Ego is the root of many of our problems. It is fragile and wants to protect itself. We do not want to look stupid, so we remain stupid. So we avoid asking questions. We avoid asking for help.
The problem is that we do not know everything. At times, we need help, direction, and teachers. We need others to guide us, yet we resist asking because we fear appearing foolish, ignorant, or incapable.
This is the ego trap. Ego refuses to ask for help and, in doing so, stunts our spiritual and intellectual growth. We would rather remain ignorant than risk embarrassment.
One thing you learn with age is that everyone is improvising. No one has all the answers. We are all, in some sense, feeling our way forward. Some look to the great teachers of the past for guidance, but even then, we remain beginners. It is okay not to know. It is okay to ask questions. It is okay to struggle to understand.