"不知道它很难；知道它更难"

When you first come across the idea that ignorance might be bliss, it’s easy to understand. If you don’t know how difficult something is, you might just dive in headfirst and tackle it without hesitation. The core idea here boils down to this: innocence can sometimes give you the courage to start, but gaining knowledge makes you realize the true extent of the challenge, which can be overwhelming.

Historically, this notion pops up in many contexts. Think about explorers like Christopher Columbus. Back then, they didn’t have all the maps and data we have now. They had no idea how vast the oceans were or the dangers that lay ahead. Their lack of knowledge about the journey’s true difficulty possibly gave them the nerve to set sail into the unknown. Once they embarked and faced storms, scarcity of supplies, and potential mutiny, they sure understood the full scope of their endeavor—and that made it infinitely tougher.

Let’s bring it to a more relatable, vivid example. Imagine Sarah, a young entrepreneur launching her first startup. Initially, she’s brimming with excitement—she’s got an idea, a bit of savings, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. She doesn’t know how hard it will be: the sleepless nights, endless networking, constant rejections, and the need for quick adaptation. She plunges in and starts making progress. But as she gains experience, the real, relentless grind of maintaining and scaling a business sinks in. Now she understands it’s not just about having a great idea—it’s about managing people, finances, and staying innovative under pressure. That realization can be daunting and more mentally taxing than the initial naive enthusiasm.

So, what practical advice can we take from this? Embrace the journey of learning, but don’t let the knowledge of difficulties paralyze you. Knowing something is hard shouldn’t stop you—it should prepare you. Equip yourself with resilience. When you first start, you won’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. As you gain knowledge, use it to strategize and anticipate challenges rather than letting it discourage you.

Imagine you’re preparing for your first marathon. At first, you’re just thinking about crossing the finish line. You don’t know about the blisters, the mental fatigue, the diet changes, the rigorous training schedule. You start running, and as you train, you learn about all these challenges. It’s tough. Knowing all that, you might feel like backing out. But here’s where the wisdom kicks in: use that knowledge to train smarter, take care of your body, and mentally prepare.

Think about a situation where you’ve seen this play out—maybe in your own life or with someone you know. Perhaps you started a new job and initially didn’t grasp the full complexity of what was required. As you settled in, you realized the depth of the skills and knowledge needed. It felt harder once you knew. But that’s when you dug deep, took extra courses, sought mentors, or just powered through. You adapted and grew.

So next time you’re faced with a challenge, remember: not knowing can get you started, but knowing helps you succeed. It’s like jumping into a pool without overthinking, but then learning to swim properly to make it to the other side. Embrace both the ignorance that helps you start and the wisdom that helps you finish.