“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle” ~ Albert Einstein.
Know thyself.
These words were uttered by Socrates, arguably the greatest philosopher who ever lived.
You might be tempted to look at this simple phrase and ask, How difficult can it be to know myself? I live with myself every single day.
We assume we know ourselves. We think we know others. We think we know how the world works and we think our ideas are rock solid truths.
But the truth is, we have no idea.
And while Socrates said that phrase, he had no illusions about the process being easy. He concluded that our greatest knowledge comes from being keenly aware of how little we actually know.
How often though, do we use our “knowledge” to bring down ourselves and others? How often do we see people on TV, radio, and in person talk about events as if they control the cosmos?
Nowadays, it’s the hardest thing to just say “I don’t know.”
But this statement is the truest one we can ever make as it relates to knowing anything.
The trap of knowing it all
The world of the known is embarrassingly small compared to the vastness of what we don’t know.
When we cling to what we “know,” we confine ourselves in very small worlds of our own making.
Think you don’t have any natural talents?
Think others constantly judge you?
Think the outside world is hostile?
Think you know everything about the person you dislike most?
Think you’re beyond all hope?
These are just a few of the things you “know” that are keeping you imprisoned in your reality—a reality devoid of miracles.
But you know what? Miracles are all around you. Miracles are nothing more than reminders of just how little we know. They don’t usually appear in big flashes of light. They appear in the opening of a flower, in the rising of the sun, and in the random acts of kindness people perform every day.
What if you became open to seeing the miracles?
How might your world be transformed?
Some tips for unknowing
If you’re tired if the small world you’re living in and are ready to go exploring, your next question might be, How do I begin the process of unknowing?
1. Stop talking
Stop talking about how crappy your life is. Stop talking about how terrible your neighbor is. Stop talking about how the economy is so bad and you just can’t catch a break.
The reason why you speak in such disempowering ways is because you carry around disempowering beliefs. The way to release yourself from them is to write them down when you wake up first thing in the morning. Seeing them on paper will show you just how little power they have over you.
2. Listen
Once you learn to silence your mouth and mind, you’ll become more open to the guidance that is within you and all around you. You’ll learn to listen, not just with your ears, but with your body and your soul.
That ache in your shoulder you weren’t even aware of suddenly becomes a source of new insight. That emotional distress is transformed from a source of endless pain into a conduit of grace. The nagging words of your loved one become the answer to your nagging problem.
3. Get curious
When you do speak, ask questions. Ask questions in your daily conversations, rather than making statements or pronouncements.
Making pronouncements over ourselves or others is one of the cruelest things we can do. It’s often done in judgement and usually arises out of emptiness, fear, or discomfort, rather than any well of truth.
Socrates dedicated his life to asking questions. His insatiable curiosity was the hallmark of his genius.
4. Love
Too often we use our “knowledge” as a way of trying to lord it over others. It’s the way we unconsciously seek to love and accept ourselves.
The true path to self-acceptance and love however is by loving others. We don’t need to be superior or inferior to others. We simply need to love them.
This love is not some wishy-washy thing. You love when you practice the first three steps with full awareness and attention. When you expand into this new reality, you’ll be shocked by just how small the world of superiority is.
Unknow thyself
Want to have a life of joy and wonder?
Don’t cling too tightly to what you know.
The universe is too awesomely complex for that. So is each person, including you.
Whenever you’re tempted to discount or dismiss yourself or others based on what you “know,” guard your heart with the phrase, “I don’t know.”
And have the courage to be open to the abundant wisdom and grace that’s all around and within you.
So thought provoking, Cylon. For me asking questions is my favored way of seeing new avenues of thinking and acting. Sometimes though, I prefer to observe and ask those questions internally such as “What can she be thinking when she does what looks so impossible to me from where I am right now?”. Really appreciate your wisdom, as always.
Thank you Laura! Yes, love love how you question from the inside out as well…thank you for sharing that 🙂
Thank you Cylon,
Lovely reminders. An upside and downside to everything.
As you mention, even when we tell ourselves we do actually know something, instead of passing this on for the benefit of others, we can weaponize such knowledge, hurting others, for our own pathetic, small ends. But, of course, the results of such invariably return to haunt us.
