Somewhere along the way, we are taught that expertise is the goal. That knowledge is power. That certainty is strength. But what if the real magic isn’t in knowing, but in unknowing?

In Japan, there is a concept called Shoshin (初心)—the beginner’s mind. A way of staying open, of seeing life with fresh eyes, of releasing the illusion that we have it all figured out.

Because the moment we think we’ve mastered something, we stop growing.

But when we meet the world with curiosity instead of certainty, everything becomes a teacher. The smallest moment—a cup of tea, a deep breath, a familiar street—can awaken something new inside us.

I see this in Japanese culture every day.
🌿 A tea master, who has performed the same ritual for decades, still bows with humility before making matcha.
🖌 A Zen calligrapher, knowing perfection is never the goal, surrenders to the brush with presence and grace.
💫 A child, experiencing the rain not as an inconvenience, but as a wonder.

The ego clings to knowledge. Shoshin invites us to drop it.

So what if…

✨ Today, you met the people in your life as if for the first time?
✨ You let go of “I already know” and stepped into wonder instead?
✨ You softened your grip on certainty and allowed space for surprise, for growth, for something beautiful to unfold?

Because life is always teaching us—but only if we’re willing to listen.

Where in your life could you welcome a beginner’s mind today? Share below. I’d love to hear. 💛✨

💖 Join the Slow Secrets Tribe & rediscover the art of presence: slow-secrets-tribe.kit.com/starthere

With love,
Julie