Latest / Deep Thoughts / Embrace Ignorance as Your New Secret Skill to Growth

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Embrace Ignorance as Your New Secret Skill to Growth · Deep Thoughts

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  Speaker 1: It feels like these days everyone's telling us you got
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  Speaker 1: to know everything, you got to learn more, you got
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  Speaker 1: to stay informed, like we should all be walking encyclopedias. Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: but what if I told you there's actually like a
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  Speaker 1: hidden power in not knowing. That's what we're going to
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  Speaker 1: dive into today.
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  Speaker 2: Interesting how that idea of ignorance, you know, how it's
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  Speaker 2: changed over time. Used to be a pretty neutral word,
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  Speaker 2: like just meant a lack of knowledge. But it feels
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  Speaker 2: like somewhere along the line it kind of became a weapon.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, like a bad thing almost.
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  Speaker 2: Almost like a personal failing.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah for sure. And today we're going to challenge that idea. Okay,
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  Speaker 1: we're going to look at how embracing not knowing can
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  Speaker 1: actually help you grow. Yeah, it can spark innovation, It
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  Speaker 1: could even make your relationship stronger. I like it. And
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  Speaker 1: by the end you'll see how powerful a little bit
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  Speaker 1: of not knowing can be.
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  Speaker 2: So this pressure to know it all can be kind
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  Speaker 2: of dangerous. It can make people intellectually arrogant, Like they
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  Speaker 2: get so attached to what they already know that they
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  Speaker 2: just shut down to new ideas.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like they're building up these walls around themselves exactly.
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  Speaker 1: I think they've got it all figured out right.
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  Speaker 2: And that stops them from really growing and changing exactly.
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  Speaker 2: So this connects to like the fixed mindset, you know,
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  Speaker 2: that idea that your abilities are just set in stone.
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  Speaker 2: When you're too afraid to admit you don't know something,
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  Speaker 2: you're actually limiting yourself. But when you embrace not knowing,
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  Speaker 2: it helps you develop a growth mindset.
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  Speaker 1: So instead of being afraid of not knowing, we should
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  Speaker 1: see it as an.
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  Speaker 2: Opportunity, right, like opening a door to a whole new
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  Speaker 2: world of possibilities. I love that and think about it.
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  Speaker 2: Some of the most amazing discoveries came from people who
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  Speaker 2: were willing to say I don't know, people who are
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  Speaker 2: willing to question everything.
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  Speaker 1: Like Einstein. Yeah, he said, I have no special talents.
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  Speaker 1: I am only passionately curious.
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  Speaker 2: He revolutionized the way we think about the universe, for.
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  Speaker 1: Sure, and it's fascinating how his curiosity and his willingness
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  Speaker 1: to embrace not knowing led him to challenge all these
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  Speaker 1: theories and ultimately up with completely new ways of thinking
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  Speaker 1: about space and time and gravity.
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  Speaker 2: His approach is a perfect example of the power of
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  Speaker 2: a beginner's mind. He wasn't limited by preconceived notions. He
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  Speaker 2: approached problems with wonder and a thirst for knowledge. And
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  Speaker 2: that's something we can apply to anything from science to
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  Speaker 2: art to business.
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  Speaker 1: And it's not just science. Think about Steve Job. He
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  Speaker 1: didn't have a background in engineering, but he revolutionized tech.
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  Speaker 2: Jobs looked at technology from a completely different angle. He
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  Speaker 2: wasn't bound by the rules everyone else was following. He
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  Speaker 2: wanted to create products that were easy to use and intuitive,
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  Speaker 2: even if it meant breaking the mold. And because he
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  Speaker 2: was willing to say I don't know, he could see
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  Speaker 2: these possibilities that other people missed.
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  Speaker 1: This reminds me of something that's really relevant to our listeners,
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  Speaker 1: you know, especially those who are lifelong learners. It's about
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  Speaker 1: the power of asking what might seem like really basic questions.
