Often,
We see confusion as something negative,
A frustrating state that keeps us from moving forward.
But what if we viewed it differently?
Confusion,
At its core,
Is a protective mechanism,
A pause that gives us space to realign with our intentions.
It halts our actions to keep us from rushing into decisions that may not be in our best interest.
My teachings and the following meditation have been greatly informed by the study of Internal Family Systems Therapy,
Also known as BART's work,
Somatic Experiencing,
And the book The Language of Emotions by Carla McLaren.
Confusion is not the problem.
It's a mask for something deeper.
It shows up when our behavior or our motivations are out of sync with our deeper purpose,
Creating a sense of internal conflict.
It's a signal that we've lost touch with our intuition or that something within us needs attention.
While it may feel like a barrier,
Confusion actually gives us the gifts of being open to options,
Curiosity,
And adaptability.
It allows us to take a much-needed time out.
So instead of just pushing through confusion,
We can honor this pause and explore why it's there.
By unmasking it,
We can restore our instincts and find clarity again.
When confusion arises,
The best question to ask yourself is not,
What should I do or which decision is right?
Instead,
Ask yourself,
What is my intention?
Intention is the key to unlocking clarity.
Confusion surfaces when our behaviors or motivations are misaligned with our core purpose.
Once we realign with our true intentions,
The path forward becomes clearer.
I also want to note,
If you were raised in an environment that was always forcing you to align with some external authority,
You might experience confusion a lot and it might cost you something to learn what it is you actually want because it might mean that you make a new decision that is out of alignment with this external authority structure.
And that's hard.
You know,
That's a part of this healing process,
But it will always be worth it for you to get to know yourself more deeply and be able to make decisions based out of your own values rather than values that were imposed upon you by some external authority.
When we are in a state of confusion,
We often want to rush to make a decision,
But that often leads to deeper conflict and regret.
By turning inward and asking intentional questions,
We can quiet the noise of indecision and find decisiveness within ourselves.
When we clarify our purpose,
We can move forward with integrity and focus.
Confusion doesn't just affect our minds,
It manifests physically as well.
Here are some common ways confusion shows up in our body.
You might feel tightness in your chest,
Shoulders,
Or stomach as your body braces for uncertainty.
You might experience an inability to settle or focus that can lead to fidgeting or restlessness as your body searches for clarity.
Confusion can also create mental fog,
Making it difficult to think clearly or can be accompanied by tension in the forehead or behind the eyes.
Mental overwhelm from confusion can drain your energy,
Making you feel sluggish or less motivated.
Confusion can cause a sense of uneasiness in the stomach,
Signaling that something is out of alignment.
Or you might notice shallow rapid breathing reflecting your body's subtle anxiety over the indecision.
These physical sensations can be signs that confusion is present and that it's time to pause,
Listen,
And reconnect with your inner self.
So when confusion becomes overwhelming,
It may be because there's a deeper internal conflict or polarity at play.
This is where inner exploration becomes important.
Check in with the different parts of yourself,
Your spirituality,
Your intellect,
Your emotions,
And your body.
Is there a disagreement or a misalignment between parts of yourself?
In internal family systems,
We call this inner conflict polarity when different aspects of yourself are pulling in opposite directions.
When you discover this,
Ask the part of yourself that feels out of alignment what it needs.
Then,
Find a way to meet that need in a manner that brings everything back into harmony.
We'll practice this in the meditation after.
In conclusion,
Confusion is not the enemy,
It's the messenger.
It arises to show us that something within us needs attention and alignment.
Instead of pushing through it,
We can learn to pause,
Listen,
And ask intentional questions that restore our focus and integrity.
By honoring the time of confusion,
We reconnect with our intuition and find the clarity we seek.
As we move into our meditation,
Let's embrace confusion as a guide,
Not an obstacle.
By tuning into our bodies,
Exploring our inner polarities,
And clarifying our intentions,
We can move forward with deeper insight and alignment.
