A game of seek and go hide

I am a huge fan of logic.

Despite being the classic right brained creative whose livelihood centers around his ability to throw off the shackles of logic and exploit the resources of imagination, I see the allure.

Logic is just so clean, useful and beautiful. And as I collaborate with more engineers, developers, designers and technical people in my career, I have learned ways to improve my own logical capabilities.

In fact, during the pandemic, our country could have used a little more logic and a lot less emotion. Because fear was the predominant energy, thanks to the powers that be, and we citizens spent three years in a perpetual state of trauma where our rational decision making capacities were utterly disturbed. The results of that were catastrophic.

Lesson learned, there’s a balance. We must identify moments when we’re using logic to move the story forward, and when we’re using it to hide. Sometimes our over reliance on logic in certain contexts indicates a reluctance to confront deeper emotional aspects of our situation. It might be stemming from a lack of courage or an avoidance of vulnerability.

What’s more, leaning too heavily on logic can stifle creativity and limit possibilities. Sometimes we need to mentally play uninhibitedly outside of the constraining rules of logical forces like social norms and common language and popular society.

It’s like these people who watch science fiction films and have the nerve to criticize them for being unfeasible.

I read these reviews all the time. Some idiot who hasn’t had sex in a decade thinks he’s a professor of film studies. His review goes like this.

This movie is a complete departure from even the most basic understanding of time travel principles. The plot presented in this film is so unfeasible that it becomes an insult to the intelligence of its audience. The parallel universe sequence in act two is filmed in such a convoluted and arbitrary manner that it becomes impossible to suspend disbelief. And don’t get me started on the characters themselves. They are beautiful but thinly developed vessels used to clumsily deliver clunky dialogue about poorly conceived scientific theories. Save yourself the disappointment and seek out a film that respects its audience’s intelligence.

Now, when I read a review like this, all I can think to myself is, wow, this person is hiding behind logic.

Congratulations for not feeling anything. Good for them and their logical arguments.

But sometimes a movie needs to be something you surrender yourself to. Sometimes you need to leave logic at the door, let go of your addictions to rules and rightness and taste and restraint, and just let the operatic ecstasy of this art completely own you for two hours.

I cherish movies that do that. I love nothing more than a film with exquisite acting, beautiful shots, inspiring music, and a poetic script, but I still have no idea what the hell is going on.

It’s good practice not hiding behind logic. It’s an exercise in letting go.

Look, in life we will be faced with many difficult and uncomfortable situations that require empathy, vulnerability, or deeper understanding.

Relying solely on logic won’t save us. It might distance us from the messy emotional or personal aspects of the issue. But running away from our fears and insecurities is a form of cowardice. We’re braver than that.

In summary, there are four things we hide behind. Story, people, objects and logic.

What do all four of these things have in common?

All of them serve as shields, protecting us from criticism, punishment, and vulnerability. And while the hiding mechanisms provide temporary relief, in the long term, they hinder personal growth and genuine connection.

If we want to discover our true selves, we should consider the things we’re hiding behind.

You’ve heard of playing hide and go seek?

Well, this game is called seek and no hide.

What’s your favorite way to avoid being seen, noticed or interacted with in this world?