your daily rock : have a beginner’s mind

March 17, 2013 in Daily Rock, General

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few.” -Shunryu Suzuki

I’m taking old-time fiddle lessons. It is an instrument about which I know nothing. I feel like a child with it, exploring and not knowing, and yet battling my desire to know, to get better. What deflects me from a posture of not knowing? The desire to know in order to feel in control, smart, sophisticated, well-rehearsed. By doing that, I am shutting down possibilities. Is there a balance between the two? Can we “not know” in order to get to the deeper layer of what insecurities lie within that?

Try not knowing today.

Love,

(These beautifully painted rocks are created by Kim Mailhot, aka The Rock Fairy.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.