Conundrum of Life

A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem or question with no clear or easy solution.  It leaves a person in a quandary or dilemma not knowing what to do in a situation or how to answer the puzzle.  It feels like you do not know what choice or decision to make.  You have all experienced this at some time in your lives.  You are confused about what to do.  You do not know the right way to go.  You feel the weight of making a decision. 

You desire something different, but get into a rut in your daily life.  It can be in work, in marriage, family relationships, or your daily routine.  You tell yourself that you need to change, but the daily rut becomes too familiar and comfortable.  It is a struggle.  How do you choose to take steps out of this rut?  If you do, then what?  It is unfamiliar, and you say to ourself, “What if I mess up and it does not work out?”  It is being afraid of failure so you do not try or believe it will not be good enough so doing nothing is easier.

These thoughts and feelings are real and are defeating.  They keep one from even starting on a new path.  The conundrum of life bases everything on your own strength, determination, and abilities.  When the focus is on the failures of the past – the track record – you are already defeated.  You have tried and messed up on other attempts so why will this time be different? So going back to the rut makes you believe the routine works.

Routine can be good if it is healthy.  That is, the routine keeps you focused on taking care of your necessary tasks, and keeps you grounded. But a rut is not healthy – it is a place where you are stuck.  A rut is a habit or pattern that has become dull and unproductive.  It feels like a dead end.

So how do you get out of your rut, know what direction to go and figure out who you are now?  How do you answer the conundrum of your life?  Good question.  It is based on the foundation of your life – your faith, your relationships, and your values and purpose for life.  Where do you turn for support, guidance, and assistance in making decisions and moving forward in life?

Some of the reason for ruts is that you still see yourself as the one who messed up and does not deserve another chance and a good life with meaning and purpose.  Worry and anxiety keep one stuck and in a quandary.  You worry about what could happen and fear the future and cannot calm the inner fears and worries.  This brings weakness, feelings of being overwhelmed, tense and afraid to change and find out who you really are now.  You may define yourself based on anxiety, fear, worry, and “stuckness.”

It is calming the inner spirit within you and believing in who you are and who you were created to be.  It is finding the spiritual part of yourself.  Every person is spiritual.  That is, each person has a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspect.  It is developing healthy habits that creates peace in the midst of life’s challenges, and relying on Someone greater than yourself.  It is being willing to change your focus, challenge yourself and believe that there is more to life than the rut you have created.

Check out Elaine’s blog and books on her website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different