just wait and see

Often when reading up on a complex subject you come across an area that makes no sense. Most of the time this is caused by a lack of foundation knowledge required to understand the more difficult areas. You can’t understand multiplication or division unless you understand addition and subtraction.

So I know of a few tactics to deal with mental roadblocks (In order of difficulty):

The first is to trace back until you find the foundation knowledge that you are lacking (Going back to basics), after learning the basics everything else should make sense. The problem with this is actually understanding what the prerequisite knowledge is, usually this can’t be done alone and requires a teacher who recognises where you are lacking.

The second way is to try a different angle. When you hit a wall you put down the material, grab another book teaching the same area and come back to it. More often than not the obstacle will seem trivial the second time around because the new text explains the foundation knowledge better.

The last way is to force through it. I read somewhere that Newton would pick the most difficult readings he could find (Written by the masters) and if he came to something he didn’t understand he would simply start the text over (from the beginning!).

There are other methods, sometimes just going outside for air and clearing your head will be enough. I personally like the last way (Newton’s way) but usually it is too difficult and brain draining (And really unfun) so I try another book. Each person will have their own preference however.