Ignorance Is NOT Bliss And It Can Dissipate In Time
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
by Susan Thom
When we say "ignorance is bliss", I disagree. To be unaware of what others are doing behind our back, or out of malice, leaves us vulnerable and unequipped. If someone is trying to take over our company, and we are ignorant to the takeover, we feel no bliss. We can, however, learn from our mistakes and take precautions not to let it happen again. This is ignorance dissipating in time.
If we don't do anything about the clunking we hear in our car, and the ball bearings go on the highway, maybe we'll learn to take noises in the car more seriously. Our ignorance almost cost us our lives. Is this a form of bliss? I think not. Being more careful and aware is intelligent. Acclimating our way of thinking and doing things allows the ignorance to dissipate.
Driving with our speakers at full volume, oblivious to all around us, until we run into the back of the car in front of us, might have seemed like bliss. But it was ignorance to impair our driving. If we couldn't hear the woman screech in front of us, and we hit her, causing damage to both cars, our intelligence was lacking. If we learn from that mistake and keep the volume at a normal level, our ignorance dissipates.
Anything we do that causes us harm or pain, can be lessons used to make life easier. If carrots give you headaches, don't eat them. If you're allergic to vanilla, don't use the vanilla gels and soaps. If you are walking on ice, don't be surprised if you fall. In time, you should learn to buy boots with traction to avoid another broken arm. You've taken the initiative and learned by your mistakes.
The bliss that you imagine while gliding across the sheet of glass, outside, will quickly turn to ignorance when you are on your back. Ignorance isn't bliss at crucial times. It isn't gladness, happiness, or joy. It's not paying attention to what your brain is saying, and allowing accidents and mishaps to happen. It's making a list in your head while driving to the food store. You finally realize your at the store, and you don't remember how you got there.
Ignorance, or to be unaware, needs to be worked on and brought to the surface. We can't ward off that which we don't know. We can't distrust those who are untruthful, if we are unaware that they are. We have to practice spotting the truth, and knowing what are lies and manipulations. We can stay clear of those who want to hurt us. We can enlighten our lives and enjoy it. We can learn better ways of doing things.
Intelligence seems to grow with us along our lives, with some drastic situations bringing out the knowledge. The knowledge, in turn, lightens our loads, allows our conversations to be more civil, and releases us of useless worry. Ignorance is no longer bliss, the truth is. Of course, there are times when the truth is just simply the truth, and if it is sad or frightening, we need to deal with it, and enjoy the bliss when it returns.
All the beneficial changes we make to ourselves, bring us through ignorance, and into bliss. We are more aware, more focused, and we make less mistakes. We may have already had the experience of looking for our keys, and dropping the eggs. Either we continue doing it in that manner, or put your purse down and the eggs, while searching. Better yet, keep them in your hands.
By learning from these minor situations in life, things run smoother and there's less aggravation going on. We don't have to get our cars fixed, or pick up a dozen eggs, or think that there's a bliss that is ignorant. With repeat episodes, if we're smart, we'll change the way we think and act to things. Our newfound knowledge and our responses to staying focused and balanced, will help us enjoy life more. And ignorance can dissipate in time.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Good article Susan, ignorance can be helpful at times. But most of the time it can be a burden.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david,thanks for reading and responding.i feel the same way,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Great article, although you have to admit some ignorance is probably good. Things such as making sausages and hamburgers are things we probably don't really want to know about. The same is true with the behind-closed-doors behavior of our elected officials. I do agree that ignorance can be cumbersome and with ignorance shallowness always follows. Well done.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi michael,yes, with 3 kids in their 20's, and 2 in the military, i guess some ignorance is bliss;)thank you for reading and commenting,i appreciate it,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
I have never dropped my purse while searching for keys but I have ignored car sounds until it was a major issue.Good job!Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi ken,thanks for stopping by.i've lost my keys and they were in my hand!listen carefully to car sounds=danger:)my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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