How to Acquire Wisdom

I am currently reading a wonderful book, Think Again, by Adam Grant. In my reading today I found this great picture and felt it was too true for most people.

Too often we think of mistakes as being harmful things, destructive things. In truth, mistakes are building blocks. The only way we can gain true insight into who we are, who we want to be, and what it takes to achieve our dreams is to be willing to fail, REPEATEDLY.

Did you notice step 1? Live. You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

Steps 2 through 4 are where the magic happens. Most of the time we live in fear of failing. What if people see us fall? What if things don’t go perfectly according to plan? WHAT IF THEY DO? Take risks. Take them often. If they don’t work, chances are you will get another chance to try again. The next time you are more prepared. Think of it like playing a video game. How many times do you have to attempt a level before you can beat it in order to move on to the next?

Finally, realizing the opportunity to learn and grow, to take chances, to make mistakes never ends, is priceless! Just because you master one area of your life doesn’t mean you get to sit back and become complacent. If you really want to find the wisdom you have to be a seeker of knowledge, a lover of mistakes, or as I like to call them, “Opportunities for Greatness”!