--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a really hard time connecting to…" description: "\"I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't feel like I'm somehow solving a puzzle that applies to my life.\" — Andrew McMahon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png" --- # I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't… ![“I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't feel like I'm somehow solving a puzzle that applies to my life.” quote by Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png) > “I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't feel like I'm somehow solving a puzzle that applies to my life.” [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music that feels like a personal puzzle engages deeper emotional resonance **In simple terms:** Connect through relatable narratives Key Takeaway Seek songs that mirror personal challenges Themes empathy storytelling self‑reflection Mood contemplative hopeful Type therapeutic philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative writing - personal journaling - team building Key Concepts psychology music therapy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance puzzle‑like music with escapist tunes? - When does music become a therapeutic tool? A Different Perspective Not all music needs to solve a puzzle; some offers pure escape ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Hard times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-times/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Puzzles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzles/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It's just weird that indie rock heads and so on are connecting to my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prefuse-73/it-s-just-weird-that-indie-rock-heads-and-so-on-are-connecting-to-my/) [Prefuse 73](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prefuse-73/) > [Gradually, people are connecting with my music, and that means the world to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/gradually-people-are-connecting-with-my-music-and-that-means-the/) [Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/) > [It feels really good that people are connecting to my music so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/it-feels-really-good-that-people-are-connecting-to-my-music-so-much/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Music is a lot more like solving an intricate puzzle with moments of pure, random creative bliss... whereas painting is much more purely random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/music-is-a-lot-more-like-solving-an-intricate-puzzle-with-moments-of/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [There's a structure to a detective story that I can easily understand. I understand playing that particular game. It's like solving a puzzle. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/there-s-a-structure-to-a-detective-story-that-i-can-easily-understand/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [The writers job is like solving a puzzle, and finally arriving at a solution is a tremendous satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/the-writers-job-is-like-solving-a-puzzle-and-finally-arriving-at-a/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Music is something that, I mean, I think most people just, there's something about connecting with music that's unlike anything else, and I'm someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/music-is-something-that-i-mean-i-think-most-people-just-there-s/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [I like solving problems, and science provides a logical way of solving real-life problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-anderson/i-like-solving-problems-and-science-provides-a-logical-way-of-solving/) [David J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-anderson/) > ['Toybox' is that kind of game that will stretch your mental capacity by doing very simple things like solving an easy puzzle of shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/toybox-is-that-kind-of-game-that-will-stretch-your-mental-capacity-by/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“I tried to look at writing a song almost like solving a mystery. The song was there, buried somewhere in my brain. All I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-skovron/i-tried-to-look-at-writing-a-song-almost-like-solving-a-mystery-the/) [Jon Skovron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-skovron/) > [I like solving problems that seem intractable. That's how I thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/i-like-solving-problems-that-seem-intractable-that-s-how-i-thrive/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [That's how you write novels actually. You suddenly hit upon something and you realize this is the path you were meant to take. You'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/that-s-how-you-write-novels-actually-you-suddenly-hit-upon-something/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Refactoring is a lot like solving a Rubik’s cube. There are lots of little steps required to achieve a large goal. Each step enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-martin/refactoring-is-a-lot-like-solving-a-rubik-s-cube-there-are-lots-of/) [Robert C. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-martin/) > [“Writing is like solving a creative equation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/see-moua/writing-is-like-solving-a-creative-equation/) See Moua > [In the first person, the readers feel smart, like it's them solving the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/in-the-first-person-the-readers-feel-smart-like-it-s-them-solving-the/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) ## More by Andrew McMahon > [It's easy to love the snow because at the end of every snowstorm it's as if the world has started over. