Be Bewildered

“Tone down the prophecies of doom and switch from panic mode to bewilderment. Panic is a form of hubris. It comes from the smug feeling that one knows exactly where the world is heading: down. Bewilderment is more humble and therefore more clear-sighted. Truth is, I just don’t understand what’s going on in the world.’” ~ Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

I’ve been intrigued by this quote from Harari ever since I read it over a year ago. At the time, there was plenty of panic and bewilderment going on. So, I wondered what Harari meant by saying that being bewildered could be a path to clear seeing.

Panic is a normal emotion that allows us to respond quickly to a potential threat or danger. It often manifests as a fight or flight response. For an actual threat, this is appropriate and needed. Yet, when we say that someone ‘panicked,’ it often means that they responded inappropriately or impulsively, out of proportion to the threat. 

Panic, anxiety, fear, or worry are what we may feel when everything seems chaotic. I’ve noticed a lot of generalized anxiety in myself and many others these days. I’m prone to worry generally, especially with regard to the people in my life and what might happen to them. My mind immediately goes to worst case scenarios. I’ve had to learn to notice when this is happening, to take a few deep breaths, and entertain other much more likely scenarios. Easier said than done.

Bewilderment is “the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused; a complicated and confusing state or condition.” (Merriam-Webster)

This definition seems paradoxical to Harari’s statement that bewilderment has an aspect of humility and therefore is more clear-sighted. I think what he’s talking about here is sitting in that ‘tragic gap,’ a place of uncertainty, and admitting that we really don’t know what’s going on or what’s going to happen. This can be an uncomfortable place, but by letting go of the panic, and not jumping to conclusions, we can better see what might be possible. 

Have you noticed that the word ‘bewilderment’ contains the phrase ‘be wilder?’

The word ‘wild’ sometimes has negative connotations, suggesting a chaotic, untamed, or uncivilized state. There’s a sense of something (or someone) being out of control, unruly, or deviating from the norm. However, wild can also suggest passion, desire, emotions, and delight. There can be something wondrous about being wild and untamed. 

One could argue that everything and everyone begins wild, yet over the years we’re conditioned out of some of our wilder qualities in order to conform to societal expectations. This is not all bad, as we have to learn how to live together harmoniously. But sometimes, we hide our wild nature out of shame or fear of being unaccepted.

Maybe it’s time to be wilder by being bewildered.  

Practice

This week, notice when you feel panic, fear, anxiety, or worry. Can you practice taking a few breaths and be bewildered instead? See what possibilities arise there.

Note: If you’re having a panic attack, that’s a different scenario. Get the help you need, either through deep breathing or seeking medical resources. Once you’ve settled your nervous system, you can step into that state of bewilderment instead. 

What do you feel bewildered about most these days? Practice being in that space of not knowing and entertain possibilities.

Take a step to be wilder this week. To become more in tune with our wild nature is to live in a world of relationships, not just with ourselves and other people, but also with landscapes and seascapes, trees and forests, birds and animals, poetry and music. 

To rewild the body is to bring back the sensual part of human experience, which we’ve talked about many times already this year. Open all of your senses. Reconnect with nature by forest walking, listening to the birds, or befriending a tree. Dance like nobody's watching. Restoring our connection with nature and our body makes us feel alive and gives a sense of belonging to a wild world.

To rewild the mind is to observe what you’re thinking and why, noticing your biases and fears, where you’ve been conditioned out of your wildness. Where are you holding back? What would you like to do that seems scary? Embrace your emotions, passions, joys and desires. The simple act of noticing, I’ve found, is enough to let go of some of those fears, take steps towards our desires, and bring about transformation. 

“The goal of individuation is wholeness, not perfection.” ~ Bill Plotkin, Wild Mind

More Resources

Books: Rewild Yourself: 23 Ways to Make Nature more Visible by Simon Barnes and Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche by Bill Plotkin

Read: Jeffrey Davis calls bewilderment the “disorienting facet of wonder.”