Can ignorance be a good thing?
It can if we are humble enough to admit that we don’t know something and are willing to go after whatever knowledge we lack.
However, very few people are comfortable with admitting their ignorance.
Typically, we tend to view ignorance as a shameful condition that must be hidden from others at all costs. That’s unfortunate.
Our fear of being seen as wrong or facing the ridicule and disapproval of others starts when we are very young.
It’s a habit that can follow us into adulthood, where our efforts to avoid shame also limits our ability to learn.
People who find the courage to say the words, “I don’t know…” are taking the first step to breaking their mental shackles.
When we are humble enough to say, “I’m ignorant about that” we open the door to the possibility of learning what we don’t already know.
It also shows a kind of inner strength and honesty that is as refreshing as it is rare.
The reality that most wish to avoid is that all of us lack knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.
That lack of knowledge isn’t a mark of shame so much as a reminder to be inquisitive and teachable in every situation.
It also helps us to resist the temptation to be dogmatic and to try to prove how right we are.
People who leverage their ignorance as a springboard to learning don’t need that kind of outside approval.
They are also a lot more forgiving when others lack understanding.
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