My Mom had an expression to describe the innocence of my Dad’s world view: “Ignorance is bliss.”  Apparently that particular trait was not passed down to me given one of my favorite expressions is: “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.”

Unfortunately “Ignorance is bliss” is the way far too many people live their lives or go about their business.  It’s easy to see why.  It’s a way to avoid the unpleasantness that is a part of our existence here on earth.  It’s also the way to avoid taking responsibility to make things better for ourselves and those around us.

Choosing the “bliss” of ignorance is choosing to be unconscious. It also means lost opportunity, failure to see real danger and often being the cause of it…

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Seeing things for what they really are is often not a fun experience.  It is necessary however if you want to thrive in a world that is changing at light speed.  The key is to not internalize what’s happening “out there”.  Observe it, make behavioral adjustments as needed and move on.  Reality becomes painful primarily when we turn it into a story about us rather than acknowledging that it is simply “what is”.  Easier said than done, I know —which is why so many people opt for the bliss of ignorance.  BTW, if ignorance was bliss, then why aren’t there more happy people?  Something to think about…