Redefining Oblivion

There are three stages to a man's life,
The first is gaining vision - something that I have long passed.
Then there is opposition - something that I'm facing now!
And finally there comes recognition - I will gain it with time.

- Anonymous.

Nothingness has always been a very unsettling state for the body, mind and the spirit.
A state of nothingness is always a state of confusion despite the magnitude. And Oblivion has been part of time since time itself!
Usually we fail to comprehend the impact of a state of confusion until it has long gone, which is the very reason why we fail to deal with such a state in a very proactive or a prudent manner.
There is not steadfast solution to deal a confusing situation much as there is no by-the-book approach to solve a confusing problem. All problems create some amount of confusion which consumes valuable time and effort. A great deal of time is spent to ease confusion and strangely, despite all sound qualifications of superior judgement, only a limited few are able to handle such situations with professional ease.
An inability to handle or resolve confusing situations is not an indication that we are bad situation handlers, it simply is a sign that we have not devoted enough time to understand the essence of the situation by applying proper thought and thereafter action.

Why are confusing situations confusing in the first place? Because they are confusing!
Now, this is itself a confusing answer but then nobody said confusing situations are easy to handle, since such instances are expected largely to impede the speed of thought and thereby action. The one thing that needs to be understood the most is that confusing situations can only be resolved if the resolver is free from confusion. Therefore, the best action during turbulent times is to understand the importance of presence of mind and remain calm despite whatever the situation might throw up. Panic and disturbance add to the confusion that is already prevailing and in no manner do they help solve a situation.
Depending upon the reception of the mind, any and every situation can be confusing thereafter leading to faltering actions due to which arise a multitude of mistakes often referred to as Faux Pas or a blunder of sorts. A blunder does not usually happen all of a sudden, but is a result of a series of faltered actions. Time too plays a huge role in the manner of which a situation presents itself in reality leading to a full blown state of confusion. And then of course, there are the variable elements such as people, places, actions, connections and action-related inputs and outputs.
However, the simplest reason for a menacingly confusing situation is the result of an action having been done with the wrong intention, by the wrong person, at the wrong time, with a wrong frame of mind leading to wrong results.
While dealing with confusing situations can be a daunting task, the outcome and the manner in which the situation is dealt with is a huge indicator of the trait a person has.
After the incident even the fool is wise. But, the trick lies in neutralizing a sticky situation before it manifests beyond control, and for such an outcome to be expected, the handler of the situation needs to be absolutely calm and wary of pace depending upon what the outcome itself should be.
More often than not, all of us display a sense of urgency combined with uncalled for panic during testing times. This is largely due the fact that our conditioning guides us to display so.
While it is easy to blame a person for having displayed an action that was totally unnecessary during a confusing situation, it would not be wise to do so, for every single one of us reacts differently given handling problems at hand.
While disaster strikes, it is always wise to sit back and give it a few moments before pondering over a course of action at lightning speed. No action is always better than a hasty and even more confusing action that could in one way or the other compound the level of problems.
Every wise decision which assumes the form of action is a direct result of good thought, and good thought can only be manufactured at a time when the mind is free from pressure and devoid of the burden of urgency. Some of the best decisions are those that are taken and implemented with poise. Sometimes an action may be a direct solution to a problem, but one also needs to consider and understand the fact that despite having thought about and ready to implement what is a good action, that action could in the long term have certain repercussions related to people or problems. Therefore, such actions would be wrong to implement despite their immediate ability to calm nerves and liquidate a situation.

The purview of the human mind is in many ways limited despite its ability to focus and work upon a multitude of aspects all at the same time. Intelligent decisions are those that consider facts and how they can address problems at hand and still maintain an amicable and conducive environment with the passage of time. Every short term solution can and will at some point of time throw a number of surprises in the long term not because such solutions were worked upon with an ulterior objective but because they have been implemented in a poor and unrealistic dimension.

Most of us are often in no position to judge relevance until long after the fact. This should not be taken as a problem or a limitation for most of us cannot and will not be able to fathom a situation until it has long passed. What we can at best do in such circumstances is to learn. Experience can be a great teacher and can rescue many (most) of us from making the same mistake twice. And more often, situations despite their complexities have some kind of similar bearings one way or the other. The cue is in relating to experiences and how one had solved similar situations in the past. A certain degree of logic, prudence, patience and sincere effort should see any human being through a stumbling block.

For me, like anyone else, a confusing situation is a major source of pain, however I try to limit the pain to a certain time and by a certain extent after which life jumps back to normalcy.
I have in no means been a champion in handling situations and perfecting their outcomes, however, I do certainly have handled quite a number of such experiences which have taught me a good number of valuable lessons.
Personalities are formed with experiences which are a result of tough situations. What we are and what we become depend on the kind of experiences each of us are subjected to,
experiences both good and bad. Every single experience conditions our personality in a positive manner depending upon the manner in which we perceive it and express our receptiveness.

Although oft repeated, we do not always realize that life is not a bed of roses and that we all go through some tough situations from time to time. What we really need to do is understand the gravity of such situations, learn from our actions or those of others rather than actually subject ourselves to cold mistrust of life. Life probably is a manner in which time rules our lives and time is a measure that cannot actually be quantified. Time can be a witness to a good number of progressive stages and at the same time can also ensue the happening of a number of unwarranted situations that we do not desire to experience. But experience them, we must for we have in most cases not choice. What we can perhaps do is to allow time to aid us to become better people. Something like making the best of a bad bargain.

I have to close this post with the following lines which came via an email sometime today.
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Enough said!