Written by: Calvin Niles, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
A grammarian sat down in a boat.
“Strap in, sir, wheeze about to leave,” said the boatman.
"Wheeze? Don’t you mean to say, we are?” asked the grammarian. “Have you studied any grammar?"
"No, I haven’t " the boatman replied.
“Then half your life has gone to nothing."
Soon the wind howled, the sky turned black and the rain began to pour like never before. With lashing waves and towering tides the boat filled with water.
The boatman shouted to the grammarian, "Do you know anything about swimming, sir?
"No, absolutely not!" the grammarian shouted back.
"Then the whole of your life has gone to nothing, O grammarian because wheeze gonna sink!"
How to cultivate wisdom so that it serves us when we need it most
Everyone wants to be wise. We watch TED Talks and read books on how to be more mindful to learn new concepts and make better choices. These are very important activities. But the truth is, that wisdom comes with experience. It doesn't happen overnight, and it takes time and effort to cultivate it. So how do we do it? Here are a few things I learned on my journey so far.
1. Connecting outside of our own cultures can open our minds
I use the word culture here generously to include all of the customary beliefs, societal norms, and racial, religious, or social make-up that form part of our identities. I say part because cultures are only a small part of who we are. Sometimes our own culture can limit us and our ways of seeing things. I’ve often found that those who respect and consciously honor their culture are often the ones with rich and diverse experiences of other cultures. When we connect with people outside of what we are used to, it opens our minds to new perspectives and experiences of life. Often, we are also better able to see the common thread tying all of humanity together.
2. Our bodies can teach us a lot
Stories are the libraries of humanity. Similarly, our bodies are libraries full of ancient wisdom. The stories of the lives of all our ancestors have been written, published, and stored in the DNA of our bodies. It is no surprise that we are seeing more and more embodiment practices thriving around the world. When last have you explored the library that you are living in right now? Not to mention the non-human cells that make up more than half of our bodies, which are constantly communicating with us, and contributing to our connection to the material world. Through the curious exploration of what our bodies are experiencing on a moment-by-moment basis, we can gain spontaneous insights that ultimately lead us down an unfolding path of wisdom.
3. We don’t “get” wisdom; we create the conditions for wisdom to arise
Wisdom is not something that we get the same way we can say, purchase a car, or even a book on the mysteries of life. Wisdom is something that arises out of the conditions we create for it to arise. Fruits come from flowers, flowers from the plant, and the plant from the seed. I like to see wisdom as the fruit that springs from the seed of intention. If we use that intention to create the conditions for wisdom to arise then, as sure as the sun follows the rain, wisdom will arise out of that experience. Etymology says that the word wisdom comes from wis "learned, sagacious, cunning; sane; prudent, discreet; experienced; having the power of discerning and judging rightly," and from Proto-Germanic *wissaz, "to see".
So, if you want to see, then travel more, see new cultures and places, and explore the richness and diversity of the outer world! These give new perspectives. But then remember to come back to your body, your library of undiscovered wisdom, where there is so much to explore. Sit still from time to time or develop a meditation practice. Write or tap into your source of inner creativity. Allow the mystery and wonder of life to feed your soul, and give you wisdom so that when you need it most, you are resourced to save yourself from drowning when the moment calls for you to swim.
Credit:* Story adapted from "The Mathnawî-yé Ma`nawî" [Rhymed Couplets of Deep Spiritual Meaning] of Jalaluddin Rumi.
My community and I are learning to swim together in SOAR Book Club. Join our growing community of developing humans for great conversations and more. Visit us here to learn more.
Want to create a new story for your life? Follow Calvin for more on stories, mindfulness, and poetry on his YouTube channel, connect with him on Instagram or visit his website for more.
Calvin Niles, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Calvin Niles is a coach and consultant known as The Mindful Storyteller, making a positive impact on the lives of leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and wider society through his services and products. Through his experience in mindfulness, storytelling, coaching, and business, he empowers others to be authentic in their life and work Calvin has worked with hundreds of people from leaders in large corporates to SMEs, and from solopreneurs to some of the top 10 charities in the UK.
