“The more sand [that] has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”

– Jean Paul, German Romantic writer

Image from Flickr by graymalkn.

Close your eyes and imagine a man or woman of great wisdom. What do they look like? Estimate their approximate age. If you are like most people, you have likely envisaged a somewhat or significantly older individual, with their share of lifelines.

Jean Paul seems to be suggesting that with more and more life experiences, we will gain greater clarity and perspective on the world. I would suggest that we must add the thoughtful acts of self-reflection, objectivity, and open-mindedness to fully realize the daily nuggets of wisdom that are available to enhance our vision.

Exercise:

Purchase an old-fashioned egg-timer, which can represent a mini hourglass, and consider a daily period of self-reflection on your professional and personal efforts.