People always inspire me. They inspire me to write, think, and become a better version of me so I can help them become a better version of themselves. Most of these moments present themselves over coffee. Last week a point was made that I hadn’t thought of in a long time. “You don’t know what you don’t know.” A harsh reality.
I know that I don’t know something. I’ve been thinking about what it might be for several months now. I know I’m trying to uncover something that’s been buried. I can’t get to it, because I don’t know what it is or where to find it. It’s easy to lose hope and focus when you’ve lost something, but have no idea what it is. The idea is that as we move through life, we only know what we know. We can change that. We can learn and grow.
We have to remember that we have to ask the right questions to find the correct answers. If you are asking the wrong questions, you will only receive the wrong answers. Knowing to think and ask questions is a great place to start. We know we are striving for more. That’s a great place to start. I’d like to think the universe has a way of working these things out. You do have to be paying attention though. Open your eyes wide. Open yourself up to the universe and allow it to show you what you don’t know.
This post was inspired by Geri Seiberling of etc! Graphics.
Hi,
great post. Found it very interesting and could relate to it.
Katie
http://katieraspberry.wordpress.com/
Katie,
Thanks for taking a look at my new blog post. I’m glad you could relate to it! Happy Tuesday!
Best,
Dallas J. Moore
Thanks Dallas! You are an inspiration too. I have learned new things from you and hope to continue learning from you. (The day I stop learning, I will be dead, even if I’m fully alive.) In the history of our relationships and helping small businesses, this little tidbit- this ‘I do not know what I do not know’ – has truly been the biggest problem for small biz. It’s such a high, such an ego boost to start your own company. You feel like you have the world by the tail. Or not. As the case may be. We desperately need other people all along the way- none of us have arrived at the point that we know all we need to know. Here’s a little ditty I have on my desktop:
The Steps of KNOWING
1: You do not know what you don’t know
2: Illumination: You know you don’t know
3: You learn what you don’t know
4: You make room for the new discipline to implement the new skill into your life
5: You practice and use the new skill
6: Allow God to correct the things you have learned poorly, and improve your understanding
7: the new skill becomes a Habit! Hooray! You start to do the new thing naturally. This is the point where you don’t even think about it, (as when one reaches the point in learning a second language where it comes blurting out of your mouth instead of your native tongue. . or perhaps the new language appears in your dreams.)
8: You are prepared to teach others what you have learned. (Most people start teaching after step 3. Only practicing the new discipline qualifies you as a teacher/mentor. However, going through steps 1-7 does not automatically guarantee you are a good teacher.)
Growing with you, geri seiberling
Geri,
Those are all very good points! It’s so interesting how such an in depth thought can easily get you lost. It’s like doing math for me! Looking for the answer when you have variables you don’t know…
Happy Tuesday!
Best,
Dallas J. Moore