Finding Peace in Not Knowing
Through my tireless pursuit of knowledge, I have faced many barriers and discovered many things about myself. I have accomplished many things, but they have been primarily driven by my constant fear of getting it wrong. However, these challenges and uncertainties have taught me peace can be found in embracing the unknown.
Uncertainty has a certain beauty that is often overlooked due to our society’s fixation on having all the answers. Many people pretend to know the answers even when they don’t, and this act is nothing but a facade. It robs us of the true essence of life—the sense of wonder, curiosity, and creativity.
What good does it do to pretend we have all the answers? None. It stifles growth, innovation, and progress. It closes the door to possibility and makes us seem like an asshole to others.
Understanding these things in life is closely tied to our relationships. Consider the role of a parent. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that, as a parent, you are supposed to have all the answers and that you can never learn anything from your children. Unfortunately, this mindset is ingrained in most of us from a young age, and as a result, many of us grow up feeling inferior and believing that as we mature, we need to have the answers. As you will find out, all issues come from childhood.
You don’t have to know everything, but some will try to convince you otherwise. They’ll boast about how they’ve got it all figured out and how they have all the answers neatly packaged and ready to go. That’s nothing but bullshit.
I have had the opportunity to observe numerous people throughout my life who have taken it upon themselves to dictate how I should live my life. I’ve found that many of these same people have experienced their lives crumbling before them. This is the problem with pretending you have it figured out. It creates a persona called the false self that conforms to the expectations and demands of others rather than expressing what you need or acknowledging your shortcomings.
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
―Epictetus
We all have the ability to lie, cheat, and pretend to be someone we are not. This becomes exhausting, and we only hurt ourselves. This mindset cannot bring growth, but more importantly, it steals time from us that we can never get back. Time spent pretending to know everything and avoiding the truth kills our souls.
The truth is, not a single soul on this planet has all the answers—not me, not you, not anyone. And there is nothing wrong with that. Uncertainty isn’t something to be feared—it’s something to be welcomed.
Letting go of the need to control and embrace uncertainty unlocks endless possibilities, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Let go of the need to have it all figured out and instead live your life on your terms.