The Art of Not Knowing

The Art of Not Knowing (originally posted here)

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.