Emotions and Wisdom

“History without emotion is wisdom.” -a speaker I was listening to.

This phrase needs more context. First, he was talking about the negative effects of being stuck in our emotions and not progressing. The link he was trying to make was that when you can accept your emotions as a part of your history and can make peace with it, you can have a different view and understanding of your past. There is a ton of science that backs this up. Without going into the biological details: When you are in a state of dis-ease, discomfort, or stress, it is much harder to create. Creating is a broader term to describe seeing how things could be and seeing things how they are, but in a different point of view.

So, the key here is to find peace in the present situation you are in, so that you can see in a different point of view.

It is not that emotions hinder wisdom; it is that strong emotions make it harder to see life as it is in different perspectives. Seeing in multiple perspectives means being able to see reality as different experiences. Experience, knowledge, and good judgement is what leads to wisdom.

Susan David, Ph.D. has an awesome book, “Emotional Agility”. “Emotional agility is a process that enables us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. The process is not about ignoring difficult emotions and thoughts. It is about holding those emotions and thoughts loosely, facing them courageously and compassionately, and then moving past them to ignite change in your life.” This skill is something that can be practiced and improved. It is not about chasing wisdom either, it is about changing your life in a positive way. That is something more of us can relate to.

I also cannot forget to mention a phrase that has helped me find peace in tough situations:

“That is what happened, and it couldn’t have happened any other way because it didn’t”- Peter Crone, Mind Architect

This is not saying that what happened is right, fair, or ideal. It is only saying that what has happened cannot change, and it shifts the focus to what can be changed. Which is what you choose to do with what happens next.

There are a bunch of other references and examples that I can give, so if you would like me to dive deeper, just reach out!

I hope this has stuck up some thinking or helped you in some way. 🙂