Outside the Austrian Parliament building is a statue of Athena, the goddess of Wisdom. Certainly, all leaders especially national leaders could do with more wisdom . However, the citizens find it hilarious that while decisions are being made within the Parliment Building, Athena stands outside.
Unfortunately, that is not a strange setup in the real world of today. That is one reason why the solutions to many problems appear to be with someone who is not in the room. The best of all is if we have the right idea to solve the problems we are bound to encounter.
We have certainly seen some people who seem to know the right words for the moment–they seem blessed with a gift of persuasion. We have seen those who know the right idea for each situation. When these ideas are followed, everybody leaves happy. Sometimes, we tend not to be wise enough to adopt those ideas and we pay for it.
Desirable as Wisdom is, sometimes we long for it without knowing how to access it.
How then?
1. Study
One key step to wisdom is knowledge. If we do not know appropriately, we cannot make the right decisions. Have you ever heard a speaker who impressed you so much? She probably studied the subject to the point of mastery.
When we know all there is to be known, our decisions will certainly be superior.
2. Mentoring
To mentor means to raise a less capable person to the point of expertise or increased capability. Mentors usually give tasks and challenges to help the mentee grow. The mentor supervises/watches the mentee and gives correction where necessary until the mentee can go it alone. The mentee practically gets to sit on the shoulders of the mentor to see further than he/she could ever see alone.
3. Experience
Many say that experience is the best teacher. While truly the lessons of experience are indelible, it is unfortunate that the lessons of experience are painful. For example, you could meet a man who is most patient while driving on a single carriageway. He will not dare to overtake at a corner. Why? He did it once and it nearly cost him his life.
I’d rather learn by other means than by experience.
4. Divine
In the Christian bible, several people showed wisdom that was really beyond them. For example, there was a craftsman who was chosen to help Prophet Moses with his work:
Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
(Exodus 31)
A similar thing happened in the New Testament:
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
(Acts 4)
5. Introspection / Thinking
Putting it all together is thinking. If one has a bad experience but does not reflect on it, no lesson would be learnt. If one studies for the sake of study rather than to learn and apply to current/future circumstances, no lesson would be learnt. If one has the best mentor teach and guide through stages of life but one does not think about it all, no lesson would be learnt.
Hence, those who appear to be the wisest usually take time out to think.
Anybody can be wise!
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Nice write up.Keep it coming…..