Thank you.
You said, “Nowadays, it’s the hardest thing to just say “I don’t know.” This post has sparked a few thoughts, and this truth, that it’s the hardest thing to just say, “I don’t know,” is absolute truth (for too many)!! I once knew someone who found it impossible to say those three words. Even to the most mundane musings, requiring no response at all… “I wonder what caused the cloud to take that shape?”… He felt compelled to respond with an explanation.
One time, to explain why he kept kicking the door closed to the broiler, rather than checking to see why it kept popping open a bit, he spouted something about the spontaneous combustion, causing the heat to expand the space and pop the drawer open. God forbid he investigate to discover the cat had wandered in there, and he’d turned on the broiler, and closed the door on her!! Although the outcome was a happy ending and the cat was fine, his response was so ridiculous! Aren’t stoves, ovens, broilers built in such a manner that the drawers don’t pop open? Has one ever done this to him in the past? ughhh!
He could not keep his mouth shut, or utter those three little words, “I don’t know,” which would have highlighted strength and wisdom. Instead, he preferred to make up a lies… utterly ridiculous responses. It caused a severe and devastating blow to our relationship. I lost all respect, and I watched others lose respect. Who could trust him?! He was a good person, but he was apparently so insecure that he needed to pretend he knew it all. I watched him become a laughing-stock in the eyes of many. I was powerless in protecting him. You can’t protect or help someone who thinks he knows it all, because he has so deeply buried his feeling of inferiority and insecurity, that any attempt to help is perceived as an attack. It’s rather sad.
This is just part 1! This post is so deep that I have to take it in parts! (smile)
Wow Eva, what a powerful sharing about the consequences of knowing…this story really grounds the ideas and points I was trying to make in the post. Definitely a cautionary tale! I hope this gentleman has learned from his experiences.
If I became more open to seeing miracles… what a lovely idea! I’m pretty open to seeing miracles, but I also recognize just how closed off I can be. I don’t give miracles enough credence, or I’d pray harder for things like conversion of heart for myself and others. What a wonderful world it would be if I could be just a little more trusting that I don’t know that someone can’t change or won’t change… Sometimes, I think about my inner child… the one who believed in all good things, and not the person I can sometimes be… I love it when my inner child pops out at the discovery of butterfly wings found while mulching my garden. Or the hummingbirds that hovered within two feet of me as I crawled on hands and knees, hidden by the flowers… Thanks for the reminder to look for the overlooked miracles of a stranger’s smile, kittens frolicking, or seeing an arm come out of the car window in front of you, to give a beggar some coins… I think recognizing the miracles would bring me peace and acceptance in the normalcy of everyday life.
Amen…beautifully said!
There is a brilliant man I know, who I hope is reading this post, who should really read and listen to what is written in step #1: Stop talking and step #2 Listen… He’s going through a difficult time right now, and the best remedy to get through this is to stop speaking disempowering thoughts, and start speaking empowering thoughts! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Even though this “place” I’m in is stressful and I feel I cannot go on, I know that I have what it takes to win this battle. There is a reason I am here… something I need to learn. And, maybe I’ve already learned what I’m supposed to learn. So, God, I will continue to lean on you, and my friends, as I know that this too shall pass in your good time! I just need to be patient and trust. I need to accept to some bending, but know that I will not break!” Prayers remain with him, and hopefully, something will change REALLY soon!
I think I know this man of whom you speak! I actually wrote this post especially for him…truth be told…I write most of the posts on this blog for him, of course hoping that others will benefit from his own struggles and musings…not sure he’s that brilliant though 😉 Thank you for your contribution to the message he needs to hear right now. I’ll make sure he gets it…:)
“The true path to self-acceptance and love however is by loving others. We don’t need to be superior or inferior to others. We simply need to love them.” This says it all… This is wonderful… Thank you for putting your thoughts and suggestions out there for us. I appreciate you more than you will ever know!! (didn’t intend to be “punny,” but it works!)
Haha! Yes, it does work. I appreciate you too. Thank you 🙂