Be Smart By Being Dumb

We all have a fear of appearing dumb. We care what others think of us and do what we can to avoid sounding stupid. When we don’t understand something that someone is speaking about we rarely ask them to clarify. We pretend to understand them. Rather than bowing our head and asking for clarification we keep our chins to the sky and slam our head on the door frame when we pass through the door of knowledge. What could be an instance where we learn something turns into nothing more than pretending.

Appearing smart is dumb.

The smartest thing you can do when you don’t understand something is to ask questions.

By not being afraid to ask questions and appear dumb you become smarter. The only way we can learn and improve is by seeking knowledge. Knowledge doesn’t appear out of thin air. It is shared or created by experiences.

Your ego can be the thing that holds you back the most in your personal growth. Those who consistently ask questions and seek to understand the world around them will be much better off than those who pretend to understand the world.

So, what can we do?

If you don’t understand something ask questions. Do not fear about appearing dumb. It is that simple. The day you stop caring what others think is the day you unlock a new level of personal growth.