The Art of Not Knowing

Exploring any new frontier means exactly that. Its new. There is no precedent. It doesn’t matter what field you work in – it doesn’t matter what beliefs you hold – we all need to be able to not know, before we can know something new.

No expectations, no disappointment.

Be an empty chalice.

Be a clear crystal glass.

Be empty.

If your glass if full, how can more be poured in?

If you already know – this is not for you. But if you are exploring, if you are wondering, if you are creating – then let us become empty – let us open out minds to the unknown.

How can we not know?
By withholding expectations. How many times have we looked at the weather forecast – or seen a cloud on the horizon – and said ‘ahh, now the weather will be bad for the weekend- everything will be ruined.’ How many times have we thought ‘there’s no point, I already know what he/she will say – or think – or react if I do ‘this’. How many times have we joined a group of friends and thought – this is going to be exactly the same as the last time… before it even begins…
If we already know – then we deny the possibility of the new.

What happens if we don’t know?
Perhaps, we feel afraid… That’s the unknown, ever since we were little – the darkness, or the new place, or the new school, or the stranger. The unknown reveals itself – and as we grow up – we learn that its ‘not that bad’ – and these fears drop away – but then – they turn into fears of change – and they freeze us in time.

There are many books on facing the fear, there are audio guides, there’s help – if you think you need it – and if you feel a ‘pain in your throat’ or you feel uncomfortable reading about ‘fears’ maybe you need to think a little about what it is you are afraid of..

The good thing that happens when we don’t know – is that we invite imagination – or inspiration – or a higher power –or what ever – into visit… and the brain explores its space and enters new territory.

How do you think Einstein figured stuff out? He didn’t know – and he tentatively opened his mind to ‘not knowing’ – he felt safe not knowing – and he explored the ‘space’ and came up with amazing information that has changed the world we live in.

You can change the world we live in – right now… by opening up to the possibility of not knowing…
And this – my friends – is linked to something else. Its linked to trust. But that’s for another post.