I’m reading through a book right now (will write a review on it later) but one point that keeps standing out to me is the discussion on “The Curse of Knowledge.” Basically how as we learn we begin to remove ourselves from that which we formerly knew, unintentionally in many respects. In doing this our ability to communicate our knowledge with someone who lacks the same knowledge becomes strained and often cumbersome.

The Curse of Knowledge = a Gap in Our Ability to Relate

Since we can’t unlearn something then it’s imperative that we discover how to simplify our ideas and communicate them in a way that is easily digestible and that relates to others. A sick patient doesn’t really care about the complex medical jargon or 27 character word that describes their illness, they just want to get better.

It really has me thinking on a practical sense of how to communicate more with less and how to do it more effectively. How to drill things down to a core message that conveys the point. From a business perspective it’s challenging me to think more about what the consumer really needs versus what propaganda I “think” they need to be exposed to. It’s about better understanding who they (the customer) are and how I can speak to them in a way that connects, a way that genuinely sticks.

As a follower of Jesus, this has me also thinking about how this curse of knowledge pertains to Christianity. How knowledge, if we aren’t careful, can negatively impact how we think and act, relationally with others in our community. Knowledge can create division or it can unite Kingdoms. Our knowledge should be used to tear down walls rather than build more of them. My Mom always says, “Exclusion breeds Seclusion.” I love that because it serves as a constant reminder for me to always reexamine what I know and how I interact with those around me. I want to make sure the knowledge I possess is a blessing and not a curse.