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  Speaker 2: Those simple questions can actually be really powerful, make you
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  Speaker 2: challenge assumption lead to deeper insights.
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  Speaker 1: It's like a little kid asking why is the sky blue?
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  Speaker 1: That simple question can unlock this whole world of scientific understanding,
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  Speaker 1: and it's the same in any feel. The willingness to
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  Speaker 1: ask those naive questions, to say I don't know, is
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  Speaker 1: often the first step towards really getting it.
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  Speaker 2: And on the other side, we've seen how clinging to
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  Speaker 2: the idea that you know it all can hold you back.
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  Speaker 2: But it can also fuel prejudice and outdated beliefs, because
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  Speaker 2: when you think you have all the answers, you become
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  Speaker 2: closed off to new information and perspectives, and that makes
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  Speaker 2: you cling to biases and stereotypes. It stops you from
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  Speaker 2: truly understanding other cultures, other people.
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  Speaker 1: Even yourself exactly. It's like you're wearing blinders.
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  Speaker 2: You only see what you want to see.
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  Speaker 1: Gets stuck in echo chambers.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, surrounded by people who think just like you.
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  Speaker 1: So this is where embracing not knowing can really set
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  Speaker 1: you free. It lets you approach others with real curiosity,
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  Speaker 1: a willingness to learn from their experiences.
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  Speaker 2: It's about realizing that everyone has something.
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  Speaker 1: To teach you, even if they see things differently than
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  Speaker 1: you do.
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  Speaker 2: And that openness leads to more empathy and understanding.
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  Speaker 1: It's fascinating that the source material connects embracing not knowing
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  Speaker 1: with mindfulness.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a really interesting parallel.
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  Speaker 1: Mindfulness is all about paying attention to your thoughts and
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  Speaker 1: feelings without judging them right, and that's similar to admitting
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  Speaker 1: that you don't know everything about yourself.
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  Speaker 2: It can lead to greater self awareness and compassion.
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  Speaker 1: So it's about cultivating curiosity and openness, both towards ourselves
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  Speaker 1: and the world around us.
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  Speaker 2: Instead of clinging to rigid beliefs and assumptions, you approach
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  Speaker 2: each experience like a beginner, ready to learn and grow.
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  Speaker 1: So it seems like embracing not knowing isn't about rejecting knowledge.
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  Speaker 2: No, not at all.
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  Speaker 1: It's more about changing your relationship with it exactly.
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  Speaker 2: It's about understanding that there's always more to learn and
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  Speaker 2: that our knowledge is constantly growing and changing, and.
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  Speaker 1: This actually makes us more open to learning new things
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  Speaker 1: and broadening the horizons.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like saying I don't have all the answers,
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  Speaker 2: but I'm really eager to find them.
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  Speaker 1: That can be so powerful.
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  Speaker 2: So how do we actually put this into practice?
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  Speaker 1: Right? What does embracing not knowing look like in our
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  Speaker 1: everyday lives?
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  Speaker 2: So the source material actually gives us some really practical steps, okay,
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  Speaker 2: for how to bring this idea of not knowing into
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  Speaker 2: our lives. These aren't just like vague concepts, they're real
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  Speaker 2: strategies that we can all use.
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  Speaker 1: So it's like a toolkit for embracing the unknown.
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  Speaker 2: So where do we even begin. Well, the first step
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  Speaker 2: might seem obvious, but it's surprisingly powerful. Okay, ask questions constantly. Okay,
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  Speaker 2: and don't hold back. No question is too basic or
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  Speaker 2: too silly.
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  Speaker 1: I think a lot of us, especially as we get older,
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  Speaker 1: we get self conscious about asking questions like we think
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  Speaker 1: they're dumb questions.
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  Speaker 2: It's like we've lost that childlike curiosity. But we need
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  Speaker 2: to get it back. Remember, those simple questions can lead
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  Speaker 2: to really profound insights, So don't be afraid keep asking
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  Speaker 2: why or how until you really get it.
