Tag Archives: wisdom

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

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“The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.”

—Michel de Montaigne, 16th Century French Renaissance philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Allen Vinicius

Today’s quote is a reminder that true wisdom isn’t just about knowledge or intellect — it’s about maintaining a joyful and positive outlook on life.

Cheerfulness reflects an inner peace and understanding that challenges and setbacks are part of the human experience.

Wise individuals embrace life’s complexities with grace and optimism, inspiring those around them.

In today’s fast-paced world Montaigne’s words encourage us to cultivate happiness as a sign of deep wisdom, showing that a cheerful spirit can illuminate even the darkest moments.

Ultimately, wisdom and joy go hand in hand, creating a fulfilling and balanced life.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you see cheerfulness as a sign of wisdom?

How can you find more joy in simple things and approach each day with a lighter touch?

“What gets better as we age?”

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“What gets better as we age?”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Dmitry Mashkin

In the years following my dad’s passing, I’ve developed a far greater interest in the subject of aging.

Although there are many reasons to see these years as ones of decline from our younger selves, there is still plenty of evidence that numerous areas of life tend to improve, including:

  • Happiness and Well-Being: older adults often experience greater life satisfaction and emotional stability, with reduced stress from the responsibilities of raising children and work.
  • Self Confidence: many older individuals become more comfortable in their own skin, embracing their true selves without the need for external validation.
  • Wisdom and Decision-Making: tend to improve through the accumulation of life experiences and more thoughtful informed choices.
  • Empathy and the ability to more deeply understand the emotions and experiences of others tend to improve, like a fine wine with time.

EXERCISE:

How can you see yourself as getting better — not just older — with each passing day?  How might greater mindfulness and self-awareness of the aging process help you experience a richer, more fulfilling life?

When we teach, we learn

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When we teach, we learn. Honor your students. They too are sources of wisdom.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Kenny Eliason

As a senior in high school, I knew teaching and being a lifelong learner was in my DNA. Throughout my adult life, every position I’ve held had a teaching and learning component.

Now in my 32nd years as a business and personal coach, I’ve come to realize and honor the great contributions that return to me like a boomerang when I do my best to support and guide others forward.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life do you support others as a teacher, mentor, or coach?

In what ways have your students, mentees, and “coachees” made significant contributions to your life journey?

You have not grown too old, and it is not too late

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“You have not grown too old, and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths where life calmly gives out its own secret.”

—Rainer Maria Rilke, 20th Century Austrian poet and novelist

The other day a friend asked who was my audience for The Quotable Coach blog. My off-the-cuff response included people looking to live more meaningful lives and those looking to learn, grow, and pursue greater wisdom.

As with many bloggers, we only get a small glimpse of who actually reads our work. We rarely get to see the impact we intend and just hope that it does. I know for sure that the process of writing is definitely valuable to me even if no one else digs into the nuggets being offered.

EXERCISE:

If you are a loyal or even an occasional reader of this blog, please consider replying with a brief note about yourself and let me know why you invest a minute of your day to see what may be there for you.

Thank you.

It’s time to bet on wisdom

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“It’s time to bet on wisdom. It’s metabolized experience.”

—Chip Conley, American hospitality entrepreneur, author, and speaker

Image from Unsplash by Ava Sol

I’ve been fascinated by the pursuit of mastery and wisdom most of my adult life.

For me, a day without learning something new and useful is a waste. Please note that I’ve used the word useful!

Many of us seem to ravenously pursue knowledge with the idea that “more is better.”

Watching the game show Jeopardy is a good example of how many folks see how they stack up to contestants with seemingly AI capabilities.

Unfortunately, knowledge and experience do not necessarily correlate to wisdom.

Just because you ingest and can regurgitate information does not guarantee that it was digested and used to strengthen your ability to guide yourself and others.

EXERCISE:

How are you metabolizing your life experiences to expand your bank of wisdom?

Where are you placing bets on your wisdom and the wisdom of others to hit more of the jackpots of life?

Those who are wise won’t be busy and those who would

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“Those who are wise won’t be busy and those who would be too busy can’t be wise. The wisest man is therefore he who loafs most gracefully.”

—Lin Yutang, 20th Century Chinese philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Alex Shute

I asked the AI app Perplexity to give me a list of 10-15 people alive or dead who are considered wise.

Here is the list it compiled:

  • Mahatma Gandh
  • The Dalai Lama
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Mother Teresa
  • Socrates
  • Confucius
  • Maya Angelou
  • Albert Einstein
  • Carl Sagan
  • Jane Goodall
  • Thich Nhat Hanh
  • Oprah Winfrey

EXERCISE:

Who would you add to this list that has made a significant contribution to human wisdom and understanding?

How might the idea of loafing gracefully to reflect and explore the nature and meaning of being human be integral to this process?

Explore the interconnectedness of the heart and mind

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Explore the interconnectedness of the heart and mind. It is between the two that we discover wisdom, peace, and purpose.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Giulia Bertelli

Since Covid, we have traveled considerably less than in previous years. We’ve continued to schedule trips, only to cancel many for a variety of reasons.

Staying close to home used to be very frustrating. These days, we realize checking certain destinations off our bucket lists is far less of a priority.

Exploring what it means to be modern elders and investigate more matters of the heart has enriched us in many ways we never expected.

EXERCISE:

How much time do you take these days to explore the interconnectedness of your heart and mind?

What does this special connection have to teach you about leading an even more meaningful life?

The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be

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“The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed — to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is.”

—Parker Palmer, American author, educator, and activist

Image from Unsplash by Mohamed Nohassi

How much time do your spend soul searching and looking within for answers to your most pressing matters?

Where do you go and what do you do to free yourself to examine the inner wisdom to direct your life?

Sometimes instead of going within for clarity we seek to be advised by others.

Although these people are mostly well intended, they often share their own “been there / done that” experiences as the T-shirts they think we should wear.

In many of these cases, being saved or fixed by their solutions just doesn’t fit.

EXERCISE:

Where and how can you spend more time witnessing the unfolding of your soul?

How can you also advise the people in your world to quietly let you discover more of the answers for yourself?

“There’s a time for certain ideas to arrive, and they find a way to express themselves through us.”

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“There’s a time for certain ideas to arrive, and they find a way to express themselves through us.”

—Rick Rubin, Co-Founder of Def Jam Recordings

Image from Unsplash by Nick Fewings

I’m often asked where I find the wide variety of quotes I use for this blog. The short answer is that I am always on the hunt for nuggets of wisdom to reflect upon and share.

The originality of these ideas is important however it is in the filtering through our lives that they become molded into something real and relevant.

On days with only modest feedback, I still find this practice and the roads it helps me travel of vital importance to my own journey.

EXERCISE:

What ideas are you pondering these days?

How can they be molded and shaped by you to be shared with others in your various communities?