Wisdom vs Experience
A wise man once said “Experience comes from what we have done, Wisdom comes from what we have done badly.” I like this a lot because I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life that were embarrassing or painful, but which really helped me grow. Framing them as a way to gain wisdom helps to take the sting off them.
We learn by making mistakes, but being kind to ourselves through that process can be difficult. I have to work on this every day. Keeping the perspective of the “long arc” of life and growth can help us see this as one step forward, even if it may feel like a step back.
Learning from painful experiences brings us wisdom, and wisdom is what we all really want. Someone may have lots of experience but not have learned much from all of it. I quoted Dr. Kennedy Shultz once before when he explained that the father wondered by his kids never listened to him. “I have forty years of experience” he would proclaim, while those around him knew he did not have 40 years of experience, but actually had one year of experience, repeated forty times!
I encourage you to be patient with yourself as you navigate new experiences and remind yourself that it’s the wisdom you really want and need. This will come if you take time to pay attention, analyze what is happening, and adjust as needed. Looking back at my design career, I’ve learned the most from shows that did not go well, or where I made some error in the process. But the wisdom which came from this “less than successful” venture has served me very well since that experience.
Be kind to yourself and the wisdom you need and desire will come.
Tim Hinton
April 17, 2021
