Friday, January 14, 2011

Emotions V - Doubt & Confusion (Series starts with "Emotions")



Is there anyone out there that is not experiencing doubt and confusion? We are living in some pretty intense times - it's hard not to feel confused and unsure of our footing.

But doubt can be a good thing. It challenges outdated ways of thinking. It allows for the door to crack and new ideas to emerge.

In the cycle of life -  people, nature, ideas,  even blogs - are born - they reach their peak - and then begin to break down - eventually dying. It is in this way something new can be born, enriched by what has gone before it.

Doubt and confusion can be likened to that point just after the peak of whatever it is that you have believed to be hard and fast. When you begin to realize you may not have had all the answers, or that your way of doing things is outdated, in need of renewal. You may feel confused and unsure of yourself. What had always been safe assumptions are no longer as reliable as they had once been.

Gill Edwards, in Stepping Into the Magic, reminds us that the positive side of doubt makes us think, causes us to pause and consult our inner wisdom - allowing for integration of our intellect and intuition. Points of clarity are often superseded by new points of clarity - if we are open to challenging dogma and old belief systems. In other words confusion leads to thinking. And that can be a good thing.

Have you had these experiences lately?http://lifeinthesecondhalf.blogspot.com/2011/01/emotions.html

11 comments:

Bruce Coltin said...

Yes. I think it is something that I have been rediscovering -- over and over again.

La Petite Gallery said...

Oh Dear God!
all the time at 73 life has spun into the fast lane, it's like a speedway and I am always looking for signs or exit's. Ha ha ha
Fantastic post. I enjoyed every word. Keep it up.

yvonne snow bound in Maine

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Good one, Nancy. Whenever doubt creeps in, I'm brought up short and have to re-evaluate, rethink.

Whitney Lee said...

As the mother of young children I am continually reevaluating my beliefs. I don't know that I've ever before considered doubt to be a good thing. This is an interesting perspective.

susan said...

When we doubt we're in the moment - no longer reinforcing fanciful visions of the past or future. Doubt isn't always comfortable but it does open the door of clarity a tiny crack.

Lori said...

This is all very interesting. I do struggle with doubt and second guessing myself and what I believe...I do believe that some of my doubt is false doubt as I have lacked confidence in myself to stand on what I know to be true or what my gut instinct is telling me. Too many times I have doubted myself and changed my mind because of it and later find out I shouldn't have.

Good post Nancy! Hope you have a good weekend!

Brian Miller said...

i know that doubt scares some poeple... i embrace it as it does challenge us to really think...

Natalie said...

In a paradoxical way, doubt causes us to be sure in the end. Very cool.:)

DJan said...

Did you see the movie "Doubt"? I was struck by it, with such great performances, and I do think that it can be very illuminating to ruminate over this emotion. Thanks for the great posts on these issues.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, i think doubt is a good thing too- well, can be a good thing - for just the reasons you mention, nancy - it allows us - requires us - to stop and think - re-evaluate - reconsider - for me, most frequently, when i listen to the voices of my own heart, i do not doubt - i know my heart leads me to the truth, by the truth -

neat post, lady!

Unknown said...

Completely agree with you that doubt makes us think... or should make us think.