Ignorance Is Bliss... By Suzanne Roberts
People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome." -George Orwell
Ignorance is bliss…or so they say. I suppose in certain cases it might be. Perhaps you didn’t see your child take an extra piece of candy, now you don’t have to worry about enforcing a consequence for a trivial issue that might lead to a power struggle far more damaging than that piece of candy. In that case I would say ignorance is bliss.
But perhaps the issue is more important than a piece of candy. Perhaps it’s an issue that, should you become aware of the Truth of it, it would cause you to have to act. You may think, I don’t have the time, space, energy or knowledge to act on that issue, therefore I just don’t want to know the truth about it. I’m happy just going about with the world as I know it and counting on the fact that the world will never change.
The problem is, that fact is no longer. The world is changing, rapidly. Our ignorance is no longer something that can continue. Ignorance is bliss until change happens and you are so unprepared you cannot recover. What might make more sense; to have knowledge of what is really going on and using that knowledge to prepare yourself, or getting caught completely off-guard and essentially being a victim? I liken it to knowing an accurate weather forecast. If you know the hurricane is coming you have days to prepare in the best way that suits you and your family. Be that battening down the hatches, leaving town or something in between, the exact preparation needed is very individual. But the utter lack of any preparation is what lands you in the Superdome with no water, toilets, food, safety or even the ability to leave if you wanted. Forewarned is forearmed or so the saying goes.
Ignorance is bliss as long as the change doesn’t arrive. But once the change arrives, knowledge is power. As I write this, I’m sure there is something “out there” in the news or the social media that someone is trying to tell you that you just aren’t interested in hearing. You may label it “conspiracy theory” or say “that’s just mis-information, the CDC says the science is settled” or “that theory has been debunked”. But somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind, your subconscious may be saying, “wake up, this is important, you need to do some research here, ask questions, get curious.”
One of the biggest blocks I’ve seen in this process of gaining knowledge is ideas that come up against our personal, ingrained belief systems. These belief systems are how we form our life. They are the parameters around which we can make decisions and view the complexities of life. If I have to look at something that might challenge a belief, how will I go forward from that point? How will I know how to make sense of my world, make my decisions and view life? It takes courage to allow yourself to look at new things, to listen to the “other” side of the debate, to potentially realize that one of your beliefs is not supported by Truth. Real Truth... Truth that is actually knowable, repeatable, observable and founded in the Laws of the Universe. Laws which themselves are discoverable through observation, are unchangeable by man and apply equally to everyone and everything in the Universe.
While knowledge of what is really going on in the world may bring with it some anxiety and concern, possibly even despair, knowledge also brings personal power. Power to know the truth and act accordingly. Power to prepare yourself and your family for what may come. Power to intercept and prevent a life-altering event because now you “KNOW”... and now you know when to say “NO”.
Be courageous.