Be as the curious cat and be open to not knowing what happens next, and you’ll find that you can grow while experiencing uncertainty.
Photo by Emre Kuzu
Asking questions is a key part of our existence. We thrive on learning about the world around us. In Liz Wiseman’s speech “The Power of Not Knowing,” she talks about the power of uncertainty: “When we are inexperienced at something,…we operate unencumbered by knowledge, so we see more possibilities and we explore more.” Exploration helps us brave new paths and gain life experience.
Living in a state of familiarity leads to stagnation, which can be a bore. For example, imagine a stray cat who is too scared to leave its dark alley. The alley is cold and comfortless, but the cat stays because it’s in a familiar place; what if outside the alley is worse? One day, the cat decides to venture out of the alley. Instead of being worse outside the alley, things are actually better! The cat comes upon a fence, hops it, and charms a local family into adopting it. For the first time in its life, the cat has a warm bath, regular meals, a safe place to sleep, and a loving family.
Similarly, in our lives, it is only by venturing out of our comfort zones that we grow. Wiseman says, “When we linger too long on a plateau, a little part of us dies inside. But when we…step into unfamiliar territory, we feel alive. I think it is actually where we feel divine, and, in some ways, I feel like it is where we see God’s hand working in our lives.” God wants us to improve, and in order to improve, we must not be afraid to take advantage of our resources and ask questions.
Learn more about how asking questions can help you expand your horizons by reading or listening to “The Power of Not Knowing” by Liz Wiseman.
Source: BYU Speeches
—Hailey Garcia, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY SEPTIMIU LUPEA
Find more insights
Check out “How to Face Uncertainty with Faith” by Megan Armknecht.
Take a look at Collin Mathias’s article “Confronting Uncertainty the Right Way” on our website.