Learn to give the feeling of “I don’t know” a chance.
When you have all those emotions of fear, anger, hatred, disgust welling up inside you, those thoughts of uncertainty taking roots…take a pause…and say “Maybe I do not know…” and stay with it. Without trying to ‘Find the answer’. Relax into the ‘suspended’ state.
The mind is addicted to certainty. It wants to know, to believe it knows, needs to know, believe that it is surely right, or at least that it’s surely wrong. What it cannot stand is uncertainty. A simple, pure “I don’t know” is the holy grail of uncertainty and the mind’s greatest nemesis. Being comfortable with this fundamental state of uncertainty is the gateway to wisdom.
- When you find your belief being attacked by another person, and you are sure they are wrong, that your belief, nation, religion, answer, interpretation is the truth, when you are sure you know…Take a pause…”Maybe I do not know…just maybe…” Stay with it. I will not tell you what it can lead to. Then your mind will immediately start ‘looking for that thing you already know’ and block itself from discovering the new.
- When your boss criticises you, and you feel the anger crawling up through your gut, the helplessness binding you like a python…take a pause…LET those feelings BE…and say “”Maybe I just do not know…just maybe…” Stay with it. I will not tell you what it can lead to. Then your mind will immediately start ‘looking for that thing you already know’ and block itself from discovering the new.
- When somebody says you are wrong – and you are about to jump into a bout of justification and explanation…”Maybe I do not know…just maybe…maybe she is right…or maybe she is wrong…Right now, I just do not know…” Stay with it. I will not tell you what it can lead to. Then your mind will immediately start ‘looking for that thing you already know’ and block itself from discovering the new.
- When you see that piece of art – music, movie, writing – and are sure it is just meaningless BS being sold under the name of art say ”Maybe I do not know…” Stay with it. I will not tell you what it can lead to. Then your mind will immediately start ‘looking for that thing you already know’ and…
- When you see that piece of art – music, movie, writing – and are sure you know what it means – say ”Maybe I do not know…” Stay with it. I will not tell you what it can lead to…
- When you are sure you know you are useless, can never add upto anything, meant to rot like the millions of other mediocre souls – say “Maybe I do not know….”. Stay there….You might not find the answer you seek. But you might find the answer you need.
- When you are sure you know you are the best, you know what it takes, losers are just lazy, winners are tough, that you have discovered the secret of life – say “Maybe I do not know….”. Stay there….
- When you are sure you do not know, sure you are confused, sure you need direction from someone or something else – even then say “Yes, I do not know….” and stay there…..Do not try to jump to define, analyse, describe, label, categorize your state of mind and your feelings. Don’t fill up your mind with thoughts – any kind of thoughts – including those that say “I NEED to find a solution!”.
Leave space for new thoughts to emerge. Have faith. Surrender.
If you can reduce the need of knowing, be OK with not knowing – then you will be OK with anything and your mind will open up to everything. If you believe you already know, you can never know. Water is abundant. But a filled cup cannot receive more.
Empty your cup. Give ‘I don’t know’ a chance.
