The Unknown

Although it’s truism, to say “man is his own worst enemy” still sounds like the ultimate cliche. Therefore, I crave your indulgence in using this cliched (and harsh) idiomatic expression as an opener - it is simply meant to pique your interest metaphorically.

The metaphor however speaks to the fact that despite our unique gift of discernment which puts us hierarchically at the top of all living organisms, we humans still possess a peculiar tendency to stand in our own way. Although we find it much easier to blame external factors for our experiences, what really prevents us from a full and fulfilling experience of life are not solely the restraints put on us by our external landscape, but more importantly, the ones we put on ourselves. Far too often we’re comforted and cuddled by what we know; and as one good friend of mine (Sam) eloquently put it, we’re mostly driven by the “strive to be right” as opposed to the “strive to learn”.

However, at some point in life, it becomes almost imperative to decide whether you’re more in love with “what you know” or “what you don’t know”. Generally, as humans, we tend to be in love with what we know because it is mentally comforting and also because we don’t want our beliefs shaken or challenged, but the problem with that is - we don’t know enough. Our ignorance always outweighs our knowledge, meaning - what we know is unfathomably infinitesimal in the broad spectrum of what there is to know.

As such, leading our lives solely on the premise of what we know not only limits our potential for growth, over time, it becomes a far greater risk in itself, when compared to the risk of exploring the unlimited possibilities that lie only within the realm of the unknown. Furthermore, the quickest way to go backwards is simply to stand still, and by living rigidly within the boundaries of the known, retrogression due to lack of evolution becomes a stark reality, especially in a time of accelerated change and overwhelming uncertainties.

By repeating what you know, you’re simply reaffirming your identity and as the saying goes, “no one ever learns anything new by repeating that which they know”. So to evolve as an individual, you have to begin to explore the unknown aspects of yourself by getting beyond the known aspects yourself. If you keep going back to that which you know, you’ll ultimately miss out on the unknown. Surprisingly, something as simple as being “teachable” serves as an increasingly important catalyst for growth. Most, if not all requisite factors that help us attain our “Higher Self” reside only in the realm of the unknown.

So my charge to Self and You (the reader) this week is to - refine our attention, remain teachable, and to assume that every person we listen to might know something we don’t.

Remember - “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” - Dalai Lama

Peace, Love and Light,