Walking into the unknown

I was in a coaching conversation with my client. I noticed a strong sense of excitement of “I think we’ve found the blocker…” or “s/he’s getting it…”. Then I started to struggle. The arrogance of knowing or I-think-I-know pulled me out of the presence, as hard as I tried to get back in.

This new awareness has taught me to embrace the unknown. Practicing the not-knowing in every life situation, and becoming more aware of my ego mind saying “I-know” or “I-control“.

Suzuki Roshi said, “Not-knowing does not mean you don’t know.” It doesn’t require us to forget everything we have known or to suspend all interpretations of a situation. Not-knowing means not being limited by what we know, holding what we know lightly so that we are ready for it to be different. Maybe things are this way. But maybe they are not. — Quoting this beautifully written text from Gil Fronsdal, a Zen teacher who I respect a lot.

The not-knowing mind creates a space of serenity and curiosity. Simply being here and now, at this very present moment, to explore and observe things as they are, with no attachment, expectation, or prejudice. I have two little cousins, five and one, whom I adore. As we grow, we want to be “the one who knows”. My cousins have taught me the innocence of “what it is”. When they found an object, they looked at it, touched it, put it in their mouths, and banged it on the table or threw it onto the floor — just engaging with it without any previous ideas of what it was. Kids often have so much to teach and inspire us.

The not-knowing opens up more possibilities and humbleness, facing life like a little kid with full of curiosity, wonder, and amazement; surrendering to life with full trust and presence; handing us the freedom of un-controlling.

I wrote this to remind myself to practice not-knowing in any event. Also, do I really know what is not-knowing? I don't know, do I or do I not, I do not know. Let it be my teacher.

#教练笔记 #CoachingNotes #NotKnowing

和你们分享此刻我所在城市的秋天的颜色。你看到的秋天是什么样的呢?