Negative capability encourages us to keep an open mind and always consider the possibility that we may be wrong. Certainty is reassuring; what we know can be better understood, managed, and controlled. But intellectual certainty can limit our creativity. We follow a fixed roadmap without giving ourselves the opportunity to explore, make mistakes, and learn
The benefits of negative capability
Increased curiosity: When you open your mind to unanswerable questions and the mysteries of the universe, you will naturally develop a stronger sense of genuine curiosity – not only about the world, but about yourself as well.
- Better creativity: A certain amount of insecurity is a helpful trait for any kind of designer, and may be linked to higher creativity
- Higher humility: Negative capability goes hand in hand with continuous learning, discouraging arrogance and encouraging personal growth. By cultivating a flexible mindset, negative capability allows us to unlock all of these long-term benefits.
How to practice negative capability
Embrace your ignorance
- Become comfortable saying “I don’t know”
- Suspend your judgement
- Sit with your doubts
- Question your assumptions
- Revisit your ideas
- Negative capability is more philosophy than science
- It’s an art which needs to be practiced to improve
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