RAMP Mindsets for the Puzzle of Life
Exploring ways of handling complexity and uncertainty.
As a puzzle designer and artist, I create experiences that invite people to get comfortable with uncertainty and chaos. My belief is that by embracing the paradoxical duality of reality and uncertainty in healthy ways, we allow patterns of truth, beauty and life to emerge and become self-sustaining. We allow ourselves to Escape from Flatland.
I regularly seek new perspectives for my puzzles and have found inspiration on a number of occasions via Substack. While putting some thoughts together for a talk on puzzle design for the 30th anniversary of the Puzzle Parley, I came across The RAMP Mindset on Embracing Uncertainty. As a lover of metaphors, I liked the framing of puzzles as a mindset ramp, which led me to see how others had used RAMP as a mnemonic lens. I found two other relevant uses of the ramp acronym that apply to puzzle design, as well as the puzzle of life.
Rather than reiterate at length each of the metaphors, I’ve provided a summary below of each, along with a breadcrumb link back to the original source of inspiration. The three renditions of RAMP present a unified theme of transformation through mindful awareness and intentional participaction.
1. Reject All Mediocre Pleasures (RAMP): This approach focuses on rejecting fleeting, unfulfilling pleasures to make space for more meaningful experiences. It encourages us to first identify what truly nourishes us. Through this recognition, we can then engage in an ongoing practice of replacing mediocre habits with known fulfilling alternatives.
2. Relatedness, Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose (RAMP): Gamification and game design principles increasingly factor into our home, work, and personal lives. This is especially true as our marketplace of goods and ideas (particularly within the digital realm) is subject to the acute manipulation of human psychology to increase engagement, attention capture, and persuasion (sales). Given the influence this has in our day-to-day interactions, it’s useful to make the individual game player aware of the underpinnings of gamification in order for the player to get better at the game. In other words, if you want skilled players, they should be implicitly and explicitly aware of the rules, incentives, and goals of the game. The Relatedness, Autonomy, Mastery & Purpose framework enables a leveling up of play by emphasizing the importance of social connection, personal agency, skill development, and meaningful goals in fostering a playful, creative, and fulfilling life.
3. Rapidly Accelerated Mind Patterning (RAMP): Not much is published online but this therapeutic technique is said to target deep-seated subconscious patterns that hinder well-being and happiness. By addressing these deeper, root causes instead of dealing with surface level symptoms, it facilitates rapid and lasting personal transformation.
How do I design puzzle experiences, through a RAMP lens?
Reject Mediocre Puzzles: I design puzzles with minimal repetition and frequently “break rules” in order to challenge and engage players on multiple levels, avoiding overly simplistic designs.
Foster Relatedness: I create puzzles that can be enjoyed collaboratively, encouraging social interaction and shared experiences.
Promote Autonomy: I encourage multiple solution paths or open-ended challenges, empowering solvers to explore and experiment.
Enable Mastery: I offer puzzles with varying difficulty levels, allowing solvers to gradually develop their skills and experience a sense of accomplishment no matter their current level of solutionary thinking.
Infuse Purpose: I design puzzles with meaningful themes or narratives that resonate with players on a deeper level, enriching the experience beyond mere entertainment.
Applying RAMP Mindsets to the Great Puzzle of Life
Reject Mediocre Pleasures: Become mindful of habits and activities that don't truly nourish your soul, replacing them with pursuits that align with your values and aspirations.
Cultivate Relatedness: Nurture meaningful relationships with friends, family, and community, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
Embrace Autonomy: Take ownership of your choices and decisions, empowering yourself to create the life you desire.
Pursue Mastery: Continuously learn and grow, developing skills and expertise in areas that ignite your passion and purpose.
Discover Purpose: Reflect on your values and identify what truly matters to you, setting meaningful goals that give your life direction and fulfillment.
By applying the principles of RAMP, we can approach both puzzle design and the Great Puzzle of Life with intention and mindfulness. This allows us to create more engaging and fulfilling experiences, both on our puzzle-solving surface and in our daily lives.
In essence, a RAMP mindset invites us to "Look Again" at our lives, to question our assumptions, and to make conscious choices that lead to greater well-being, happiness, and personal growth.