I don't know.
I. don't. know.
"I don't know," are some of the scariest words to a perfectionist or a patient. However, as though they hold influence, they also hold some of the most truthful triumphs a person could ever speak, think, or remember. And as odd as it may sound, I believe, being able to say, 'I don't know,' is a key quotation to look for when listening to someone in a position of leadership.
And you might be thinking: What?! I don't know?! Why would anyone want to follow somebody who doesn't know? Shouldn't you want to follow someone who knows what they are doing?
Well, I agree. Thus, let me clarify.
I don't mean people who engage in the constant repetition or uncertainty of everything. I don't mean people who conspire and question every fact know to man, for instance, "I don't know, are these 100% whole wheat chips, really 100%?" No.
And I definitely don't mean the people who use their, "I don't know's" as a crutch to fall back on, when given problems to solve, or risks to calculate.
However, "'I don't know," does say a lot.
I used to despise how it felt to admit not knowing something. It made me feel weak somehow. However, that was just me acting like a bitter child, and an extremist, because when I would admit I didn't know something, it felt as if I were admitting I didn't know anything.
When somebody says "I don't know," confidently and critically, it can speak wisdom. I have heard it said before that when we are confident in what we don't know, it reflects how even more confident we are in what we do know.
Coming from a person who is inspired by knowing, and driven to think and learn and wonder. Sometimes not knowing is a gift. Because, it is the 'not knowing,' which drives people to know. It is what drives people to pursue.
Even some of the greatest scientists, poets, historians, philosophers, artists and advocates, did not know what they needed to know to succeeded, at first. We are born with the sense of the unknown, in order to chase it.
When we can admit we don't know something, it means we are okay saying we don't know everything. And we can can recognize that we just might not know everything, then we can honestly begin the art of pursuing.
So, maybe we should say it a little bit more, and maybe we shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed when we do, and maybe we just need a little reminder it's okay not to know things. Because truthfully, if you were to ask me why I am writing this, I would have to tell you, "I don't know."
