Power of Wisdom

I would like to begin by questioning the source of wisdom.

Where does it come from?

How do we learn it?

What does it feel like?

Whilst explaining the difference between knowledge and wisdom, Sandra Carey asserts that one should, “never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life’.

For most of my life I was led to believe that knowledge lives in the external world and that it comes from experience. On the other hand, wisdom lives within us. Although it may come from many sources, I believed wisdom to be more of an ‘inner ‘knowing’ that is often difficult to explain or describe.

Throughout history, educational institutions have taught us how to learn, obey, think linearly and eventually pass this ‘knowledge’ on through teaching others. In many ways, it develops us into academics, placing us on a path to become a professor. School provides knowledge. It’s quite simple really.

However, wisdom is what one needs to “make a life” and to be fulfilled.

During the Industrial Revolution, everything was about knowledge. This was when we parted with wisdom and began to establish an educational system based on facts, figures and knowledge. Sometimes it feels like no one uses wisdom anymore.

Coaches coach people to gain an awareness of their wisdom and then show them hot to use it to lead them into a life they LOVE.

On my search to understand knowledge and wisdom I looked up the definition of wisdom and have been now led to believe that wisdom is how we USE knowledge….

Apparently wisdom is “accumulated knowledge”. The definition that resonated the most with me was “enlightenment”.

The claim that wisdom is “the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight” or “the quality of being prudent and sensible” seem far fetched. It can’t be that simple.

Or can it?

What does wisdom mean to you?

How do YOU use it?