expect people to understand us, without communicating. A bit of an entrapment, if I may. But we try to justify it and we have (seemingly) little control over our feelings.

The thing is, there are some negative emotions that we grow accustomed to. It might not be healthy, but because of its familiarity, we seek it out and there is a dopamine hit. It’s what’s behind making the same decisions over and over again, expecting different results. A yoyo game that we know so well and for some reason find comfort in.

One of the biggest saboteurs that we all can relate to on different levels to, is our very own pity parties. It can range from a mild withdrawal when we feel misunderstood. Repressed rage leading to depression. Or a level of dramatics and temperamental behaviour. It’s not necessarily the smack in your face: ‘poor me’ scenario, but it can be as simple of wanting to be saved from our own messes – to a feeling that no-one will ever be able to understand us. An ‘I am what I feel’ mentality.

When we are faced with these trials and tribulations and this sneaky little fiend pops up – it’s very easy to get caught up in it. Our feelings are valid, of course, but it’s also driven by conscious and subconscious factors.

And here is the big thing when it comes to tests: We are more, than just how we feel in a specific moment. The sun will go down, the moon will come in different shapes and the sun will rise again. How we feel today is not how we will feel tomorrow. We find short-lived comfort in those parties. But like all parties – it will come to an end. And it’s not a particular good party, either.

I have a test, that I keep failing at. A test somewhat in a different language. Some words would make sense, but the bigger context remains unavailable. And I realised that until the sad aspects of another’s’ past, become my present – I am predestined to fail at this specific test.

I think I actually broke my brain every single time this popped up. And was left lost in the mess of it. But when you become quiet and understand that it’s not your test to pass, the pathway for passing other tests becomes a bit clearer.

People are not 2-dimensional. And there is ratio for our need to be understood versus our willingness to understand others.

Another mouthful, but I want to bring the point back to what it is that works for me when watching 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown. It forces me to focus on something that keep my brain occupied in a healthy manner – arbitrary words and numbers. There is no one that has not being joked about – everyone is mocked equally. They even mock themselves. They push boundaries on what is acceptable or not and it’s generally just all good fun.

So, lessons for when we are faced with tests – from a simple game show:

1. Know your limitations, but also know that your limitations are not as narrow as you might think.
2. Focus on things within your control, the steps you need to take.
3. There will be distractions, you can indulge in it, or choose to ignore it.
4. There’s a place for seriousness and a place for laughter – but if you cannot laugh at yourself at least once a day – your life will only be filled with words and numbers.

Have a lovely week friends!

(And seriously – watch 8 out of 10 cats Does Countdown)