Knowledge isn't power when you keep it to yourself
Words for the 95% of us hiding talents, interests and passions
Knowledge is power, some say. In my eyes, however, it’s a myth.
Knowledge, in itself, is not power.
Shared knowledge - that’s where I think true magic lies.
What you know, what you love, what you're good at - all the things you share with others - are the sparks, jumping from human to human, that can transform lives. Sharing is pretty powerful, not just for toddlers in the sandpit.
We live in a world where we’re constantly encouraged to accumulate stuff: money, possessions, followers, dozens of pairs of heels and job titles or badges of achievements. We falsely think, the more the better.
For example, I was encouraged to dance competitively as a teenager, like so many others pursuing competitive sports. The won trophies ended up gathering dust on bedroom walls, if at all. But did they add true value to anyone apart from our greedy egos? In contrast, the newspaper features I was expected to laugh off… show your talent but not too much of it was the message.
From an early age, we are trained to hoard proof of our achievements, even when it comes to knowledge, skills, and passions. And yet, we were told:
Don’t show your cards…. they might say.
Don’t share what you believe, you have a game to play if you want to succeed in this job… they might whisper.
Ha, who even cooks jam from scratch these days, why would you want to offer a workshop… they might laugh.
It’s no surprise then that we keep all that makes us unique, all our quirks and talents locked up.
I believe it’s for either of these three reasons:
if we share them, we’ll lose them aka someone will copy us,
they’re not worth sharing aka who am I to think I have something of value,
or worse, that the world doesn’t need them in the first place.
But the truth is, the world does need you. 🫶 All of you, your whole beautiful self! Your brains, your heart and your gut instincts.
If in doubt, engage in a conversation!
When I recently shared my thoughts about Instagram, I worried they might not land well. I mean, I know quite a few people who have made lifelong friends and found business partners and clients on there.
And then there’s me, who’s so done with scrolling the app.
Despite all doubts, I am so glad I shared my thoughts. The resonance was wild, nothing I have ever experienced writing online.
The comments and messages I received served as a beautiful reminder that meaningful connections aren’t made through perfect curation or clickbait content but through genuine, open sharing of our thoughts, experiences and true selves. If you missed the piece, here’s the link (please do come back to finish this one though, lol)
Summer without scrolling and all-or-nothing thinking
I don’t want it all, nor do I say we should aim to do everything the same way.
Rather than being influenced to do something one way, I invite you to choose what YOU wish to show up for, how and when. Ask yourself, what YOUR why is.
It’s the same with any skill or passion we have.
When we share it openly, we create space for authentic exchange, which we need. Because, as humans, we aren‘t meant to live alone, we just cannot thrive in isolation. Neither can ideas or passions. They thrive best when shared with the world!
🧁If you’re an avid baker, don’t keep your recipes and cakes to yourself.
I remember eating the best carrot cake of my life at a small gathering a few years ago. The kind of cake that makes you savour every bite (and lick your fingers afterwards). Ha, I had multiple slices and felt a bit embarrassed by my newly found addiction.
Turns out, a few months later, I ended up moving in with the baker. She had found a flat too big for herself, one she’d only stay in twice a week. I was looking for a place in the same area too. And just like that, over a shared love of cake, we found a living arrangement that worked perfectly for us both.
That’s the thing about sharing what you love - it can lead to the most unexpected connections.
📚 You love thrifting?
Share your tips and tricks, and favourite stores with friends, family, colleagues or online. By no means am I a pro, I have only in recent years fallen in love with second-hand stores (Facebook marketplace is not a thing in Germany). However, I call myself very lucky to live in a neighbourhood where people leave no longer needed high-quality stuff on window sills and doorsteps. Look at my treasure hunt recently (not pictured, a cool vintage lamp):
🌵If you’re good with succulents - those tricky but trendy little plants that so many of us manage to kill despite our best efforts - share your tips.
Your talent for keeping these beauties alive could be what someone needs to make their dreams of a thriving indoor jungle, like in those Pinterest pictures, come true. So, please share your secrets.
What if you don’t share your passions or knowledge?
What if you hide what you love?
It’s like having a beautiful garden but keeping all the plants in your backyard, where only you can see them.
Remember: shared joy is double the joy!
When you share, you’re not just adding beauty to your own front yard (aka happiness and confidence) but enriching the lives of everyone who passes by.
I, at least, was inspired to up my plant game after walking past this pretty front yard...
Remember when I wrote about my love for postcards?
The idea was simple, spontaneous and not thought through at all. My only intention: spark joy and connect with someone I’m grateful for: my readers.
The response was heartwarming, showing me how much people crave fun initiatives. Maybe you could do something similar if you love handwritten notes, too?
✍️ If you love writing, don’t keep your words hidden in your notebooks.
Write. Share your stories, your thoughts, your reflections. No one is born a bestseller or needs to become one. The most important thing to remember: Words can heal, inspire, provoke more thoughts, and create a sense of shared experience in our crazy world.
Genuine words always have a way of finding the people who need them most.
Personally, I write out of love for words alone. With that, I don’t aim to be a famous author, I cherish my small corner on the internet being able to exchange thoughts with every single one of you, one of my 600+ readers. 💛 Thank you for being here! If you’re not subscribed yet, what are you waiting for? 😛
Long story short, the point is, whatever brings you joy, whatever you're good at, share it.
Not because you have to, not because you want to make a business out of it, but because you can. We have all the tools and live in countries that allow us to do wonderful things. Use your privilege and make your small bubble a more colourful place (with or without plant pots, with or without yummy cake...)
So, please, don’t hoard your knowledge.
Don’t hide your light in your attic or basement.
Share what you know, what you love, what makes your heart sing.
The world needs more of that, not tomorrow, today.
It needs more of you.
💭 And with that, I would love to hear what your passions, and secret talents are and what you might be able to share with your small or big world in the coming weeks.
What do you think is the reason you hide them?
What might you need to feel safe to share yourself more with the world?
There are no rules. See you in the comments or in your inbox next time x
P.S. This post is my 7th contribution to
- Essay Club - the coolest club on the internet 😇Lastly, For less than your daily coffee, you can collect karma points here: 💛
I love that you turned the famous quote “knowledge is power” on its head Carmen. Your post is so encouraging for everyone to show up as themselves and to shine ✨ Thank you 🤩
Thanks for the reminder Carmen❤️ one of my thoughts/ self doubt niggles with this is idea of sharing wisdom is "but other people have shared it before" and I remember someone telling me that they didn't necessarily share it with my people, and that everyone's interpretation of something valid and useful. As you put it, we all need to share more of what we love!