Why Pretending to Know Is Holding You Back

How Embracing “I Don’t Know” Unlocks Growth, Curiosity, and Confidence

Admitting you don’t know something can feel uncomfortable.

After all, we live in a world where confidence is often mistaken for competence. But what if not knowing was a strength rather than a weakness? What if it was the key to growth, creativity, and even joy?

That’s the question I’m diving into today—and I’m bringing you along for the ride.

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The Little Fable of Ego in the Land of Knowing
The pressure to appear to know everything ties back to ego. It’s hard to admit our limits, especially in some cultures—like my own in France—where there’s a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) pressure to appear knowledgeable about everything. Society itself also reinforces this. Schools and workplaces reward quick answers over thoughtful exploration, and the always-on culture has made knowing synonymous with performing.

Here’s the paradox: true incompetence isn’t admitting you don’t know—it’s pretending you do. Growth comes from identifying gaps in your knowledge, not from filling conversations with surface-level opinions. Recognizing what you don’t know creates space for learning, curiosity, and if you are lucky and push the journey far enough it can go as far as mastery.

Put simply, your ego might be the biggest obstacle between you and your growth—not to mention the amazing opportunities you're missing along the way.

“The More You Know, the More You Realize You Don't Know." – Aristotle

Curiosity as a Compass: The Beauty of Blank Spaces
For me, curiosity is a guide. An opportunity, even. The moment I sense there’s something I don’t understand, I lean into it. Embrace it. I look things up, not because I want to appear knowledgeable, but because I genuinely want to learn. With this mindset, I’ve found that boredom becomes impossible—every blank space becomes an opportunity to explore.

Not knowing is like staring at a blank canvas. It’s an invitation to create, to discover, and to connect. And here’s the thing: not everything needs to be known. There’s beauty in the mystery, in the potential of what could be, and in the freedom to fill the gaps in ways that are meaningful to us.

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The Antidote to Hyper-Performance
In today’s world, we’re drowning in information. It’s like an ocean that’s always pulling us deeper, leaving little room to breathe. Embracing uncertainty might be the antidote—a chance to step back, to ask better questions, and to resist the pressure to always have an answer.

True strenght doesn’t lie in knowing everything. It’s in admitting when you don’t. It’s in saying, “I don’t know, but I’m curious to find out.” It’s in leaving space for exploration and embracing the richness of diversity—of perspectives, knowledge, and ideas.

Embrace what you don’t know—it might lead you to the most exciting adventures of your life. And truly, I couldn’t wish for anything greater for you. :)

“An unanswered question is a fine traveling companion. It sharpens your eye for the road.“ — Rachel Naomi Remen

What blank spaces are you staring at this week? Instead of filling them with rushed and approximative answers, take a moment to wonder and let me know down in the comments. Let curiosity guide you. Let “I don’t know” be your starting point.

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Let’s build the future we envision for ourselves, one step at a time.

Wishing you clarity, focus, and success.

Maïssane