Knowledge is power Application is wisdom

 

One of the characteristics of great people is taking responsibility for their own behaviour and development in their lives. For their careers, for their wins and failures, for their wrongdoings, for their growth, and for their learnings. To move forward in life, we must constantly seek to learn. We must be obsessed with learnings. It’s necessary to be curious. Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power.

“Knowledge is POWER” 

What we know is acquired by learning. Growth comes from learning. Human beings are made to evolve and our brain is wired differently than other mammals for a reason. From reading books, listening to podcasts, watching the news, connecting with others, interacting on social media - our mind requires stimulation over time. Stimulation which creates interests. To be interested is a way to grow. Learning is a continuous process and no matter where we are in life, it doesn’t stop. Unless we choose to. Unless we are opposed to growth. 

What sort of learning? 

Life is not about absorbing all the informations as much as possible, rather it’s about “filtering” the informations so learnings become productive. Quality learning set the path to success. It has a purpose in getting you closer to your goal. It comes from the ‘sincere’ intent of wanting to improve and being ‘open’ to feedback and ‘humble’ of the outcome. And when you pursue this type of learning, it would have lasting impact and produce better results, compared to ‘ego driven’ development. This type of sincere curiosity also sparks the joy of learning.

Ways to learn 

Who do you trust? Who do you aspire to? Who do you identify with? We need others to help us learn and grow. It may well be daunting and intimidating but it may be necessary to find that person. That is why having a mentor would be on top of my list. Your mentor doesn’t have to be a stranger, it could well be a friend you already know. Seek help. The biggest obstacle for someone not asking for help is ‘fear’. Fear of rejection, fear of sounding dumb, fear of not being good enough, fear of the unknown. But let’s be brave and muster the courage. Because if you choose fear, you choose to stay the same. And that’s the end of your progress.

Life lessons 

And if we are to dig deeper into ways of learning, the biggest lessons always come from our life experiences. There is no better teacher than having been through something so great and powerful that you end up more confident, stronger, better and wiser. Let them be your tool of wisdoms. The WISDOMS that we apply to create a better version of ourselves. I love these so called life lessons. They shaped us. Our characters. Our thoughts. Our actions.

“APPLICATION is wisdom” 

This is the second principle to live by. It’s imperative and non negotiable. Knowing is not enough. We must apply! When we have found the right informations, the learnings should not be sitting there going to waste or becoming redundant. What we know can be a powerful tool - only if we APPLY.

So HOW do we apply our knowledge? 

This may be a challenge for most people. The old school mentality may prevail and refuse to accept change. It’s easy to do the same things over and over again repeating the same mistake. Well, I believe only through self discipline you could overcome the discomfort of change. In the end, achievement is about daily commitment and trusting the process — even if you don’t see immediate results. Simple. Either you commit to it or you don’t.

Another great tool to apply our learnings is through the process of “checking in”. Check in with yourself and your environment by asking yourself these questions often.

1. “What can I learn from my actions today?"

Some of your habits might be setting you back. But you continue to do it anyway. Are you making the same choices that keeps you in the same cycle?

”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle 

2. “What was I doing a year ago and how did I feel?” 

Are you too busy learning, thinking, talking and planning but never seem to get further than where you were a year ago? Actions speak louder than words. How do you spend your time?

“I don’t understand how people sit around in cafes and talk about doing something, but the closest they ever get to is picking up a coffee.”—Lynn Paterson 

3. “Who do I spend most of my time with?” 

Your friends should be people who inspire you to become a better version of yourself. I’ve talked about this before in my past blog. People you surround yourselves with shape your character. Be with your cheer leaders and not the naysayers. Those who believe, encourage and push you to learn and to be better than you are yesterday. The mentors who got your back. You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.

"Surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself”— Edmund Lee

4. “What do I want to learn next?” 

Remember, learnings do not stop. Only you can choose to stop. The possibilities are endless in this frantic modern world. No matter what you do, make yourself useful. It’s a privilege to be able to share and impart the knowledge you’ve learnt. That’s why I love learning. I love to pay it forward. What about you?

So don’t just sit there. Go out and do something. Take responsibility for your own growth. Then in turn you’ll help others grow in their own path too. Learning is rewarding. And applying the knowledge makes it fulfilling and edifying.

“To learn is a gift. To learn is a skill. To learn is a choice” 

Thank you for reading ❤️