[Daily OM]: There is wisdom in not knowing, and
it is a wise person who can say, "I don't know." For no one knows
everything. There are many types of wisdom -- from intellectual to
emotional to physical intelligence. Yet, even deemed experts in their
fields do not know all there is to know about mathematics, yoga,
literature, psychology, or art. It is a true master who professes
ignorance, for only an empty vessel can be filled.
There are many things in life that we don't know, and there are many
things we may have no interest in finding out. There is freedom in
saying "I don't know." When we admit that we don't know something, we
can then open ourselves up to the opportunity to learn. And there is
power in that. We can't possibly know everything. And when we think we
do, we limit ourselves from growing and learning more than what we
already do know. A person who can admit to not knowing tends to be more
intellectually and emotionally confident than someone who pretends to
know everything. They also tend to be more comfortable with who they are
and don't feel the need to bluff or cover up any perceived ignorance.
People can actually end up appearing more foolish when they act as if
they know something that they don't.
We would be wise to respect people who freely admit when they don't know
something. They are being honest, with us and with themselves. And we,
too, should feel no shame in saying, "I don't know." In doing so, we
open ourselves up to the unknown. We can then discover what lies beyond
our current levels of understanding. It is the wise person in life that
answers questions with a question and inspires the pursuit of internal
answers with a funny face, a shrug, and a comical, "I don't know."