Be A Beginner Every Single Morning
Whether you consider yourself an expert or a beginner, our perceptions of how much we “know” and how much we don’t can have a profound impact on our daily lives. I think we can all agree that the most difficult people to teach can sometimes be the ones who don’t think they need to be taught – the one who feels they don’t need to listen because they already know, right?
The moment we say, “I know,” we put a stop to our ability to know more – our cup is full, and we don’t want or need to know more.
In contrary, a beginner’s mind – a cup that isn’t already full, one that has space for learning, experience, personal growth and life’s many lessons – can obtain a world of knowledge and experience we neglected in the first place.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki
The Beginner
I’m sure you’re familiar with the fact that children are able to learn a huge amount while they’re still young. This isn’t only because their brains are creating and mapping neural connections at a rapid rate, but because of the attitude of the children themselves.
For those who have children; how often have they repeatedly asked “why, how, what, who, where, when” questions?
- “Why is the sunset red?”
- “How do aeroplanes fly?”
- “What happens when we go to sleep?”
- “Who made the sky?”
- “Where do babies come from?
- “When did mommy and daddy meet?
We might brush off all questions with “It just is,” and that’s the end of it, when all genuine questions are supposed to offer the opportunity for expansion and exploration. Children are instilled with the mindset of endless possibility, curiosity and potential, and unfortunately, we start to lose these as adults, especially if we already feel we “know” enough.
A Fraction Of Ourselves
There’s a world of possibility and potential just waiting to be explored, and there’s also the ability to truly listen. Give yourself a moment to think about this: “When we think we know, we stop truly listening.”
Instead, we filter out the parts we want to hear and those we agree with and ignore the aspects that don’t resonate with what we ‘know’ and therefore believe to be true. We develop the bad habit of wishful thinking. Why is that?
Perhaps it’s because we live in a modern age in which we’re expected to know things instantly, to have all the answers and “get things done.” With tight schedules and everyday stress so high that there’s no room left for wondering, researching, making mistakes and learning from them, and discussing why, how, what, who, where and when. Hitting ‘search’ on Google has become our go-to, and it replaced experimenting and exploring which makes our intellect and attention span a fraction of what it could be.
It’s Okay To Not Know
Like I once was, not knowing something is an aspect many of us have been conditioned into fearing since childhood. For example, knowing the answer in school was praised and not knowing it was punished, either in the form of a low grade or embarrassment in front of peers.
During our whole academic lives, we’re taught to believe that success is all about “getting it right,” “knowing the answers,” “ticking the right boxes” and continue to move onto the next and more difficult topic. There’s hardly any break, no reflecting, and those who dared to say they didn’t understand were deemed less intelligent and less able than others.
If we’re exposed to this way of thinking and being throughout our entire childhood, while our brains are developing, forming opinions and personalities, it’s no surprise we find ourselves in adult life terrified of “not knowing.” Even something as simple as having a conversation with a friend, we rarely sit patiently and really absorb what the other person is saying. Rather, we start forming sentences and indifferent responses as they speak, eager to tell them what we know rather than hearing something we could learn if we only took the time and energy to truly listen.
A Beginner’s Mind
Of course, un-doing years of taught behaviour takes commitment and time. Often, we continually tell ourselves we apparently don’t have enough time, but if we can gradually open ourselves up to learning and receiving – emptying our cup just a little so there’s room to fill it with something fresh – we give ourselves the gift of increased potential.
Beginner’s mind is a concept from Zen Buddhism called Shoshin: “Having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would.”
There’s a significant value of approaching problems as a beginner, even if we already know a lot about them. It makes us more willing to experiment and gives ourselves the ability to expand. Not only do we physically give ourselves the gift of growing new neural connections and a healthier brain, but also the gift of self-acceptance and openness.
It’s this attitude that keeps us connected to our body and the present moment feeling fresh and alive, no matter what happens in our daily life. So, once again, be able to ask the world, “why?”
- What new skills are you learning?
- How do you approach it?
- What do you think of having a beginner's mind?
Have your say in the comment section 🙂
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This makes so much sense. Everyday is a new chance to become a beginner. Everyday is another chance to start with a clean slate.
Hi Dani, that’s true 🙂 Great to hear from you again!
I really, really liked this topic. With having ADHD, I realized when reading this blog, we have part of a beginners mind because I am always asking questions. Hence, this gets on people nevers a lot, especially at work. They tend to automatically see this as “overthinking”. While this is true at times, I just realized it’s part of this trait in this blog. Maybe this is why I am always trying to learn new things, such as: blogging, crafting, writing a book. I tend to get bored with just one topic! Great article!
