My daughters are amazing teachers. They teach me simple, yet powerful, truths that are pure and untainted. The problem for me is keeping my pride in check so that I can remain open to learning from a three year old and six year old. Not easy for me at times. Recently I have noticed that my six year old likes to use the phrase, “I know”, when she is asked to do something. The developmental stage she is at suggests that this is an appropriate phrase. She is learning that she has the necessary skills, talents, gifts and unique abilities to succeed in life. I love the confidence that she throws out to the world when she says, “I know”.
Here are a couple of lessons I am learning from this phrase, “I know”.
The Positive
True Self Confidence: “I know” expresses that I have what it takes to succeed in life. I would suggest that it might be best to keep “I know” as inner dialogue, not something you say to someone. “I know” is something you say to yourself to strengthen your inner being when you are deeply connected to your true self (all your gifts and strengths). “I know I who I am.” “I know my inner being well.” “I know my vision for life.” “I know what I live for.” “I know my true self.” All too often life has the power to shake our confidence and move us out of alignment with our true self. Spend some time getting to know your true self, so you can start telling yourself, “I know”. Our lives are too short to not truly know ourselves. You owe it to yourself and the world to get in touch with the true you, so that you can confidently claim, “I know”.
The Negative
Defense: There is a negative side to “I know”. The negative side is when you pretend to know something you actually don’t. We pretend to know because not knowing is a threat to our identity. “What will you think about me if you find out I don’t know how to do something?” This is where the false self starts to grow and rear its head. Each time I am not confident to say “I don’t know, please teach me” I give more power to my false self which drives me further from my true self. As we live further from our true self, we experience less joy, less passion and more dissatisfaction from life. The encouragement is to realize saying, “I don’t know, please teach me” is an opportunity to move you closer to your true self. I am learning that even three and six year old daughters can be some of the wisest teachers in my life if I am open and humble to saying, “I don’t know, please teach me.”
You may have some other lessons or thoughts you get from these words. Please leave a comment so that we may all learn more and push ideas to new places.
