Stupidity and stupid things

Doing stupid things is not the same as being stupid.

Often not doing stupid things is the most foolish act of all.

We have a colossal fear of looking stupid or failing. A product of our industrial revolution based education models is that we have always been taught to fear failure and attach it to our self-ego. It stems from a system that trains us to be components. Fear of being seen as broken spare parts to be replaced, we developed shame towards failure. But humans are complex systems and not mechanical parts.

we too often make our goals into parts of our identities, so that failure becomes an attack on who we are.. - Oliver Burkeman (The Antidote)

As we dive headlong into the information age and the age of rapid automation, if there is a single skill that is the most important it is that of learning. Everything else pales into comparison. This doesn't apply only to professions but also daily living. We can no longer be ashamed of failing as the stakes are infinitely higher.

Failing, reflecting and course correcting are the muscles that are atrophied in our mind and we need to show them the light once again.

One cannot reasonably learn anything without failing at it, the thing humbling you or you looking stupid.

• You will be humbled by the waters when learning to swim

• You will fall when learning to ride a bike

• You will stall when learning to drive a car

• You will look foolish when learning to dance

• You will sound weird when learning to sing

You will do stupid things, add a giggle or a laugh to the recipe and keep moving ahead.