40+FAB Blog

Accepting another’s experience

However you get wisdom, it is always better for you that you got it.
The philosopher Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is the noblest; Second, by imitation, which is the easiest; And third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Some say experience is the best teacher, yet others say learning from another’s experience is the wisest way to learn.

We attest to these age old truths, but for some reason when we get into our own unique challenges, rather than draw from the depth of experience around us, we tend to go into survival mode and do what we think best even if unproven. We almost have this secret code that says, “unless it is my experience, it is not good enough to help me”.

If we were to go by the stories of thousands of people spanning several generations, we would most likely find that personal experiences always turned out to be the priciest. And, those who learned from another’s experience always avoided the price that they did not need to pay as someone had done that already.

Make up your mind before you need to, that you will accept the proven experience of another to get the wisdom you need for your next imminent challenge.