* Be Confused About What You Know

Consciousness, Inspirations, middle ground, New Perspectives, Self Discovery, Spirituality, Steps on the Journey

* Be Confused About What You Know

January 19, 2015

“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.“ – Milton Erickson

We seek assurance in knowing.
When we know, we feel more in control.
But we forget that learning is infinite…

Let’s be willing to be confused by what we know
and in that confusion step into the unknown.

Lighten up to not knowing.
Be ready to be wrong.
Relish our own ignorance.
Get curious about our shadow side.
Fully embrace the power of our ego.

… Can you be with this discomfort?

Growth doesn’t happen in the comfortable.

Just as children must go through a stage of learning as they become adolescents, so must we as adults, go through this stage if we wish to evolve further.

Not knowing opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

And it’s okay to be confused about it all 😉

Val T Boyko

confusion and learning, consciousness, evolution, letting go, life, Milton Erickson, not knowing, personal growth, the matrix

35 responses to “* Be Confused About What You Know”

Eric Tonningsen

January 19, 2015 at 4:41 pm

I’m so confused! 🙂

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 4:41 pm
  
  Good for you Eric!! 🙂
  
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nrhatch

January 19, 2015 at 5:00 pm

Even when we don’t know where we’re going, it’s a good idea to pay attention.

How refreshing the whinny of a pack horse fully unloaded! ~ Classic Haiku

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 5:02 pm
  
  Its good to pay attention all of the time! Love that Haiku twist Nancy 🙂
  
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suzicate

January 19, 2015 at 5:11 pm

Ah yes, and finding out I was wrong about what I thought opened a whole new world!

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:38 pm
  
  Thanks Suz for sharing here! The world beomes new and whole with this 🙂
  
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dianasschwenk

January 19, 2015 at 5:11 pm

Val you have no idea how encouraging this post is for me right now. Of course this is true and I knew it once, thanks for reminding me… ❤
your confused friend,
Diana xo

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:39 pm
  
  To realize we are struggling and being with it, is powerful. When we look back we can see it to be true! Stay with it Diana ❤
  
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Healing Grief

January 19, 2015 at 6:23 pm

“The more I know, the more I realise how little I know” Good to accept the unknown and be comfortable with it, and this makes my life easier! 🙂 Thanks Val.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:40 pm
  
  Great quote Karen. Thank you! Keep on learning!
  
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Hariod Brawn

January 19, 2015 at 6:43 pm

Another ever-thoughtful and ever thought-provoking article Val, for which many thanks. I always liked the Buddha’s dictum to the effect that it is right to be doubtful and to waiver in matters that are unclear and not readily comprehended. In other words, the right course of action is sometimes to rest in confusion rather than seek to fix everything in certainty at the earliest opportunity. I am reminded once again of the folowing words on insecurity, and which apply equally well to matters of the mind:

“To put is still more plainly: the desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath. A society based on the quest for security is nothing but a breath-retention contest in which everyone is as taut as a drum and as purple as a beet.”

― Alan W. Watts, The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:42 pm
  
  Alan Watts is so refreshing and mind opening! Thank you for your wisdom Hariod … And sharing his too! May we all embrace the confusion 🙂
  
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Tiny

January 19, 2015 at 7:11 pm

I sure am confused…as demonstrated recently 😉 and learning from my confusion.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:43 pm
  
  What a great example of being curious beyong the knowing Tiny! 🙂
  
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Paul Handover

January 19, 2015 at 8:51 pm

The other day we watched a BBC programme about Quantum Physics. One of the extremely smart persons explaining the bizarre effects was heard to say, “If you believe you understand Quantum Physics, then you don’t!”

It seemed an apt parallel to understanding oneself – if you think you do, then you don’t!

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 19, 2015 at 9:44 pm
  
  This is so good Paul! Thank you 🙂
  
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2. Hariod Brawn
  
  January 20, 2015 at 5:30 am
  
  “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics” – Richard Feynman
  
  “Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it.” – Niels Bohr
  
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  1. Val Boyko
    
    January 20, 2015 at 7:30 am
    
    I know I am shocked and confused 😉
    
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ladyfi

January 20, 2015 at 12:04 am

What wonderful words of comfort and inspiration. In today’s constant striving for perfection, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we grow from imperfection.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 20, 2015 at 7:27 am
  
  Beautifully put Fiona. Thank you ❤
  
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ChrisB

January 20, 2015 at 4:49 am

Yes indeed, we have to try and learn to be comfortable with not knowing (non-attachment to views) so that we can be open and present to what is here and now. Not always easy though-I have to keep practising 🙂

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 20, 2015 at 7:28 am
  
  Thank you Chris for stopping by. Me too 🙂
  
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socialbridge

January 20, 2015 at 7:28 am

This reminds me of getting lost and discovering all sorts of new places.

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 20, 2015 at 7:31 am
  
  I love this example Jean. Lets get uncomfortable and lost 🙂
  
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  1. socialbridge
    
    January 20, 2015 at 7:34 am
    
    I don’t find getting lost ‘uncomfortable’ at all now that I’m not a tiny kid anymore. In fact, I love it. I think it may go back to the mystery tours our father used to take us on. I think he was lost half the time on them, even though we always knew he’d get us back home somehow.
    
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    1. Val Boyko
      
      January 20, 2015 at 8:06 am
      
      What a great adventure 🙂
      
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Jewels

January 20, 2015 at 9:45 am

Love this, so good Val! x

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 20, 2015 at 10:15 am
  
  Thanks Julie! 🙂
  
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KM Huber

January 20, 2015 at 11:37 am

Not knowing is where I am most comfortable, at this time in my life. It’s exciting, this confusion of knowing that I don’t know but am about to discover yet another unknown. Lovely post.
Karen

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 20, 2015 at 11:39 am
  
  I love that you are exploring this edge Karen! Thank you for sharing your kind words – and confusion today 🙂
  
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Kate @ Did That Just Happen?

January 20, 2015 at 5:13 pm

Growth doesn’t happen in the comfortable! AMEN! and that totally SUCKS at the same time! 🙂 Great post Val!

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lorriebowden

January 24, 2015 at 6:52 pm

“Growth doesn’t happen in the comfortable”…Wow…Val!! Isn’t that the truth!! ❤

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1. Val Boyko
  
  January 24, 2015 at 10:41 pm
  
  … Sometimes I tell myself I must be growing when feeling really uncomfortable!!! It does help 🙂
  
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  1. lorriebowden
    
    January 25, 2015 at 8:21 am
    
    I remember when I was a child and I would complain my legs hurt. My Mom always said they were “growing pains.” As I only reached 5’2″ I think I must have felt the spiritual growth!! 🙂
    
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    1. Val Boyko
      
      January 25, 2015 at 12:37 pm
      
      Love it Lorrie (SMILE)
      
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