First of all, I just wanted to point out how much stuff like
what was in the first text freaks me out -- the idea of everything in our world and our world itself
being a projection of another reality? How does one even grasp something that
complex? It’s a pretty overwhelming thought and I can’t imagine how many
questions must be buzzing around a physicist’s head on a day to day basis. Anyway,
in regards to whether or not I think certainty is necessary – in a societal
sense, a level of certainty is extremely necessary. To use an example, in Westernized
societies, if people aren't certain that their individual hard work will
eventually pay off for them and their families, they won't be motivated to do
the work of the society, which means they won’t be motivated to follow the
rules of the society, which will ultimately lead to the society's demise. In an
individual sense, people need to have a level of certainty in how their day to
day lives are going to pan out. If that certainty is threatened, then the
individual’s entire perception of reality is threatened -which can lead them to
react pretty drastically in an act of self-preservation. Basically, if people
are uncertain, they are chaotic.
In regards to bewilderment, I think it certainly is humbling
to be uncertain. For example, whenever I find myself watching the show Cosmos (which
isn’t often – I’ve learned by now that my brain can’t handle that much astronomy.
I’ll be up until 6 in the morning searching for answers to questions only to
come up with hundreds of more questions – all of them still unanswered.), I
feel pretty small and insignificant, and to some degree that type of
perspective can be really beneficial. Bewilderment cools off some of those
narcissistic/egocentric attitudes that come with being human; it puts us in our
place. It reminds us of how little we really are and how little our tiny sun
and tinier planet means to the rest of the universe(s).
I didn’t fully understand the meaning of bewilderment so I look it up and I found that it literally means “The condition of being confused or disoriented”. The emotion of feeling disoriented or lost sounds unpleasant but very real at the same time. I don’t think it is necessary a feeling we need in our lives but I think wanted or not it is there. On the other hand, the feeling of certainty is something that we like and need at the same time. Specially me, I like feeling certainty all the time. I want to feel like everything is under control and that nothing is going to go down. I would love to feel more bewilderment and not freak out. I would like to enjoy feeling a little lost and calmed down about it. I think it is only natural to feel any of both emotions all the time. Sometimes I like the feeling of my life being like a puzzle, where at the beginning you feel lost, overwhelmed and as you progress you feel more certain, more confident that you are going to finish soon. I think that can be compared to the feeling of bewilderment. I think a mix of both feelings is what we perceive in our everyday lives. I like this phrase that explains the meaning of bewilderment and how we can apply it to our everyday live, “As confounding as the groom who drives into a stop sign on the way to his wedding” by Amy Hempel.
ReplyDeleteBewilderment & Certainty
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are just a part of life’s little wonderful contradictions relationship we all have in our daily lives. I believe bewilderment has been created to keep our minds wanting more and help us to grow as individuals. If we had all the answers and everything in our lives made sense, believe it not, it would be dull and predicting. Bewilderment adds the excitement we need to grow and challenge ourselves. To help us to push beyond our own set limitations. Often if brings great fear, doubt and much uncertainty. Together, bewilderment and certainty give us a balance and keep life real. Certainty is needed to keep us stable and motivated. Most of us long for stability and the certainty in life’s relationships provides many of us a strong foundation. Certainty give us a cause or a reason if will to continue to function. We want to be certain we have loved ones, a family, friends, jobs etc. We need to be certain that promises are kept and that good is in most of us. The balance that bewilderment and certainty provide helps to keep our lives full and exciting and always guessing for what’s to come. We need to believe there is more out there than what we see and we need to believe that what we see is real. Not everything in life is supposed to make sense. While bewilderment can be exciting and scary, certainty gives us the ability to accept the things that are hard to accept. I believe the two cannot exist with the other.
As most people have already said bewilderment and certainty are both key aspects of the human condition but the true wisdom to be gained is in how exactly these two contradictory things are necessary for the human brain to be at peace. I feel as though the 'will to certainty' is pretty much the default human condition; to control the environment around us to suit our needs. This thought process is the cornerstone of any kind of feeling of confidence, or in reassurance to loved ones or ourselves. Bewilderment is a little less direct and comes from an understanding of the chaoticness of the universe and the acceptance of something far greater than you or your desires. The true wisdom or atleast a scratching at what it could be is that the struggle itself in faith is a value in and of itself and even though we can't always attain certainty we can revel in our bewilderment and know that in the end life is meaningful.
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