Few of us would aspire to be known as arrogant or closed-minded by the people around us.
At the same time, being teachable can be tough, especially when we don’t want to reveal our ignorance on a given topic.
Think about it, how easy is it to admit when we are wrong about something?
It takes humility to ask a question that exposes our ignorance when we could simply nod our heads thoughtfully and pretend that we understand.
Likewise, when we receive criticism, it’s a lot more difficult to listen openly for the truth than it is to become defensive or even to go on the attack.
Having a teachable spirit, means being willing to listen to other people’s ideas or to change our minds when we acquire new truth.
When we are humble, we are willing to ask for directions and we’re open to doing things in ways that we haven’t done before.
The three words that unlock the gate to learning are these: I don’t know.
These words are less of a confession of ignorance than they are a declaration of a willingness to learn from someone else.
And here’s the kicker, a truly teachable person can learn truth from the tiniest infant or a prominent intellectual figure.
The hardest part of being teachable is finding the willingness to soften our attitude, to be humble and to listen more than we talk.
Good advice can’t help us unless we are teachable and willing to learn from others.
You may also enjoy Latter-day Voices, another quality publication in the Fifty-two Seven Alliance family.
Looking for a slightly bolder take on the passing scene? Please check out and subscribe to my daily podcast The Bryan Hyde Show
Share this post