Claim your wisdom! Yes, some of us have more of it than others, but most of us want to keep learning and growing in wisdom throughout our lives.
In a discussion with a few friends, Shelly said, “There are times when I feel wise and times when I don’t. The circumstances are different.” Gail surprised me by saying, “No, I have no great insight to share with anyone.” For Jean, the criterion was external: “Does anyone come to you and seek your guidance? If so, they recognize your wisdom.”
The women agreed that wisdom is much more than just knowledge. “It’s more than comprehension or pulling up facts,” said Gail. “You have to analyze. And it seems to come from hard times.” For Jean, “It’s acquired over time, based on our experiences.” Shelly added, “Wisdom is elusive; it’s surprising sometimes where you find it.”
Many women think you automatically get wiser as you get older. Not true! Age and wisdom don’t necessarily go together. Don’t you know some women who are sailing superficially through their lives, seemingly learning nothing? Maturity provides the opportunity to grow wiser, but only if you pay attention along the way.
Rest assured, brilliance is not required! Even Socrates kept it simple, saying, “Wisdom begins in wonder,” and its most important component is common sense. Such everyday “practical wisdom” is within the grasp of each one of us. Every time you’ve said things like, “If I had it to do over, I’d handle that differently,” or, “If I knew then what I know now, I would have ___,” you’re acknowledging what you learned from your experiences, the wisdom you gained.
Here’s the process: you take action, you have an experience, you reflect on your experience, you gain wisdom from that reflection, and it changes your behavior the next time you take action.
Then, like Gail, you can claim your wisdom!
by Kathleen Vestal Logan, MS, MA May 18, 2018