Skip to main content

Confounded

Friday, December 1, 2023

The word "Confounded" can have several meanings but, one way the word is used is as follows:

"Confounded- to cause surprise or confusion in someone, especially by acting against their expectations"

The entertainment industry is a primary source of confusion (and will more than likely, always be that way).  The entertainment industry continually tells us to "love yourself....you're perfect just the way you are....etc.", but in the same breath will be selling you acne cream, anti-wrinkle cream, dietary supplements, hair loss treatments, etc.  It confounds people.

Living in our modern world, with all of the good and bad that come with connectivity and social media and "news", can very easily leave one feeling confused and confounded. 

If one looks to the world, and into one's cell phone for peace, one you will never find it.  However, the world does make one feel that peace can be achieved, and will be elusively "just around the corner if you just do this....buy this....say this...act this way....look this way....etc.".  However, one can do everything the world tells them to to attain peace, and the advice from the world will change within the hour....there one sits with one's newly purchased/obtained items/mantras, etc. and it's all sadly out of date, and out of fashion.....what a foolish person I was to buy/accept all of this stuff.......I'm going to change it all again and get a new set of mantras, items, objects, etc.......it will always change, confuse, confound, and leave one feeling foolish and empty. 

It's 6:13am as I type this, and I haven't practiced in a few weeks due to not feeling so hot (cry me a river).  For whatever reason this morning, when my alarm went off at 4:15am, I did not hit the snooze button, and I felt rested and well enough to get up and start a routine that is normal-ish for me. 

Enough chit-chat....time to begin today's practice. 

Part II:

As always, I write the initial post before I've begun my practice, and the Part II update after I've completed my practice.  

There is always a difference in the two versions of myself; the one that got on the mat before practice, and the one that gets off the mat after practice. 

In regards to the initial post about the entertainment industry, and becoming confused by the ever changing mantras and chants of the world, I'll say that I am as susceptible to it as anyone else.  I can easily get caught up in the nonsense the world flings around, but time spent on my mat has helped me (and can help you) sift through the nonsense and more easily identify what is real from what is fake and, very often, have a laugh at the pathetic and transparent confusion that comes from the world (rather than feel despair at it). 

Time to enter the world.  

Namaste 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rebuild

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. Feeling wonderful this morning, and not terribly sore at all.  There's a bit of stiffness in my back from yesterday's backbends, but that's to be expected. Ready to sweat it out on my mat. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off my mat, already showered up for my day. I love going to my mat.  The physical challenge alone is reward enough, but, while I've said it many times before, the mental and spiritual adjustments that one can make are priceless.  Physically, I already see a difference in my body.  Arms are still re-building their stamina, but the twists and forward bends I incorporate are already helping with digestion and elimination and the general "deflating" of my body and G.I. track (TMI, I'm sure, but this is one of the main physical reasons why I practice). Mentally, I feel prepared for anything that comes my way today and fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Asana

Monday, March 30, 2020 After no physical practice/Asanas on Friday, and no yoga over the weekend, I notice that it's difficult to stay motivated and dedicated to my practice at times.  Additionally, I ran a solo-10K this weekend (the St. Louis GO! Marathon/Half-Marthon/10K was cancelled, like most public events), and the additional tenderness in my feet, legs, etc. definitely told me not to get on my mat. Monday blues/malaise, essentially.....a "negative mind"... When I'm on my mat, feeling like it's pointless, and that the day ahead is pointless, and that the efforts I'll expend to make things better are pointless, I can go back to the foundations of my life.  First, what do I live for?  I live for God.  That is my attempted mantra every day. It is not for me/you to understand the purpose of anything.  Pulling yourself out of an equation is very liberating in that you're no longer attached to the result. It's 5:27AM as I type this, and it...
Post a Comment
Read more

Weeds Grow Back

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Anything you cultivate, care for, or grow with intention (like a garden, yoga practice, or a clear and still mind) will have unwanted, elements to it.  The analogy of weeding is a good one as it draws up a physical image of a garden with unwanted characteristics in it that must be pulled out. Our minds, mine included, are the same.  "Weeds" like anger, etc. will pop up.  Left too long, they'll grow stronger and one gets accustomed to seeing them to the point where one just accepts it....." that's just me" is an overly popular phrase that's used today to excuse all sorts of ridiculous, underdeveloped behaviors. Time to begin today's practice, and weed the mental garden.... Part II: As always, I'm writing Part II on my mat after my practice has concluded.  Weeds grow back for sure.  Sometimes, in as little as one day.   Time to enter the world.  Namste
Post a Comment
Read more