Be Humble: You don’t know s##t
Most people think that they already know everything there is to know about life, and obstinately hold on to what they know, with an aversion for adventure and suspicious of surprises. Psychologist David Dunning is shocked about the depth of human ignorance he has seen in surveys. What alarms him is not how much ignorance there is, but that ignorant people don’t know how ignorant they are. “We are not very good at knowing what we don’t know,” he says.
It is true that we know more now than we have ever known before, but the fact is that science can now explain only 4.6% of the universe. 95.4% of the universe is still unknown to us.
In addition, it is currently accepted that 98% of your DNA is largely unexplored, 90% of your brain is a total mystery, and we are only aware of about 14% of all living space on Earth.
The problem with humans is that, like petulant teenagers, they constantly cling to the absurd idea that they know it all. When, in fact, they know so little!
So, for all our blustering and arrogance — for all our science and genius, and centuries of research — we have barely scratched the surface of who we are and what we are about.
Are we really that insecure and immature that we are going to continue to pretend that we have all the answers?
Are we really going to throw a temper tantrum every time someone presents us with a new way of looking at things?
Or are we going to grow up, wise up, and accept ourselves for what we are: Intelligent, but mostly ignorant creatures that have much to learn.
Socrates once said: “I know one thing and that is, I know nothing.” I believe that about myself.
Compared to humanity at large, I know a lot, and yet I know very little. My body is 70 years old. I have lived in 3 countries and traveled in 14. I speak two languages. After graduating from high school, I have spent 17 years in graduate school and earned 5 degrees, 2 licenses and 2 certifications. I have 26 letters after my name…B.Ph, B.Th, M.Th, Th.D, S.T.L, M.S, L.M.H.C., N.C.C, and C.T. I have published 5 books.
I read a lot. I am always reading some books. I read the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Time Magazine regularly. I watch PBS, Discovery channel, History channel, CNN, and MSNBC.
And yet, I know very little. I know a little philosophy, some psychology, a little Bible, and some theology. But compared to all that is out there to learn about those four areas of knowledge, I may know less than one percent if that much.
Even in theology in which I have a doctorate, there are so many branches such as Angelology, Biblical theology, Christology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Hamartiology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, and Theological anthropology to name a few.
When it comes to other areas of knowledge, I am mostly ignorant. About technology, I know practically nothing. Every time I have a minor problem with my computer, I call my wife. To change the cartridge of my printer, I need Judy’s help. About things mechanical, I have no clue. To the question as to how many people does it takes to change a light bulb in our house, the answer is two. About health and medicine, I know very little.
A few years ago, I was in the hospital. I had time to think about the different branches of medicine and doctors, so I made a partial list.
We have pediatricians, podiatrists, urologists, nephrologists, gynecologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, orthopedists, pathologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, ophthalmologists, dentists, radiologists, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, allergists, anesthesiologists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. That is 26.
But there are more. I know one or two facts about these doctors, but I have no idea about what their 4 to 8 years of education and training entails.
So, be humble, and admit how ignorant you are, and then watch your mind open and life expand in such a way that you will really start enjoying life on this beautiful planet!
