Counting Squares: A Puzzle About More Than Math
It looks innocent at first: a neat stack of square blocks and a caption daring you to “Count the Squares.” You think it’s a brain teaser. But the moment you try, something strange happens. Your answer feels personal, as if the blocks are measuring more than your counting skills.
At first glance, it’s simple: colorful squares stacked neatly, a caption claiming, “Most People Are Narcissists… Count the Squares.” You start counting, settling on a number. Then you notice others count differently—some include front-facing squares, some see hidden edges, some wonder whether partially obscured faces count at all.
Suddenly, the puzzle isn’t just about counting. It’s a mirror.
Why Answers Differ
Human perception is selective. Your brain favors speed over completeness, first impressions over exhaustive detail. Optical illusions and cognitive biases exploit this. The disagreement isn’t about intelligence—it’s about definitions:
“Count only clearly visible squares.”
“Count every visible face.”
“Include implied edges.”
Each is valid, but different.
The Narcissism Angle
The provocative caption isn’t clinical—it’s ego-tinged. Disagreement triggers defensiveness:
“No, it’s definitely 8.”
“You’re overthinking it.”
“That doesn’t count.”
It’s about how we protect being right.
The Real Lesson
Some squares are obvious. Some exist only in edges and shadows. How you count reflects attention, curiosity, and humility:
Attention: How many details do you notice before deciding?
Humility: When others see differently, do you get defensive—or curious?
The puzzle isn’t testing math. It’s testing perspective. Growth comes when you reconsider, adjust, and notice what you missed.
Conclusion
The squares aren’t the point. How you approach them is. Curiosity and humility matter more than being “right.” In puzzles, and in life, noticing what you’ve missed can reveal more about yourself than any number ever could.