CONFUSION could just be good for you

Confusion can make us feel anxious, stressed, and powerless and many more draining emotions. Running or walking around in a disorganised fashion with no idea what is supposed to be done, difficulty in understanding or in being unable to tell one thing from a similar thing, uncertainty about what is happening, intended or required , unable to think or something that is jumbled or without order....you are CONFUSED. Psychology defies it as impaired orientation with respect to time, place or person: a disturbed mental state.

A confused human is easily recognisable as he expresses his confusion with some combination of bodily gestures and verbal words. It comes as a look of puzzlement/surprise on him, peers intently, scratches head, shrugs shoulders with hands up, puts ones hand on the chin as if thinking, in an inner voice churns through the topic that is confusing and in a low murmur rambles about it without it making any sense.

If everything made sense all the time, how would one grow? In line with this thought we refer to an article by Paul Silvia Feelings that Foster Learning, Exploring, and Reflecting. When people think of emotions they usually think of the obvious ones, such as happiness, fear, anger, and sadness beyond it what can work is the Knowledge Emotion. If an individual gears up the mind when in confusion to engage with new things, ideas, broadening the experience and cultivate expertise, confusion will be motivating. .

The learning could happen in minutes, (finding the source of a loud crash, as in surprise) or it could spread over a lifetime (engaging with hobbies, pastimes, and intellectual pursuits, as in interest). When in confusion the mantra is to work through the perplexing information, foster deeper learning engaging with new and puzzling things rather than avoiding them.

There is another area where people deal with confusion and that is in their spiritual process, they want to be at a place where there is no confusion. Sadhguru Vasudeva words on this “It is very important on the spiritual path that you never try to get to some particular “place”, because the moment you want to get to something in particular, your mind will start creating a “place”. You will create your own private heaven. The spiritual process is not about giving up one level of hallucination and moving into another level. This is about giving up hallucination altogether and being able to live with reality just the way it is, because the effort is about truth.......”

In all scriptures there is clarity to deal with human confusion in managing one’s faith, meeting with Truth, meeting God within you.

Sant Kabeer’s verses in Shri Guru Granth Saheb...

“I have wandered in doubt and confusion, through birth and reincarnation; now, I am so tired. I am suffering in pain and wasting away.

Says Kabeer, meeting with the Guru, I have obtained supreme joy; my love and devotion have saved me.” SGGS 335