Your personal breakthrough is always preceded by a confused mind…

This is a bit of a different concept today, and you may find that a light bulb goes off in your mind as you’re reading if you’re currently in a time of ‘seeking answers’.

I learned a concept a couple of years ago that dramatically enhanced my ability to learn new skills and create ideas, and what it specifically states is that in order to have clarity, it has to be preceded by confusion, because of the nature of the mind. Not only that, but it couldn’t be any other way.

In fact, you could say that you can’t not be confused before you have a breakthrough.

First, let’s answer the hidden question of ‘why’ that is, and then let me tell you how you can utilize that concept to create inspiration and personal growth on demand, at any time you choose…

So why does your mind need to create confusion in order to have personal breakthroughs?

Let me tell a story. When I was 19 years old, I went on a mission for the Mormon church in England. I used to walk around all day in a suit (Lol. I think my disdain for wearing suits may be traceable to this time in my life) and talk to people about God and whatnot.

The schedule was intense, and I believe it helped me gain work discipline. We used to wake up at 6:30 AM, study for 3 hours, then walk around for 12 hours—from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM—talking to people on street corners.

I noticed that the more I read and asked questions, the more I would have what I called ‘inspirational flashes’, where two seemingly unrelated ideas would connect in a blinding flash of insight related to the task at hand.

Three things contributed to these flashes of inspiration:

1. How much I studied, and the number and quality of unanswered questions in my mind.
2. The amount of contradictory information I encountered daily (e.g., discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses).
3. The desire, intensity, and persistence in asking questions and seeking answers.

These factors eventually lead to an inspirational insight:

Either I would have a breakthrough, or I’d experience a nervous breakdown from asking questions that had no real solutions.

POW! Every time I followed this formula, I received a unique insight into the subject I was focusing on.

Why does this work?

It’s simple. The human nervous system operates on two types of memory: electrical and reflex.

Reflex memory is familiar to most of us—it’s the memory we rely on in daily activities. It takes several days to form but requires no processing time to use.

Electrical memory, on the other hand, operates like a hologram and allows us to store and connect information almost instantly, though it may take some processing time to retrieve.

ALL memory is a set of connections between pieces of relevant or irrelevant data formed consciously or unconsciously.

For example, if you’ve been in a life-threatening car accident, the connection between fear and the image of being hit by a car can become ingrained as a phobia.

You can sever such irrational connections in a 15-minute conversation if you understand how to rewire your brain.

So, how does inspirational insight occur?

It’s simple—your mind seeks a solution it can’t find within existing memories. It forms a new electrical connection, which manifests as a burst of insight, accompanied by a release of neurotransmitters that make you feel euphoric.

How can you use this to your advantage?

By intentionally confusing yourself, you can purposefully create inspiration. Here are a few ways to do that:

1. Ask questions that have no answers.
2. Start doing something you don’t know how to do. You won’t know the right questions to ask until you’re doing it.
3. Look for arguments that contradict your basic assumptions and be open to being wrong.
4. Find someone smarter than you and ask them questions. When they’re not around, ask unanswerable questions about what they taught you.
5. Really desire something you’ve never achieved and ask questions that lead to the knowledge and resources to get there.

If you’re not confused, you’re not having breakthroughs—it’s as simple as that.

David Wood

P.S. Leave me your thoughts, comments, and questions below.

Comments

Grahame Brown

Hey David, I must be ready for a huge breakthrough! I seem to be very confused this morning! Thanks for sharing a great post.

pressure vessel

wow, cool~~

John Fueledtocreate Downs

I don’t know the answer to this question, but I KNOW I will figure it out: “how do I make an additional $42,000 a year in residual income” so that I can make a six-figure salary and my wife can stay home with the kids? Debt-free, only have the house to pay off. Thanks, David.

Micah

Wow, that was deep! Fascinating concept, I may have to do some more research into this. I’ve always been interested in how the mind works. Thanks, Dave!

Katie

I don’t feel exactly confused by your post, but more overwhelmed. It’s something I’ll need to read several times to understand. I’m currently learning online marketing and feel stuck, but your advice about starting something without knowing all the answers was helpful!

Krisna Flum

LOVE IT!

Hans Schoff

Dave, I am confused… JK. That actually makes a lot of sense. Retracing my moments of brilliance, I can see how this process took place. Great post, thanks!

Terrick Romer

Hey Dave, great article! You’ve done an amazing job getting readers to question how personal reality is created. Thanks for getting us all to question our reality.

James Hannan

Hi David, so true. It’s the confusion that drives you deeper to find the answer. Unless you dig deep yourself, how can you truly understand and help others? Just my thought 🙂

Ben Starner

I agree with this Dave – Entropy is vital for breakthroughs… Chaos always precedes higher organization. Your post was spot on. Thanks for wearing my t-shirt at the summit, it made my day!

Comments

Maria Lopez

I loved this post, David! It really resonated with me. I’ve been stuck in a state of confusion for a while, and reading this gave me hope that a breakthrough is just around the corner. Thank you for sharing!

Jordan Mayers

I’m not entirely sure I buy into this idea that confusion leads to breakthroughs. Do you have any concrete evidence or examples where this has worked for others? I’d love to hear more about how this plays out in real life.

Lisa Wong

This is such an interesting concept! I’ve always felt that I need to have everything figured out before I start something new. Now I’m wondering if maybe I should embrace the confusion and see where it takes me. Thanks for the thought-provoking post!

Michael Carter

While I appreciate the insights, I have to disagree with some points. I think confusion can lead to unnecessary stress if not managed properly. It would be interesting to see a follow-up post on how to balance confusion and clarity without feeling overwhelmed.

Emily Parker

This reminds me of a conversation we had a while back! So glad to see you put this idea into words. We should definitely catch up sometime soon. How have you been? Let’s grab a coffee when you’re free.

Jake Anderson

I had a similar experience last year when I was trying to switch careers. I was confused and unsure, but after a few months, everything started to click into place. Your post perfectly explains what I went through. Thanks for shedding light on this!

Samantha Greene

I’ve found a tool that complements this process of moving through confusion—have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s helped me focus when I feel overwhelmed. I’d recommend giving it a try if you’re struggling with managing confusion.

Chris Miller

This post really helped me reflect on my own experiences. I’ve often found myself confused before major breakthroughs, but I never realized that it was part of the process. I’ll definitely be more patient with myself the next time I feel lost. Thanks, David!