Instant Wisdom.
That phrase or idea sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? After all, isn’t wisdom something we can only obtain once we are old, seasoned, and possess a long, gray beard? Don’t we have to live things before we can possess wisdom about them?
Actually…no. In fact, you can gain wisdom about something without ever having to experience it. While experience is a good teacher, I like to say that other people’s experience is even better!
The best part is that most people who already possess wisdom are happy to pass it on to you free of charge. All you have to do is know the right questions to ask. Now, I have always been a firm believer that the quality of our answers depends on the quality of our questions. So, over the years, I’ve been intentional about coming up with the best possible questions to ask people who have done things I would like to do or who have avoided things I would like to avoid.
Here’s the list:
- What’s the first thing you do when you’re depressed?
- What’s the most important decision you’ve ever made in your life?
- What’s the worst decision you’ve ever made in your life?
- If you were to give an 18-year-old one specific piece of wisdom, what would it be?
- What’s the smartest thing your parents ever did?
- What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed?
- What difference did someone make in your life as a child?
You can ask just one of these questions and get a lifetime’s worth of wisdom in about the same amount of time it takes to make a bowl of Ramen noodles.
Ask yourself who in your life might have some good answers to these questions. Make a list, and then pick up the phone and start asking. Seek wisdom, and you will find it.
What questions would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let everyone know!
