“I know.”
This micro-sentence can be THE most dangerous and self-limiting phrase you can utter. And, it can set up blind spots all around you.
So, why do it?
Well, whatever you’re being taught, you may have heard it before. But, having a fact stored in your brain somewhere and implementing it are VERY different. Applied knowledge gives you nuance and understanding that can’t be taught. It’s like a person who’s never eaten an orange saying they know all about oranges after reading about them in the dictionary. Right?! So different.
Do you think it’s possible there could be more to learn? Always. Remain open.
Another key way “I know” shows up is to avoid being vulnerable. This happens in medicine all the time. Doctors are expected to know everything. To keep confidence high, there’s the temptation to inflate what you know. But again, remain open (and in integrity). We may think being perfect is the loftiest goal but really it’s just a way to play small. Being inhuman makes it impossible for people to connect with you and destroys credibility.
So, if you find yourself learning on a topic that you care about. Pretend you don’t know. Soak in all the nuance and understanding from another point of view. See how this brings the whole thing alive for you. And then… find a way to implement. Make it real.
xx
Dr. Chelsea