Saying I Don’t Know

The smartest people I’ve ever met say “I don’t know the most.” Realizing that you don’t know it all, and being able to admit that, is a truly freeing feeling. So many times people want to seem like they know it all, and so they speak on things that they don’t necessarily have any knowledge of. This is a big way that “fake news” spreads.

Being a journalist, I hate that term and the way it has been used, but the way I’m using it is actually correct. Fake News is those articles on Facebook that your grandma shares. The one with no reliable sources or factual information, just opinions. They pass it off as fact, and then someone else sees it and believes it, and the cycle continues. This isn’t about that though, that article is for another time.

This is about being able to differentiate when you truly know something and when you should admit that you don’t. You don’t gain anything by looking like a know-it-all. I actually don’t think I’ve ever met someone who enjoys being around those types of people. You know who I’m talking about. The ones who insert their “facts” into every conversation. The ones who always have to one up you, no matter what the topic is. The smartest people say “I don’t know” when they truly don’t know. They aren’t afraid of looking stupid because they realize there’s always something to learn.

If you go into conversations thinking you know everything, then there’s no room for any growth. If you admit that you’re clueless, then you can have someone knowledgeable on that topic teach it to you. It’s a beautiful thing when you allow yourself to be honest and admit that you don’t know it all. Admit that there’s room to grow, to learn, and utilize every opportunity to do so.

Diary Of A Twenty Something

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A blog (and soon to be podcast) highlighting the thoughts and life of a twenty something.