I don't know

I secretly believe that I know a lot - a lot more than a lot of people (and I am kinda proud of it). 

However, I also know that there's a lot of stuff that I don't know and that's OK. There is no shame or regret. You can't know everything. You can only strive to know and understand as much as possible about things you love or things that matter to you.

I am a teacher and I say "I don't know" regularly, in the class and out of it. It's not only because I am humble, even though I so am.

Saying "I don't know" ensures that students know that when I know something, I really know it.

Sometimes, I say "I don't know" and tell them I will find the answer and come back to them. Sometimes, I look for answers with the students.

This has three benefits:

1. Students get to see my research process. How I ask questions, where I find answers and how I incorporate those answers in the current task.
2. They see that remembering is not the goal. The goal is to learn how to ask the right questions and dig the answers.
3. My goal is to make students independent, not depend on me. So, when I show them how I fish, there is a better chance that next time they have a question, they will try to fish for answers on their own.

Saying "I don't know" has a greater benefit to you as well. 

Many people delude themselves into believing things that they know things that the actually know only partially, or nothing of. If you force yourself to think what it really is - the meaning of a word, the name of an insect, geography of a city, you will realize you know a lot less than you thought. And, that's the first step to learning and knowing more.

And the second step is... Well, I don't know.

Do you have an "I don't know" story you would like to share? Share in comments.