Sometimes, being sure that you are unsure is better than a plain yes or no. For instance, I’m in front of my computer screen playing “Who wants to be a millionaire?” I find out how I am doing after a few rounds of questions, with happy whoops for right and buzzers for wrong. I don’t like being told I am wrong, but have learned that I can avoid that by choosing to quit when I am not sure of the correct answer rather than guessing at random.

We all know the feeling of not knowing. When an answer pops into our heads we get a buzz of confident recognition, an “aha” moment. If we don’t, we might feel a frustrating tip-of-the-tongue sensation, a mild form of embarrassment, perhaps even gut-wrenching anxiety. Maybe that explains why people would rather admit that they don’t know than get it wrong.

Knowing what you know, and what you do not, is a very important mental skill. It could be a platform on which develops a sense of self-confidence, whatever the task may be. All athletes know that once they’ve reached a certain degree of proficiency in their sport, competitive performance become eighty per cent psychological. The tougher the obstacles, the better we are at finding out what we are supposed to do.

As your habitual thoughts are, so will the character of your mind be; for the soul is dyed by thoughts. We all have a gift for thinking rationally. To us, that’s a very important part of the creative process since it pays to think before we act. It is especially important to encourage out-of-the-box thinking when the situation is critical. At such moments, every new word and fresh thought is more precious than gold. Developing a proper attitude, psyching yourself up and increasing “I am able to do it” behaviour are effective in heightening performance in real-life situations.

They are never alone who are accompanied by noble thoughts. Suitably, the Old Testament states that there are four sorts of men — he who knows not and knows not he knows not. He is a fool, shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not. He is simple, teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows.

He is asleep, wake him. Finally, he who knows and knows he knows. He is wise, follow him.