Knowledge, Wisdom and Ah Ha Moments

 

I love to play knowledge and trivia games, like Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit. My mind is full of knowledge that is really only useful for these types of games or settling bar bets. I have a very curious nature and a desire to have a wide range of knowledge. I love to learn new things, matter of fact I actively try to learn something new each day.  Knowledge is fun, learning is fun, and application of learned knowledge can open up many doors for a person in our culture. If one desires to have a professional career, acquiring knowledge is one of the first steps, look at the amount of knowledge an attorney, doctor or teacher must acquire before they can even begin to work within their chosen profession. Knowledge is a hot commodity in our culture. People spend many years in formal education programs so that they can get a piece of paper that attests that they have acquired a specific level of knowledge. Knowledge is great and it can be very powerful, however it can also be very empty without wisdom.

I have met many well-educated people in my lifetime who seemed to have limited wisdom. In some of my lesser-refined moments I have referred to these people as educated idiots. These are people who because of their educational accomplishments have secured positions for which they did not have the wisdom to handle in the best way.

Often we are so keen on acquiring knowledge that we do not take the time to hone our wisdom. Wisdom is not something that you gain from reading a book or going to a lecture, these methods may act as a catalyst for wisdom, however it is not what someone wrote or said that makes you wise. The type of wisdom that I speak of comes in two flavors, innate wisdom, that is wisdom, which you were born with and wisdom gained through life experiences. 

Not sure about innate wisdom, then watch and listen to children, they often seem wise beyond their years. This childhood wisdom often gets suppressed by well meaning adults, however it is initially there. We all have this innate wisdom, however often times because of the environment that we are brought up in and the antiquated structure of our educational system causes that wisdom to be suppressed, forgotten. This is why when you are reading something or listening to someone you may have an “Ah Ha” moment. This is a moment of sudden clarity, this is the moment when your innate wisdom begins to see the light of day again.

The cool thing is that as you get out of your own way, clear your mind and initiate the intention of uncovering your wisdom, these “ah ha” moments happen with increased frequency and the priority that you once placed on gaining knowledge begins to shift. A natural flow of knowledge and wisdom begins to happen. All of a sudden you begin to have an easier and greater understanding of things, which had before eluded you. You will be amazed at how your thought process begins to work, those things, which you struggled with and caused you angst will suddenly, seem very simple.

As you bring your wisdom to the surface and hone it, you will also increase your awareness and discard the emotional trapping of your ego like, jealousy, hate, resentment, bitterness and find that they are replaced with understanding, compassion, respect and love.

One of the best resources for both types of wisdom is the elderly. Often times because they have not kept up or been exposed to current trends in knowledge, we discount them as not being able to offer much to us. This is a huge mistake, people of age have much wisdom to share with us, both from life experience based wisdom and from the innate wisdom that they have uncovered over their years.

Use outside sources like books, lectures, etc to spark your innate wisdom. Many times, they will be the catalyst to your ah ha moments. Always be open, ready, for we all know that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.