We live in the era of hustle culture and self-proclaiming gurus and are trapped in these trends. We strive, fight for the highest glory, and continue chasing with a never-ending mindset. We are so obsessed with achieving our superficial goal, even if it takes moral fabrication or the help of a cheating scheme. Amidst the race of chasing “more,” have you noticed anything vital we continuously lose from our lives? Right! We forgot our moral virtue, which is the real gem of true self-development. Our inner peace vanishes like smoke in the whirlpool of ambition.
‘‘I know that I’m intelligent because I know nothing.” Socrates emphasises the importance of discovering our knowledge limitations. Research shows that cultivating intellectual humility is the best way to overcome our forgotten virtues. It opens up our ability to think that we might be wrong and helps us realise what we lack.
Adaptability is important for survival, as we live in a constantly changing world. According to the Greater Good Center, they also noticed the crisis of intellectual humility and undertook a three-year project to raise awareness of research on intellectual humility.
Most often, humility is misinterpreted as weakness or vulnerability. Instead, it creates a positive effect on self-awareness. Some people always prioritise their theories and stick to cultural beliefs. They never welcome feedback and dismiss others’ values.
While discovering the reason behind the financial crisis, a revised case study of notable economists explains that once he was rigid in his theory, he later recognized his intellectual ignorance and explored his curiosity about others’ ideas and beliefs. A humble leader always shows empathy for others and admits his or her downfall in front of society and followers.
We feel offended when we are presented with feedback. Humility is the mode of seeing weakness, so start the process and accept the blind spot. Listen to enhance and improve your skills.
Self-correction and accepting new things are very important for self-development. Our brains are always reluctant to spend our time thinking about our limitations. That’s why we must practise virtue, act kindly, and improve ourselves.
Can you remember the science behind the theory ‘We don’t know what we don’t know”? Our wired cognitive behaviour makes us think we are always right. According to the Dunning-Kruger effect result, among the two groups, participants got low scores, which overestimated their abilities. The truth is, ‘the less we know about something, the less we realise we know nothing about it. In contrast, the more we know about something, the more aware we are of everything.”
We must explore our curiosity and replace our rigidity with empathy to discover our true selves. Reset virtue to the top of our priority list. Move away from comparison and argument because sometimes they create a situation where the correct answer does not exist. (The viral sensation of “the dress” is a good example.). A superficial success will leave you empty. Plant a seed of virtue, nurture the plant, and you will find peace and satisfaction at a particular time.
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Writer
Zakia Sultana
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE