by Rosemary Redfern

Created on: August 01, 2009

The dictionary definition of wisdom is 'enlightened understanding of what is true or right, usually acquired through long experience as distinguished from a partial or specialized knowledge'. Reader's Digest.

The idea of wisdom brings to mind age and the ability to make the right decisions. This definition feels comfortable but how these skills have developed depends on how the individual has responded to the experiences they have had.

The concept of enlightened understanding suggests thought and mulling over, to find what is true or right. This requires us to be flexible and open minded. For many of us, we acquire a quick answer to issues and these become fixed in our being. It suits us now and gets embedded in our thoughts. It can be difficult to change long held ideas and it requires courage to change because change is uncomfortable. Enlightenment implies insight. Insight is the ability to see beyond the obvious.

Thus enlightenment requires us to look at what is there, to see 'the truth', to see what is right. It's easy to avoid these ideas because sometimes the truth and what is right have a financial implication which colors our decisions. Sometimes they go against the beliefs of the society we live in and that can be very challenging for an individual to make themselves stand out. Sometimes it requires perception to see what is staring you in the face because familiarity has blurred what is there.

Wisdom implies an understanding of people and how and why they behave as they do. This takes observation and thought. The old adage to children, do it because I say so, does not always produce the best results. If the child cannot see why, they are not likely to be cooperative except with threats. A brief explanation or reason for a request or order make it easier for the child to comply. Adults are no different.

There is also something of common sense in wisdom. It doesn't matter how clever you are, how high your IQ is, if you do not have the will to change unsuccessful ways of doing things, you will not get anywhere. Wisdom is the ability to face what is there, to go beyond our own ideas; to risk taking in other people's ideas, to be open.

As we live our daily lives, we have experiences which are beneficial, which upset us, which make us sad. A little thought can help put those events into context. We can accept and enjoy the beneficial ones, there is nothing wrong with enjoying praise and being happy - it rubs off on others. We can recognize when we cannot do anything about those which upset us or make us sad, Bad things, unpleasant things, happen who ever you are. They do not mean you have to dwell on them and get them out of proportion. Living through the process can help us to grow and sometimes good can come out of them.

Wisdom is accepting the world with all it's vagaries and trivia.

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