“I don’t know” is not always the absence of an answer.
Sometimes it is the most honest answer—and the beginning of everything you are ready to learn.
In Part 1, we brought the subject of knowing and not knowing out into the open.
What we know—and what we do not know—is part of our journey. It is connected to everything inside and outside of us.
The person standing before you is traveling through the same system of discovery, but by a route unique to them. We are similar, but never exactly the same.
Perhaps remembering that will help us judge less and learn more about us all.
FAKING IT?
I have admitted that I did not know something and surprised people who expected me to know.
But what else should a person do when something requiring knowledge is placed before them and that knowledge has not yet arrived?
Why misrepresent it?
Fake it?
Pretend?
Deceive?
“I don’t know” is an honest place to begin. Once you admit where you are, you can discover where you need to go.
YES, NO & I DON’T KNOW
When someone properly handles what they know and what they do not know, their YES and NO become stronger.
When you can confidently command these three answers—
YES.
NO.
I DON’T KNOW.
—your credibility rises. Other people gain confidence in your words because you are no longer trying to make every answer look like knowledge.
Success has a way of following that kind of honesty.
WORTHY NOTE: A truthful “I don’t know” is worth more than a confident answer that is not true.
SELF-CONTAINED
It is amazing how much has already been designed, constructed and placed within a human creation.
Abilities unfold over a lifetime. Understanding arrives. Gifts announce themselves. Experiences teach what instruction alone cannot teach.
The design is not the problem. The receiver—that would be us—decides where to take it.
When honesty and righteous motives direct what we receive, we give ourselves the best chance of reaching our optimum.
YOUR ABILITIES
People often build their lives and professions around what they know, what they enjoy or what they feel called to do.
Something inside them is stirred. Their bank of skills opens, and their abilities are released.
These are the people others seek when expertise is needed.
No one is expected to know everything. That is why we were each given something different to contribute.
WORTHY NOTE: People buy from people first—and then the product, service or expertise.
UNIQUENESS
Each of us has a unique collection of talents, skills, abilities and gifts.
They serve our purposes. They serve the purposes of others. And when used for good, they please the One who gave them.
Perhaps that is how we pay for these precious gifts:
We use them.
We share them.
We return their goodness to the Good-maker.
Everyone benefits from that cycle of living.
TAKE STOCK OF YOURSELF
Be quick to tell yourself the truth about what you know and do not know. When necessary, be just as truthful with others.
Then remain open.
What belongs to you can come forward, enter your life and help develop the person you are becoming.
Your personal stock rises because honesty has prepared a place for your portion.
METHINKS
By the way, I only want to know what I am supposed to know—and no more than that.
Forcing the head full of data, information, instructions and memories can create a high-maintenance thinker.
People who think too much can miss a great deal of living.
Methinks the mind is a wonderful servant, but it was never intended to evict the heart.
HEART-DRIVEN
In the beginning, many hearts helped drive your entrance into this world.
In the end, the heart will help drive your exit too.
When a person embraces the love of life and the Life-maker, the heart remains in the driver’s seat.
That is where the intended, satisfying and deeply fulfilling life waits for you.
PEARLS INSIGHT
You do not lose credibility by admitting that you do not know.
You gain credibility by respecting the truth enough not to pretend.
What you do not know leaves room for discovery.
What you do know leaves room for service.
And knowing the difference leaves room for wisdom.
Now you know something about knowing, not knowing—and who you are becoming between the two.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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