How do you feel when you don’t know something? Do you welcome uncertainty, or do you feel that you need to be – or at least act as if you are – certain, sure and have it all together? How comfortable are you with not knowing?
As humans, we rate knowledge highly and we often hold on – tightly – to what we know. Listen to people debating religious or political beliefs and you’ll see what I mean. Or, see how many of us respond to a circumstance such as unemployment. We could see those times as opportunities to learn something new, grow and undertake new endeavours rather than threats or things to be feared.
Not knowing can, and often does, induce fear and panic. However, contrary to what we have been conditioned to believe, not knowing is a wonderful place to stand. It is an opportunity and a space of creation.
Little is possible when you think you know everything already and believe that you already have all the answers. Not knowing begs the question “what’s possible?”
If you took away everything you ever knew, what would be available to you? If you stand in a space of not knowing today – since, in fact, we never really know anything for sure – what’s possible for your life?
I find that not knowing to be as difficult as not being certain of what I do know. An example of this would be that I feel certain I could be successful if only to be given a chance, just one interview, for a job in my field. I’m not looking at this point from an unemployment stance, because I have a full time job, but it’s not in the are I studied in college… graduating two years ago. I haven’t had one interview since graduating.
I graduated with a degree in public administration and would like to work in education administration. I feel as though I would be a good motivator on the college level. I know how it feels not to be granted an interview and not know if it’s because of the economy or the black college I attended. That’s the kind of uncertainty I have.
It is the not knowing that motivates me to want to own my own business or start a foundation. It is that empty and void space in my heart that keeps me dreaming and believing I can be part of change.
I know I can’t do it alone, and I’m not looking for handouts, just others who are uncertain, but certain that we must join together for common causes.