5 Things No Thinker (Even A Big One) Should Be Afraid Of
Halloween is all about scary stuff. We invite in the strange, the unusual and the creepy, and we celebrate it. While it’s one thing to conquer our fear of imaginary beasties, it’s quite another to get past scary stuff in the real world. Thinkers of all ages deserve to have things be less frightening, so as a Halloween treat for parents and teachers, we’d like to lessen your load of things that make you go “eek!”
Here is a list of 5 things that many big people find unnerving, but shouldn’t:
1. Asking Big Questions
We cringe when our littles bring them up, but we don’t have to. It’s never too early and it’s never to late to ask big questions, and you don’t have to have any previous experience to join in the fun. Remember: even the most famous, talented minds in history were really still just curious human beings.
2. Admitting We Don’t Know
Some of the big questions have been around since humans became humans, so of course we might not know. There’s an awful lot of information out there, much more than the average brain can hold in a day, and it’s a good thing to still be learning. As long as we’re willing to think and talk about it, “Idunno” is a great answer. It could actually be the start of some amazing conversations.
3. Admitting When We’re Wrong
Again, some big questions are far from solved, so being wrong isn’t a big deal. Sometimes we get info from questionable sources, and sometimes we’re just missing info. There’s even a name for when we make boo boos in thinking (fallacies, and there’s a whole whack of different kinds). It should be no biggie to admit we’re wrong and keep thinking. Everyone makes mistakes, but we have to hang onto them.
4. Disagreeing With Others
Big questions bring out many, many different viewpoints, and they aren’t all going to be the same, and that’s actually a good thing. It is absolutely possible to listen carefully and disagree peacefully. Remember that we’re here to learn from each other, and in philosophy, there isn’t supposed to be a “winner”, just thinkers working together to come up with great ideas.
5. Not Finding “The” Answer
Big questions often don’t have just one answer. That’s what makes them cool, but also frustrating to some. The conversations we have and the thinking we do are what help us to grow our minds. It’s the journey, not the destination that counts.
So, why are these 5 things so scary for grown-ups? Our kids seem fine with them, even delighted by them. Well, we’re supposed to be the smart ones, the ones in charge, the ones who always know what’s what and what to do. That’s an awful lot of pressure, and perhaps an unattainable goal. Maybe we should open ourselves up as thinkers, give ourselves a break, and set an example for our littles. And maybe wonderful adventures in thinking will happen.