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/it-s-easy-to-love-the-snow-because-at-the-end-of-every-snowstorm-it-s/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [I think that's the most important thing: when life kind of screws you over a little bit, you've got to learn from that experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-think-that-s-the-most-important-thing-when-life-kind-of-screws-you/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [I've found that falling doesn't always leave you fallen for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-ve-found-that-falling-doesn-t-always-leave-you-fallen-for/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [You're gonna get thrown curve balls left and right, and that's just the way it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/you-re-gonna-get-thrown-curve-balls-left-and-right-and-that-s-just/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [I try not to release songs that I'm not proud of, and even songs that I don't connect with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-try-not-to-release-songs-that-i-m-not-proud-of-and-even-songs-that/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [I am lucky. I did not choose this life. It chose me. 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There's a lot of beauty in everything. I think what makes life beautiful is the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-think-human-beings-make-life-beautiful-there-s-a-lot-of-beauty-in/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [It's your 21st birthday... What are you doing sober at the front row of a concert? Is it your 21st birthday? By the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/it-s-your-21st-birthday-what-are-you-doing-sober-at-the-front-row-of/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [But planes land and so do I, and suns rise, melting away the grounds cool protection. 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When I do stand-up, I listen to the audience. I try to understand what's connecting, what's not connecting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/my-writing-process-is-very-feedback-based-when-i-do-stand-up-i-listen/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Mine was, as it were, the connecting link between wild and cultivated fields; as some states are civilized, and others half-civilized, and others savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/mine-was-as-it-were-the-connecting-link-between-wild-and-cultivated/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wrestling has been a journey through life, connecting different parts of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-brooke/wrestling-has-been-a-journey-through-life-connecting-different-parts/) [Dana Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-brooke/) > [It's not right to say that only girls get emotional while watching a movie. I have seen so many men connecting with a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/it-s-not-right-to-say-that-only-girls-get-emotional-while-watching-a/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [People, I am actually fairly smart. Why has this not occurred to anyone? The information is all out there, if you go looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/people-i-am-actually-fairly-smart-why-has-this-not-occurred-to-anyone/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [I spent three years researching American Rose, research that included connecting with Gypsy's sister, the late actress June Havoc (I was the last person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-spent-three-years-researching-american-rose-research-that-included/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“top connecting with the world. Connect with yourself on your beach. Stop thinking. Stop analyzing. Start feeling. Start dreaming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/top-connecting-with-the-world-connect-with-yourself-on-your-beach/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [Connecting to the feelings in your body brings you back into present-moment awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/connecting-to-the-feelings-in-your-body-brings-you-back-into-present/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Sitting outside on a dark night, under the stars, invites confidences amongst people of all ages, and all walks of life. It invokes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-shepherd/sitting-outside-on-a-dark-night-under-the-stars-invites-confidences/) [A.B. Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-shepherd/) > [ My emotional investment started when I read the first scene of the actual drama \[45 Years\]. I can't explain it, there's no logic to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-courtenay/my-emotional-investment-started-when-i-read-the-first-scene-of-the/) [Tom Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-courtenay/) > [I was taking a connecting flight from Vijayawada to Hyderabad and Kajol was on the same flight. We were waiting for the lift and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranitha-subhash/i-was-taking-a-connecting-flight-from-vijayawada-to-hyderabad-and/) [Pranitha Subhash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranitha-subhash/) > [I think that once I started connecting dots of where my food was coming from and the reality of that, as opposed to maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-think-that-once-i-started-connecting-dots-of-where-my-food-was/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [“Our body is a sacred temple A place to connect with people. As we aren't staying any younger We might as well keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/our-body-is-a-sacred-temple-a-place-to-connect-with-people-as-we-aren/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) Browse all 604 Connecting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't feel like I'm somehow solving a puzzle that applies to my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew McMahon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to-music-that-doesn-t-feel-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Connecting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to-music-that-doesn-t-feel-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/andrew-mcmahon-16018_connecting_i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to_1196682.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a really hard time connecting to music that doesn't feel like I'm somehow solving a puzzle that…” — Andrew McMahon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew McMahon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a really hard time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to-music-that-doesn-t-feel-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-a-really-hard-time-connecting-to-music-that-doesn-t-feel-like/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```