When it comes to learning, growing, expanding, I know of no richer, truer place than the blind spot.
I know you’ve experienced it. You’re sitting in a chair talking to your spiritual coach, therapist, mentor, etc. Now ordinarily, you are a quick and clever study, picking up on things, following the thread, being transparent, and ‘getting it’ quickly. (Yes, that would be ME! Lol)
Then s/he says something to you and you have no reaction. None, nada, zilch. Kind of a ‘deer in the headlights’ stunned thing. You sort of shake your head, blink your eyes, and try again to comprehend what’s just been said to you. Nope. Not getting it. Clueless, foggy, sitting in very unfamiliar territory.
Or maybe someone asks you about your job, or your marriage…and you simply do not have an answer this time. You sit in unfamiliar silence and say nothing. Not your usual style, for sure.
That my dears, is the blind spot. And it’s a priceless place to be if you really want to evolve, transform, and become the next expanded version of Your True Self.
This place of not knowing is highly underrated in these information-crazy, need-to-know times. Not knowing—feels kind of—well, stupid, right? NO!!! Not stupid. Far from it. It’s a blessing of the highest order!
It’s a release from the ego’s addiction to acting like it knows in order not to feel the terror/shame/lack of control/you-name-it, that ego is afraid accompanies not knowing. It’s an indication that, for this precious moment, ego is out of the way, without a facile, clever answer this time.
And that translates to a natural openness, spaciousness, an actual opportunity to move into new consciousness about Your Self.
I’ve learned over my many years on both sides of the therapy and coaching relationship to get excited when I experience the blind spot in myself or my client. I’ve learned that I’m about to enter new territory about myself, my issues, my denial, and my consciousness. I LOVE blind spots because they herald an opportunity to really grow out of my own way.
Embracing the confusion of not knowing, and not running for the cover of what-I-already-know is a brave and necessary thing to do on an evolving spiritual path. Letting go of the ideas you’ve held about yourself and walking naked in the world without a clue is being a spiritual warrior—feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
And it invariably leads to authentic self-exploration and unexpected discoveries leading you to Your True Self.
Now, mind you, blind spots can sometimes last a while….if you’re lucky. Being in confusion means being open to the real truth about who you are, what life is like, and the actual nature of things. It means you’re interfacing with life without the running commentary and know-it-all interpretation that ego always provides…even if you’re unaware of this until you’re actually IN a blind spot.
Having the fortitude to remain in your confusion is a brilliant and wonderful thing to do…and let’s face it, there are so many ways to numb out from the confusion of “I don’t know” that choosing to walk with the confusion is no small thing. It takes such faith and trust in the unfolding process of consciousness, and/or such a strong act of Your Soul that actually nudges ego out of the way and won’t allow it back in for now…for your own good.
Embracing the very real human truth that left-brain, intellectual knowing is useless on a Soul Path is an indication of growing spiritual maturity. Understanding that your heart knows more of value about you than your mind could ever possibly comprehend is what happens when you realize the futility of grasping that illusion of control that is fed by the ‘know-it-all’ in your personality.
Running for cover from your confusion and your blind spot will only perpetuate the suffering that results from believing in the flawed and wounded idea of yourself that ego is constantly shaping and insisting upon.
It can help a lot to have someone holding your hand, and coaxing you to hold steady within the sacred confusion of ‘I don’t know’. Compassionate company makes most things easier.
So my advice to you is to celebrate each time you don’t know! In fact, invite not-knowing by risking to say ‘I don’t know’ more and more often. Claim it, own it, be empowered by it….because, guess what, it’s true, only ALL of the time!!
When you are living within those blind spots, or those blind weeks, or those blind months…. take time for connecting, celebrating and cheering yourself on. Acknowledge your strength and fortitude, and reach for the feeling of the excitement of the emerging awareness about Your Self and Life! It’s right there hiding under the anxiety.
And be sure to allow yourself the true gift of snuggling into what you DO KNOW about yourself, which is based on your Intuition, Feeling Good, Intangibles, Inner Whispers, and beginning to grok the beautiful, perfect wholeness of You.
Love you, Bless you,
Jan
Janice Masters, The Shaman Mama
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