Being blindsided… happen to you? I suspect we all get blindsided at times… by ourselves as well as by others and other types of ‘triggers’. To be perfectly clear – being ‘surprised’ is not the same as being blindsided. Blindsided is always unbidden, unexpected, and not wanted. Sometimes it takes our breath away, sometimes it may result in tears… our response to being blindsided varies. I have also discovered, when I get blindsided, that what occasioned this blindsiding is not necessarily always the same – a person, place, scent, song, activity, etc. However, the point is – after we get over the surprise/shock of being blindsided – what do we do?
If it happens often, then you need to take another look at how you order and understand your world and your experiences. What it is that you allow to control you and your responses. I don’t believe that being blindsided is always all ‘bad’ or our ‘fault’, the issue really is our control over us. How do we allow our feelings to be expressed without hurting others … or ourselves.
Sometimes… in order to figure things out, you need to stop and listen… admittedly, an extremely difficult task, especially when you are also dealing with the emotions of being blindsided. Could you have avoided being blindsided? That’s an extremely good question. Not certain… but somehow I don’t think so. What we can do is minimize the collateral damage and deal with (fill in the blank) rather than deny or ignore it.
Your mindset, frame of reference, whatever you wish to call your foundation makes all the difference in these times. You need to know who you are, on what/who you base your actions, remembering previous similar situations, etc. If you do not have a firm foundation then overcoming these times of being blindsided is even more difficult.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation — Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life — Whom shall I dread?”
(Psalms 27:1, AMP)“God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1, AMP)“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” (John 16:33, AMP)
Obviously, there are other scriptures to stand on when dealing with being blindsided. I have discovered that finding those scriptures that meet my need, what I am facing sometimes is even better when I do the discovering. Turning to scripture for answers, what to do, etc. is a great way of not letting being blindsided control you.
