Comments on: Not-Knowing is OK

By: juhi

juhi — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:50:00 +0000

Thank you for your post. I AM 21 and jobless right now, and with every word of yours i read, it felt like my own life was flashing before my eyes. In some way or the other, I’ve always had some sense of certainty in my life. Until now. I have never felt so lost and unsure. And it gets worse because I have always been a good student, and to now be the only person in my class who is unemployed, is giving others lots to laugh and talk about.

But thank you for writing this. It gives one some sense of calmness to know that it’s ok to not know all the answers at once.

By: Andrea DeBell - britetalk

Andrea DeBell - britetalk — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:42:23 +0000

Hi Alan!

Not knowing is great. It’s when we release control that we allow for the magic in our lives to take place. We often think we know what is best but we can’t see the big picture of our lives. Therefore, better not pretend that we know where we are going and what we need to do. When we surrender, everything works better.

Thanks for the insightful words. Loving blessings!

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:32:53 +0000

Hi Alan,

I’ve just stumbled across this account of ‘Not Knowing’ and really needed to hear this. I’m in exactly this space at the moment (minus the tall stories) and what I’m observing is it is anxiety provoking, it is unsettling and actually there is nothing to grasp onto. Apart from, I guess, a sense of self, but even that’s slippery!

I’ve just walked away from my job, signed on and feel a bit like a ‘no self’ but its what the universe seems to be calling me to do. So yes, I understand that experience.

Thanks for sharing it!

Much love and appreciation,

Vicky x

By: Corinne Rodrigues

Corinne Rodrigues — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:54:44 +0000

Having been in so many ‘not-knowing’ situations myself, I really appreciate what you’ve shared Alan. The hardest part sometimes is having to give answers to other people when we don’t have any ourselves. But having been there makes me empathetic towards others who are going through such times.

Corinne

By: Kari

Kari — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:27:36 +0000

I don’t think the point of the above article is that not knowing is tied to not doing. I think the point is that, in that exact moment, not knowing is ok because it is the truth at that moment in time. It is okay for you to not know something – whether it be the answer to a question that you feel like you /should/ know or what you’re going to do with the rest of your life.

It’s in that moment that you must realize it’s ok.

Of course, you should try to figure it out – that’s part of life. No one here is saying that it’s ok to just sit around on your duff and not know forever

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:23:11 +0000

The problem with not knowing is that it is sometimes tied to not doing. If you continue not doing, you will end up in the same situation and will continue to not know. Being active in your life and experiencing all the options available is the first way towards “knowing”.

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:28:01 +0000

I’m having same situation now ,but without lies , i Avoid visiting my uncles ,Aunts ,avoid talking to friends ,and avoid lying ,it’s a bad feeling to think about ,i’m still unemloyed

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:56:45 +0000

I like these stories where Alan takes an everyday situation – the kind that we all have to deal with at some time – and just lays out ‘how it is’ so clearly.

I’ve so appreciated being able to just be in that space of “not knowing” what I want to do (when I grow up..!) for a while now – and it seems that a path is developing now, that I would never have guessed at… (and if not – then it’s been an interesting adventure…)

There are more stories about making decisions here:
http://www.zenmoments.org/category/decisions/