In science, feeling confused is essential to progress. An unwillingness to feel lost, in fact, can stop creativity dead in its tracks. A mathematician once told me he thought this was the reason young mathematicians make the big discoveries. Math can be hard, he said, even for the biggest brains around. Mathematicians may spend hours just trying to figure out a line of equations. All the while, they feel dumb and inadequate. Then one day, these young mathematicians become established, become professors, acquire secretaries and offices. They don’t want to feel stupid anymore. And they stop doing great work.
In a way, you can’t really blame either scientists or editors for backing off. —K.C. Cole —Weird Science: Why editors must dare to be dumb (Columbia Journalism Review)
I’m hearing Weird Al Yankovic in my head… “Dare to be Stupid! Dare to be Stupid!”
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Well put, Josh.
The entire process of being a student (or a teacher) is to repeatedly say: "I don't know this and I will pay you money to make me know more." I don't care if you study writing, calculus, birdhouse construction, or karate - you are admitting that you are dumber (in that) than someone else! Of course you feel dumb!
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<br/>Also, trying to learn means opening up to making (sometimes big) mistakes - this is a humbling experience, and it can take a while to get used to repeatedly making these mistakes without becoming discouraged.
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<br/>If I don't feel dumb at least once a day, than I'm not trying - and I'm not learning anything new either.