Recently I was given a jigsaw puzzle; I haven’t done a puzzle in years. But, as I emptied the box of 1000 pieces on my table and looked at the heap of multi-colored and oddly shaped pieces, it dawned on me how puzzles are easily a metaphor for life.
Initially, it feels daunting.
Yet as I methodically began to sort the pieces, it became clear how we each maneuver life differently.
The pieces, in a heap, appeared chaotic.
The layman’s definition of chaos is a state of utter confusion. I don’t profess to understand the scientific theory of chaos, yet it is at odds with the dictionary meaning. In the simplest terms, it is defined as a “form of order that lacks predictability.” “Within the apparent randomness, there are underlying patterns, interconnectedness, repetition, and self-organization.”
For me, the first task was to gather the edge pieces, establishing the outer frame, laying a foundation to build on.
Through the systematic sorting with each piece finding its place, order began to develop and, with it, satisfaction.
Although initially intimidating, as soon as there was a modicum of structure in the chaos, there was hope.
As in life, we could throw our hands up into the air and say this is not for me, or we can step back, sort through the pieces of our lives, and then one piece at a time, find where it fits.
When chaos, confusion, and doubt run rampant in your life, when doors appear bolted shut, when agitation appears everywhere, even the smallest delays feel like enormous setbacks, and your energy is stuck. It is time to look inside.
Sorting through the Chaos
1) Identify the areas in your life that are not working. Be specific. The more specificity we have allows for deeper clarity with our intentions. These, in turn, manifest into the changes we wish to create.
2) Surrender to the chaos. Trust the process. In nature, as a storm approaches, animals don’t wander around confused. Instead, they prepare by storing food, reinforcing their nests or dens. Then, they hunker down, knowing clearer skies will eventually reappear.
3) Let go of resistance. When we resist, we tighten and tense. A relaxed body or mind is receptive; a tight one is not. Moving through the chaos is when clarity presents itself. Be assured we have all of the tools needed to navigate whatever comes our way. Even when your belief tells you otherwise, the universe never gives us things we cannot handle.
4) Action begets action. One thing will lead to another. Stagnation breds dis-ease. It is with movement that transformation occurs. Times of challenge and struggle afford us the opportunity for growth. Utilize mindfulness in the midst of the opposition.
Shifting our perception gives us understanding. Everything that we choose in life is either an opportunity for our spiritual growth or an impediment. It is up to us whether we want to walk through them or around them. Avoiding what makes us uncomfortable does not make it disappear but merely delays the lesson.
The universe will continue providing the same lessons over and over, sometimes disguised and packaged a little differently, until we say, ok, I get it, let’s address this now.
To find clarity through disorder is just a part of life. To make a change, we must first shine a light upon what resides in the darkness. Only once illuminated can attention be focused on the adjustments needed.
Finding the joy in detangling the knots or weathering the storms that come our way is the fiber that makes us who we are. So don’t be afraid of getting messy or digging into the nitty-gritty of what life lays on the journey.
Balance comes as we traverse the mess. As with all change, it transpires from shifting our perspective on how we see and transformation occurs when we find clarity through the chaos.
