Understanding the why

I spent several months investigating what we call gravity, and I’m now close to publishing a rather intriguing proposal on the subject. But behind that research, I found the same drive that fuels me in Pointfulness: the urge to understand how something works, rather than settling for ad hoc explanations.

My work on the mind follows the same logic: to understand how it operates and the impact it has on us. I believe that understanding a phenomenon largely reduces the tension it generates. However, as with Pointfulness, understanding does not mean finding an immediate solution or numbing the pain.

Understanding requires an analytical process based on facts, yet the mind and the emotional weight of suffering often distort our objectivity—especially when it comes to ourselves. By identifying the illusions our own mind fabricates, we can take a step back. What remains is reality as it is—not to complain about it, but so that any change we choose to make can have a real impact, rather than being just a rephrasing of our internal narrative.

A math teacher once said, “Just because you've watched an acrobat do a triple somersault a thousand times doesn’t mean you can do it yourself.” You have to train again and again. The same applies when proving a theorem… and also when transforming a mental state.

This is where a guide or mentor becomes essential. Someone who has walked the path, repeated the process many times. They know the terrain, can follow the trail, and help you avoid pitfalls. That kind of guidance saves time—and keeps you from getting stuck.

If you’re facing a situation whose meaning eludes you, Pointfulness can help. Not every problem in life has a solution, but what truly matters is finding your way back to lightness.