Living Lively - The Value of Wisdom

As opposed to already being dead but just being kept alive

When things aren’t going well, whether that’s a momentary thing or being in the turmoil of chaos and crisis, instead of perceiving that as failure, I see it as a provocation for greater wisdom.

Whilst travelling to Mexico and Peru, in his journey of contrast from life in Sydney, my friend Charbel from Often Human wrote that failure is a privilege. And I personally believe that the provocation for greater wisdom found through failure and challenge is also a privilege.

Wouldn’t life be different if we truly surrendered into the idea that ‘problems’ are a disguise for dormant wisdom wishing to be awakened?

Interestingly, ‘wisdom’ is the unexpected subject matter that keeps calling me this year. I few weeks ago I saw something that had been staring at me in the face. This year I have mainly been coaching people in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and an 80 year old magnificent woman! All of these people have years of experience and a depth of wisdom, seen and yet to be seen, purposed and yet to be re-purposed. The few who are in their 30’s and 40’s also have a depth of wisdom but accelerated through life circumstance.

I've been sharing a new idea with them.

How often do we desire for more from a place of lack? That's the default right? Lack drives the conversation around having more and having different. It's largely how we’re marketed to.

But what if the desire for more was really about a renewed sense of purpose? What if that desire was not fuelled by lack but instead borne from the appreciation of what is already here? What if the appreciation of what is already here, created through the honouring of all of our life experiences, was how we addressed what was lacking (and not vice versa)?

There is so much untapped abundance in seeing our evolution through this lens. To consider that all of our experiences, good, bad or indifferent have not been for nothing. To consider that our most important role is to rake up the wisdom from all of our life experiences to then see its purpose and place now, this is a conversation that really excites me. And in fact, responding to our problems from a place of untapped abundance will bring much greater resolution because we are bringing love to the table rather than fear and judgment. Love will create an equal outcome, as will fear and judgment. Our perception and intuitive seeing is truly underrated in a world that makes rationale, control and perfection its God.

So if you are in the 50+ vintage range, or if you have come to a depth of wisdom beyond your years, I hope this article has both provoked and inspired you around the value of wisdom and to hold it like precious treasure....and ask that precious treasure what and to whom are you to be of service now? Perhaps this sense of renewed purpose is nuanced, or perhaps something entirely new is birthed.

To those who wish to make their final years their best yet, isn't wisdom the bridge of surety for that intention to manifest? What a waste it would be to not receive and be in reverence to the wisdom amassed from our lived experiences.

I listened to an excellent podcast episode (thanks Alex) with Peter Koenig on the Leadermorphosis Podcast which I highly recommend. One of the last things he said at the conclusion of that episode was brilliant! He said “listen to your calling and follow that energy because that’s the greatest contribution you’ll make that will keep you most lively until you die and you will die having lived lively as opposed to already being dead but just being kept alive”!

To be in the presence of someone’s wisdom gained from and held with a sense of humility, as Peter Koenig represented so beautifully on that episode, well that's bloody gold.