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  Speaker 1: The next step seems a little counterintuitive, especially these days. Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: you know, we're often surrounded by people who already agree
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  Speaker 1: with us, but the source material actually encourages us to
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  Speaker 1: seek out ideas that challenge our beliefs.
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  Speaker 2: It can be uncomfortable, but it's so important for breaking
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  Speaker 2: free from our biases right and developing a more nuanced
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  Speaker 2: understanding of complex issues.
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  Speaker 1: It's about engaging with different perspectives, even when they make
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  Speaker 1: us question our assumption.
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  Speaker 2: Especially when they make us question our assumption.
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  Speaker 1: It's about stepping outside of our echo chambers and exposing
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  Speaker 1: ourselves to a wider range of viewpoints.
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  Speaker 2: Like that's saying, if you're the smartest person in the room,
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  Speaker 2: you're in the wrong room. I love that you need
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  Speaker 2: that intellectual friction to grow.
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  Speaker 1: And speaking of growth, the third step is all about
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  Speaker 1: adopting a beginner's mindset, okay, which we talked about earlier
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  Speaker 1: with Einstein and Steve Jobs.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's about approaching every situation with fresh.
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  Speaker 1: Eyes like you're encountering it for the first time, exact,
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  Speaker 1: cultivating a sense of wonder and curiosity.
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  Speaker 2: No matter how much experience you.
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  Speaker 1: Have, and this beginner's mind let us be more open
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  Speaker 1: to new information, see possibilities that we might have missed exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And it ties in perfectly with the next step, which
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  Speaker 2: is celebrate your mistakes. Yeah, I know it's tough.
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  Speaker 1: It is.
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  Speaker 2: We're often taught to fear failure, right, to see it as.
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  Speaker 1: A reflection of our worth, like we're not good enough.
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  Speaker 2: Exactly, But the source material suggests we need a totally
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  Speaker 2: different perspective. Okay, mistakes are going to happen, and they're
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  Speaker 2: actually really valuable. They're opportunities to learn. The key is
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  Speaker 2: to see failure as.
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  Speaker 1: Feedback instead of getting discouraged, right.
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  Speaker 2: Ask yourself, what can I learn from this?
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  Speaker 1: How can I grow from this?
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  Speaker 2: Exactly? Shift your focus from avoiding mistakes to seeing them
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  Speaker 2: as stepping.
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  Speaker 1: Stones on your learning journey.
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  Speaker 2: Okay, and the last step the Source highlights is about
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  Speaker 2: cultivating mindful curiosity.
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  Speaker 1: Mindful curiosity.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's about paying attention to the world around us
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  Speaker 2: and to our own thoughts and feelings with a sense
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  Speaker 2: of openness and non judgment. Right. It's like hitting pause
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  Speaker 2: on autopilot and really tuning in to what's happening.
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  Speaker 1: Both internally and externally.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah. This allows us to see things more clearly, make
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  Speaker 2: more conscious choices.
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  Speaker 1: And we can apply this to everything.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, from learning a new skill.
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  Speaker 1: To having a tough conversation.
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  Speaker 2: It's about being present, being curious, and open to whatever
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  Speaker 2: comes up.
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  Speaker 1: So to recap, we have five key takeaways for embracing
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  Speaker 1: the power of not knowing.
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  Speaker 2: Okay, let's hear them.
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  Speaker 1: Ask questions relentlessly.
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  Speaker 2: Number one.
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  Speaker 1: Engage with contradictory ideas.
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  Speaker 2: Number two.
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  Speaker 1: Adopt a beginner's mindset. Three, celebrate your mistakes full and
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  Speaker 1: practice mindful curiosity. Five. These are all things we can
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  Speaker 1: actually do in our everyday lives. But how do these
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  Speaker 1: takeaways specifically benefit our listeners well.
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  Speaker 2: These strategies give us a framework for approaching learning with
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  Speaker 2: more humility, more openness, and ultimately more effectiveness.
