Is It Empowering to Acknowledge That I Know That I Don’t Know That?
Recognizing that I don’t know that opens me to options to learn, grow, and control change.
There are some things I know a lot about. And there are even more things that I know a little about.
This can be both incredibly useful – and slightly dangerous.
Useful, because I perceive what I realize to the extent that I know it. Be it something I know a little or a lot about – what I already discern has limits. There is no single topic whatsoever that I know every permutation or detail about.
Dangerous, because sometimes what I know is incorrect or lacking in details. Or what I am acquainted with is only a small part of the greater whole and lacking key elements. Thus, I could be sharing/spreading incorrect information.
It is easy to talk about what we know. But when it comes to what we don’t know? That’s a lot harder to admit to. It’s also much harder to simply admit to not knowing because of what impression that might make on others.
Thus, I would like to dive into the power of knowing that I don’t know that.
There are ALWAYS new things to learn
For all that I know, there is so much that I don’t. That’s because there is ALWAYS something new to learn.
Whether I have a desire to possess such knowledge is a whole other matter. For example, I love to study elements of physics, faster-than-light travel options, genetics, biology, and other sciences. Some for my writing, some out of natural curiosity to better understand life, the Universe, and everything.
There are lots and lots of topics I feel no need to know. I do know little tidbits about lots and lots of things I don’t need nor care to appreciate anything about. But as such – I don’t seek to gain further knowledge or to expand my knowledge base on these subjects.
Additionally, new things are constantly being found and/or created that can be learned. It might be quantum computing, fusion power, archeological finds, or some other art or science – but there is something more I can comprehend that I don’t know if I care to know that.
Because there are always new things to learn – acknowledging that I know that I don’t that is more empowering than disempowering.
This is where we often get our perception of not knowing something completely wrong.
I don’t know that – so teach me/help me learn
If there is something that I don’t know – and you feel it’s something that it would be good that I do realize – teach me. Or point me in the right direction to help me learn that.
Recognizing that we don’t know things opens us to learning. Learning opens us to grow. Growing opens us to evolve. Evolving opens us to work with change.
The one and only constant in the entire Universe is change. Like it or not – it happens. Learning is a major coping mechanism when it comes to dealing/working with change.
While there are things that I care to know alongside things I don’t care to – there are also things I need to know.
Most things in this category are obvious. I need to recognize what the lights on a stoplight mean to safely drive. Likewise, I need to see that many mushrooms found in nature are poisonous so that I don’t eat them and get sick.
But then, many of the things we need to know are not so obvious. Like if certain words or phrases are upsetting and/or inappropriate. Likewise, if actions cause unintentional upset or harm to people.
All are things that I can learn. Maybe I know that I don’t know that – now. So please teach me and help me learn.
How is it empowering to acknowledge that I don’t know that?
Learning is the key to growth. I love learning because there is always something new or otherwise unknown to me to discover.
The Universe is ginormous. From the quantum scale to the whole of the cosmos, there is so, so, so much information out there. And thus – lots to be learned.
Accepting that I don’t know that – whatever “that” is – goes a long way towards opening myself to learn. This, in turn, opens me to grow and evolve.
Yet there is a stigma attached to not knowing things. Lots of people make fun of those who don’t know things.
Ironically, many also make fun of those who have expertise and knowledge. While a little skepticism and critical thinking are not bad – they get overused these days. Then they become excuses for bad behavior, blatant ignorance of science and reason, and various other societal ills.
Recognizing that I don’t know that opens me to multiple options. It puts me in a position to see opportunities, potential, and possibilities. This lets me take the lead in controlling how I grow and change.
That empowers me to use mindfulness to better understand my inner self. Conscious awareness of my mindset/headspace/psyche self via my thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions empowers me. That shows me the way to learn something when I don’t know that.
Learning about my inner self puts me in touch with my subconscious self. Specifically – my habits, values, and beliefs. This also makes me better able to see and recognize my ego and how it impacts me – both within and with the impression I make to the world without.
Inner knowledge is the key to outer knowledge. The more that I recognize what I don’t know about myself – the more open I am to get to learn anything else at all.
Recognizing room for more knowledge is good
Finally – it’s good to recognize and acknowledge when I know that I don’t know that – whatever “that” is. That recognition and acknowledgment help provide me with options to find and/or create to learn more.
One of the best things about choosing a path in life is that I see that I don’t yet realize everything about my path. If I knew how to best live in this way and arrive at the end of this path – I’d be done. There would be no more reason to traverse this path.
There is always something more to learn. Thus, I can always choose a new path. Or grow and learn via a detour or unexpected issue along this path. And growth and learning occur on any and every path I choose as a matter of course.
Maybe I recognize that I don’t know that. But rather than see this as a limitation or shortcoming – I am choosing to see it as an opportunity. The potential and possibilities for learning new things are worthwhile and exciting.
I know that I don’t know that.
Do you need/desire to know that? If so, how do you learn that?
This is the five-hundred and twentieth exploration (ten years!) of my Pathwalking philosophy. These weekly essays are my ideas for – and experiences with – using mindfulness and positivity to walk along a chosen path of life to consciously create reality.
I share this journey as part of my desire to make a difference in this world and empower as many people as I can with conscious reality creation.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to re-post and share this.
The first year of Pathwalking, including expanded ideas, is available here. Check out Amazon for my published fiction and nonfiction works.
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