“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting, get understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7
Last week we talked about qualities of a great mentor. I received a few responses from would-be mentors who were frustrated with the lack of intentionality by others seeking mentorship.
The story goes something like this: a person asks someone further along in their journey for help. The (typical, but not always) older person agrees. The would-be mentee shows up with no questions, nothing prepared, and expects the mentor to do all the work. News flash: it doesn’t work this way!
There are many things I haven’t done well in life; enough to fill these blog posts for years. However, one thing I’ve made an effort to consistently do, is seek wisdom from others further along on their journey.
Just like there are qualities of great mentors, there are specific things we can do, as we seek wisdom.
I realize I still have so much to learn. With that in mind, here are three steps you can take to glean wisdom from other people.
1. Actively seek it out.
Intentionally place yourself in positions and opportunities where you can glean wisdom from other people. One of the ways I do this is by choosing to attend a church with older people, so I can grow and learn from those who have walked through more life than I have. I also try to seek wisdom from great books, podcasts, videos, and blogs from people I respect and trust. I find that I most actively seek wisdom when I am tired of trying to be a “know-it-all”. I don’t know it all. You don’t either. It’s much more freeing and beneficial to surround yourself with people who know more than you do.
2. Ask the right questions
Once you have surrounded yourself with people you want to learn from, don’t expect them to just spout wisdom. Instead, ask them questions. So much wisdom comes from simply asking good questions. For example: What happened to bring you here and why? Why did you make that decision? Why did you choose to do that? What was the result?
3. Apply what you learn.
This may seem obvious, but seeking wisdom is a complete waste of time if it stays in your mind. When wisdom moves from your head to your hands and you apply what you have learned, it has a profoundly positive impact on your life and the people around you.
To gain wisdom, actively seek it out, ask the right questions, and apply what you learn.
This week, take some time to think about ways you can actively seek wisdom in your daily life. Ask the following questions:
1. From whom do I glean wisdom?
2. What are good questions I can ask?
3. How can I intentionally apply the things I learn?
Here’s to seeking wisdom!
