I Don’t Know Means I Want to Know

Hey, my friend,

I hope you are doing well today.

Today, I thought of sharing a little story with you that might remind you of moments from your own life and perhaps encourage you to see them in a different way.

It happened during a physics class back in school.

Our teacher had just finished explaining the chapter on free fall, and she looked at us with a warm smile before asking:

“Do you guys have any doubts about this chapter? Is everything clear about the concept of free fall?”

We all answered together, “Yes, ma’am.” I also nodded along with everyone else. But inside, I knew that was not the truth.

I had a small doubt about one of the equations, still, I kept quiet, thinking I would somehow figure it out later.

That doubt remained in the back of my mind until it showed up again during the exam, and this time it cost me marks.

When I look back, I realise this is something many of us have done. We choose to sit silently when we are given the chance to ask.

We hide our uncertainty, even when it would take only a few words to clear it up.

But why do we do this?

Well, sometimes it is because of the fear of judgment. We imagine that people will think less of us if we admit we do not know something.

At other times, it is our ego that stops us, because asking questions feels like lowering our image in front of others.

And often, it is because of past experiences when perhaps someone laughed, teased, or criticised us for not knowing something, leaving a small scar in our memory.

But if you think about it, these reasons are temporary and mostly exist only in our minds.

Most people are far too focused on themselves to spend time judging us.

And even if they do, their opinion will pass quickly. But what will not pass so easily is the missed opportunity to learn, my friend.

Doubts that remain unresolved might hold us back in every part of life.

That is why it is so important to speak up when we are unsure, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Asking a question is not a sign of weakness, but it is a sign that we are curious, that we care about understanding, and that we are willing to grow.

In fact, saying “I don’t know” is really another way of saying “I want to know,” and there is so much strength in that mindset.

So as you step into the weekend, I hope you give yourself permission to be curious and unafraid of admitting what you do not know.

The more you ask, the more you learn, and the more you grow, my friend.

Wishing you a joyful and restful Saturday and Sunday, and I will meet you again on Monday.

Take care,
Prasad Mairale
Petals of Positivity 🌸