IDK By Paco Arespacochaga

If you’re into Internet chat and phone text abbreviations, you probably know what IDK stands for. If not, IDK stands for I Don’t Know! LOL! (And that stands for Laughing Out Loud).

The phrase “I don’t know” has been used so many times and in so many context that most of the time, the underlying tone gets diluted in translation.

One example could be a parent inquiring to a child, who is in high school, what he wants to take up in collage. Answer: I don’t know.

Most often, the parent lets it go and brushes it off as something the child will one day wake up to and discover what he wants to take up in collage. Or maybe what he wants to be down the line. Or maybe he won’t. I don’t know.

Another example could be a son or a daughter asking a parent to help them discover what they should do with their lives. Answer: I don’t know.

With all the sludge in an adult’s head, it commonly happens that a parent will simply say “I don’t know” to brush off a child's inquiry. Or maybe he won’t. I don’t know.

And then there are the in betweens that get in the way of what really matters.

Such is the case of life. We don’t know much. And that's because we don't know we can know more! We can! We just don’t want to or we just don't take the time to discover ourselves, our surrounding and our purpose.

Or maybe, we’ve been branded or name-called something else and we just don’t know how to get out of the stigma. And because we’ve gotten used to what people think about us, we just decide play the part for the rest of our life.

Don’t embrace these excuses!

Do yourself a favor. Ask yourself if you’ve exhausted all possible options. Give yourself the opportunity to KNOW. Give yourself the opportunity to find ways, means, tools and support groups to create your roadmap to success. Listen to the negative but don’t let it control you. Throw 'em away. Listen to the positive and let it fuel you.

If you don’t know where to start, there are people professionally trained to help you. It’s like going to the gym for the first time, there are trained pros willing and able to help you start and help you reach your physical goals. Such is the case for your emotional and mental goals as well.

“I don’t know” is such a lazy excuse. No one’s buying it anymore. It’s time to reclaim what is yours. Don’t be scared. Dream Big!