Thanks Anna! I think we’re never done learning 🙂
Beautiful post! Building back my beginner’s mind has made my life so much more exciting. Right now I’m back at uni and loving the learning so much more than I did first time around because my aim is to learn and enjoy the discovery rather than get it right or get good marks.
Thanks Sunday, I feel the same way! I used to be result oriented which kept me from enjoying the process. But now it all changed and I get to enjoy the journey as well 🙂
I love this! I agree as we grow into adults we lose that curiosity and willingness to learn more. I love to learn new things and try to do and learn more every week. I do still use google but I research out multiple links and thoroughly read through blogs to learn.
Hi Shannah, that’s a wonderful mindset 🙂 Keep it up and thanks for stopping by!
Wonderful article! Very well written with great positivity!
Thanks Akhilesh!
This was such an interesting read!
Thanks Ray 🙂
I love the idea of a beginners mind. The aspect of being always curious I a great thing for self-development and of an awakened existence. It is having the curiosity so you can’t just say you don’t know and leave it there but must also extend to find out more. I love this notion. I wish more people would go after life this way.
I couldn’t agree more Jane 🙂
Super creative way to look at a new day! Love this mindset shift idea. Thank you
Thanks Elizabeth 🙂
I love this post! I was the after school girl who was afraid to get the wrong answers. I wish that school systems allow and encourage students to formulate students their thoughts even if they’re wrong.
Hi Myrelle, I was the same. Always afraid to give answers because I was scared of being judged.
Such a great reminder! I think my biggest thing ia that it is ok to not know! When you pretend you are doing everyone a disservice
Thanks Amy!
I really appreciate this post. I love to learn, if I could make money going to school I would. I hate not growing. This really spoke to me. I have a beginners mind but after reading this I know I tend to shut down when someone is talking if it isn’t what I want to learn. I need to work on that! Thanks for the reminder.
Hi LaTisha, I know what what you mean. I have this selective learning as well sometimes. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
I am fascinated by this post. It makes total sense for if we come to a situation with fresh eyes (beginners eyes) we can see things so differently.
Thanks Elise! Exactly, and the information we take in will be more memorable with newness.
This is so neat! What a great reminder that each morning really is an opportunity to start fresh. No matter how old we get, we can maintain that child-like curiosity that keeps us young at heart. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Nicole 🙂
Loved the message of this post, We should, sometimes look at things with a childlike mind and curiosity. The learner and beginner in us never stops it’s us who ignore our most innate aspects.
Hi Suktara, thank you 🙂 Exactly!
Sometimes it’s okay to admit, we don’t know enough. It’s not weakness but a proof that we’re willing to improve ourselves more.
Indeed Clyde 🙂
Thank you Ye Chen for sharing this. I am a self-taught, figure it out myself kind of person. I love what it takes to research something new, figure it out and implement it into my life. Fulfilling and rewarding for sure!
Hi Suzan, you’re welcome ! That is indeed fulilling and rewarding 🙂
Great post! I’ve always believed in “beginner’s mind” yet sometimes we lose track and forget so this is a great reminder!
Hi Ashley, thank you and I know what you mean 🙂 I lose track at least once a day.
Love this!! One of my favorite things to do is to just strip everything back and get back into a childlike mind. The world really has so many wonders to share when we release the need to control and know everything
Hi Rebecca, thank you! Exactly 🙂 It’s refreshing and liberating.
I loved this, and it was a timely reminder. Thank you!
Hi Nan, thanks you and you’re welcome 🙂
Great post ye chen..when u think u r beginner u r always ready to learn new things
Thank you 🙂
Broaden your horizons. Don’t just settle with a bit of knowledge. Learn everything and master it! If it is beyond your scope, just keep learning it. Be the best version of yourself physically and mentally! Knowledge is power!☺️ You never disappoint, Ye! Great job as always!❤️
Thank you Donna 🙂 let’s put this positive energy into great work!
Beautiful write up and positive attitude
Nice post. We should keep learning while working. It has no end.
Really loved the message
Thank you LaRena 🙂
What a great way to remind everyone to continue growing and learning throughout life. The world is so vast and we have so much to learn.
This is so good! I love your posts!
Thank you Alisa 🙂 Appreciate it!
This is such a great post. I’m sharing it on my Facebook page ♥ Great approach!
Thank you Vanessa 🙂
A very insightful post. I live that “It’s ok to not know.” Sometimes not knowing can causenyou to feel guilt, shame or small. So this is very uplifting.
Thanks Manesa 🙂 we simply cannot know every thing.