Why have so many adults become so ignorant? Too often we graduate, get our degrees, get hired and all the sudden we assume we know all that we need to. We become comfortable and complacent which breeds a false sense of security. Others may try and mentor us and give us advice so we don't have to learn some of the same lessons they've experienced, but too often we don't want to listen. Everyone is born with an innate ability to want to grow, learn, adapt and change. When and why does this desire dwindle? What happens to our curiosity? Children are amazing in their constant thirst to expand their minds. I could be a challenging child. I could out "why" any adult. I always wanted to know more and I was rarely satisfied, and a simple just because never sufficed. For me that curiosity has never subsided. In addition to being curious, kids have courage (and they don't even know it)! They don't experience the fear of having to admit to not knowing. They have no hesitation in asking for information, and their questions can be posed from such unique perspectives. Furthermore, they take ownership or responsibility for their learning. If they do not know an answer, they do not place blame on someone for not telling or teaching them. As adults, we commonly hear - no one ever told me, I wasn't trained to do it that way, that's not what the manual said, etc... Channel your youthful innocence and be courageous and be curious! Embrace not knowing and seek the information out. You are empowered and responsible for your own learning. You will find that anything is possible when you are on a constant quest to learn and experience more. Information is infinite. The best leaders admit to how much they do not know! Henry David Thoreau observed, "To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge." All of us are born into the world ignorant and without knowledge. Channel your inner child and make to the choice and take action - to seek it out and apply it. Only when we take charge are we energized and shape a future that grows more exciting with each new day as long as we continue on a learning journey. To be successful, take advice from others and be open to learning and you're capabilities to excel will multiply exponentially! |