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  Speaker 1: It's about moving away from that need to know everything
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  Speaker 1: mentality exactly and embracing the joy of discovery.
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  Speaker 2: The thrill of exploring the unknown.
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  Speaker 1: For the learner who's always trying to expand their understanding
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  Speaker 1: of the world, these steps are really empowering.
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  Speaker 2: It's about shifting from I need to know everything who
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  Speaker 2: I'm curious to learn.
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  Speaker 1: More, which can make a huge difference in how we
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  Speaker 1: experience life.
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  Speaker 2: The source material really emphasizes that embracing not knowing isn't
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  Speaker 2: about rejecting knowledge or becoming complacent, okay, It's about recognizing
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  Speaker 2: that true knowledge is a journey.
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  Speaker 1: Not a destination exactly. It's about going on that journey
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  Speaker 1: with a sense of adventure and excitement, knowing that we'll
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  Speaker 1: never really.
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  Speaker 2: Arrive, but that the journey itself is what really matters.
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  Speaker 1: It's about embracing the mystery and wonder of the unknown.
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  Speaker 2: That's where the magic happens.
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  Speaker 1: Because it's in that space of not knowing that we
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  Speaker 1: often make the most amazing discoveries.
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  Speaker 2: Not only about the world around us, but also about ourselves.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, we've covered a lot of ground here. We have
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  Speaker 1: from the evolution of the word ignorance to the practical
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  Speaker 1: steps for embracing not knowing in our lives. We've really
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  Speaker 1: explored the power of this concept.
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  Speaker 2: So what does it all mean for our listeners?
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  Speaker 1: What's the key takeaway? For me? The biggest takeaway is
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  Speaker 1: that embracing not knowing isn't a weakness, it's actually a strength.
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  Speaker 2: It's realizing we don't have to have all the answers
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  Speaker 2: all the time, and letting go of that need to
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  Speaker 2: be right can be so freeing.
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  Speaker 1: It lets us be more open to new ideas and
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  Speaker 1: approach problems with more creativity and resilience.
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  Speaker 2: And in a world that's constantly changing, that kind of
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  Speaker 2: flexibility is more important than ever.
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  Speaker 1: It's not about just gathering information anymore. It's about knowing
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  Speaker 1: how to learn, how to adapt, how to embrace the
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  Speaker 1: unknown exact. This whole deep dive has really been eye
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  Speaker 1: opening for me. I realize I get caught up trying
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  Speaker 1: to seem like I know everything, have an answer for
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  Speaker 1: every question. Yeah, it's exhausting.
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  Speaker 2: It's a common trap, especially in a culture that values
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  Speaker 2: expertise and being certain.
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  Speaker 1: But what we've learned today is that real growth from
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  Speaker 1: admitting we don't know everything.
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  Speaker 2: From acknowledging the limits of our understanding.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, being comfortable with uncertainty right, saying I don't know,
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  Speaker 1: but I want to.
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  Speaker 2: Learn, and that willingness to learn, that curiosity, that's what
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  Speaker 2: drives real innovation and discovery.
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  Speaker 1: So as we wrap up this exploration of not knowing, huh,
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  Speaker 1: I want to leave our listeners with a question. Okay,
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  Speaker 1: the source material asks what area of your life could
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  Speaker 1: benefit from a little healthy ignorance?
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  Speaker 2: The great question? Yeah, and I would add what are
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  Speaker 2: you really curious about? What really sparks your interest? Remember,
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  Speaker 2: the most important question isn't what do I know? What?
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  Speaker 2: Am I excited to explore and understand?
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  Speaker 1: That's where the real journey begins.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the
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  Speaker 2: Deep Thoughts podcast.
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  Speaker 1: I hope you found insights and inspiration to take with
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  Speaker 1: you on your journey of self growth. If you enjoy
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  Speaker 2: See you next time, where we'll continue to help you
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  Speaker 2: grow and explore your full potential.