Wow 155: On collection, generosity, and standards

I

Creativity is collecting and connecting ideas. If you want to grow in creating more value in the world, develop an intentional way to collect ideas. Develop a practice for collecting and creating.

II

Think of yourself not just as a learner of wisdom but as a giver of wisdom. Give your future self the gift of wisdom by applying the seeds of compounding wisdom today. Generosity compounds. The purpose of learning is to take meaningful action.

III

Due to loss aversion, you are more likely to fall back to your standards than live up to your dreams. Dream big. Set high standards.

Quotes

“Without a listener, the healing process is aborted. Human beings, like plants that bend toward the sunlight, bend toward others in an innate healing tropism. There are times when being truly listened to is more critical than being fed. Listening well to another’s pain is a primary form of nurturance, capable of healing even the most devastating of human afflictions, including the wounds and scars of violence, even the horrors of war and large-scale social trauma. Children speak their pain automatically when there is a listener, but learn to hide it when there is no ear to hear…In listening to ourselves, we learn who we are, what our bodies know, the emotional wisdom of our cells. And slowly, if we honor what we hear, we begin to heal and to live fully. When we listen closely to what hurts, we learn what life is asking of us. We become fluent in the language of the heart. We get the counsel we need.”

Miriam Greenspan, Healing through the Dark Emotions

Questions

Wisdom is durable. It is secure and lasts. What wisdom are you growing in this week?

Where can I raise the standard of excellence in my life?

Prayer

Lord, help me see myself not merely as a learner of wisdom but as a vessel through which Your wisdom flows to others. Let me be generous in sharing the insights You've entrusted to me, both with my future self and with those You've placed in my path. Though I’m tempted to settle for mediocrity, give me courage to dream. Show me how to raise my standards, to reach higher than what feels comfortable, and to pursue excellence in all things. May I plant seeds of righteousness today that will grow into mighty oaks of wisdom in the years to come, for Your glory. Amen.

Live wisely,

Josh