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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