Building Experiential Wisdom

Intellect and its essence

Intelligence does not conquer all. More often than not, the apparent high graders do not classify as emotionally intelligent. Intellectual arrogance is the seed of downfall while humility of the unwise can work miracles owing to the prospects it offers for learning. There isn’t much left to discover if one knows it all. Intelligence ought to be applied perceptively towards pertinent outcomes. Wisdom calls for the wit to apply prejudgments optimally. As Einstein rightly put it, common sense is a collection of prejudices acquired in the formative years of life. Therapy that inculcates common sense is the need of the hour!

Wisdom and wellness

Wisdom in every way is related to one’s personal well-being. It impacts one’s existence, actions and all interactions. While wisdom cannot be taught, it can be inculcated through direction. Through experiential wisdom buildup, one determines the course into hidden motives and intentions that drive human ability and performance. The path to this wisdom involves recognition of personal thought, intent and behavior.

• Following rulebooks of others as well as oneself
• Restraining one’s emotion and practicing control
• Safeguarding oneself from unremitting arrogance
• Controlling all aggressive and impulsive instincts
• Perception and awareness of personal wrongdoing
• Knowing how to better the present, past and future

Making it last

Learning from the mistakes of another is rudimentary wisdom. As geniuses have crafted most of the innovations, we no longer need to invent light bulbs or airplanes; however we still have an inordinate need to understand the emotions and feelings of those we interact with through observation. Such wisdom doesn’t have a personal discovery element attached, but still holds value. Another variety is the use of logic to infer what impacts those around us. The ultimate of all, experiential wisdom stems from within, arises from deductions based on morality and heightened self-awareness. Knowing the truth and dwelling in it; accepting that it is all that matters, and directing self-change is the motive of therapy here.

Wisdom therapy

Wisdom as a remedy helps free oneself from obsessive preoccupations focused on negative appraisals of the self and the environment. These usually lead to anger, anxiety, and depression. The access to ones thought processes is a mandate in order to appraise and reappraise them. If one is emotionally stirred up, this identification is accelerated. In many ways, in the absence of emotional turmoil, one seldom introspects. Adversity thus acts as a boon and allows one to challenge the outcomes:

• What did I do to deserve this?
• Why did this happen with me?
• Is there a way to make it better?
• How can I prevent this next time?

All events have to be from ones personal experience in order to qualify as part of the therapeutic process. When we find answers to these and rearrange the event with the corrections in place, it seems more bearable. The prudence achieved is now permanent.

Watching the aesthetics

While external appearances seem to play a big role in people’s existence, the core values of individuals are their moral aesthetics. Getting caught up in the ‘substance’ as well as the ‘style’ of doing things is worthy of credit. It is distinct from possessing superfluous smartness that frequently qualifies as egotism and pride. Striving for flawlessness is desirable but merely dreaming about it, worse so, expecting it from the world is an irrational expectation (not judicious enough a choice for the wise one). When one works on these aesthetics of existence, internal change is imminent and self growth is permanent.