(NOTE: Based on today’s The Daily Post writing prompt)

It can be a good thing to occasionally be perplexed. All it really means is that you’re in a higher state of confusion, where you don’t know which end is up and are maybe a little afraid.

That’s a positive thing because it means, essentially, that you’re still experiencing new things, still putting yourself in potentially uncomfortable situations. You can’t be perplexed, after all, if you’re not moving outside your comfort zone on a regular basis.

Perplexed is a state we try to avoid, though, particularly those of us who like to act like we’ve seen it all before and are too cool to be uncomfortable. We swagger and use that attitude as a defense against our own state of agitation and awkwardness, pretending to know all the answers.

There’s strength, though, in dropping the bull and letting people know you’re uncomfortable and perplexed. They can help you and will likely think more highly of you because you were willing to ask for help. Oh, and you get to make them feel better about themselves as well since they’ve proven their own expertise.

This is a bit of me talking to me, of course, since I’m not very good at admitting when I need help or don’t know the answers. It’s one of the many personality and character deficiencies I’m always working on.

What perplexes you?