The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward and honest. It hasn't got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It's rather simple, rather childish It is direct and free.
Milton H. EricksonRead
Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being open to confusion and uncertainty allows for personal growth and deeper understanding.
This quote emphasizes the importance of embracing confusion as a pathway to growth. It suggests that clinging too tightly to our existing knowledge can limit our capacity to expand our understanding and adapt to new ideas. By being willing to question what we think we know, we create the potential for greater insight and usefulness in our knowledge.
Themes
GrowthKnowledgeConfusionUnderstandingChange
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop on professional development, I shared this quote to encourage participants to embrace uncertainty.
More from Milton H. Erickson
All quotes βEach person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual's needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.
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You use hypnosis not as a cure but as a means of establishing a favorable climate in which to learn.
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Change will lead to insight far more often than insight will lead to change.
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