W is for Wisdom

Before you conjure pictures of owls, stacks of ancient tomes and philosophers in togas, know we are going to look at a lesser known version of wisdom. Discovery is always fun. Did you have any idea being able to discover is wisdom? Yes, we are going to tie all the alphabetic posts together. Neatly.

As we have strolled through the psychological alphabet, we have discovered things about ourselves: What kind of temperament we have always had, how that temperament translates in adulthood, how creatively we think, our own brands of confidence and defiance and much more. How does all that discovery translate into wisdom?

Webster

Merriam Webster may not have been the W for this post, but certainly played a hand in it. The very first definition of wisdom is “accumulated philosophic or scientific learning, knowledge”. It is all the things you have learned about yourself as we have traveled this road.

M3 normally takes last, or nearly last, definition. Wisdom is different. We are going to stay in the first definition, but we are going to go down two paths.

b: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships insight

: good sense : judgment”

Watch

All of the personality and temperament tests revealed ways our decision-making exposes our truest identity. We saw how the way we interact with others and our environment influences the way we handle tough and simple situations alike. Already, some of you have identified how knowing yourself helps you understand interactions between you and (Quaint, Mate, Co-Worker, Family).

Think about the person to whom you are the closest. Answer a few questions:

  • Does Quaint have a similar temperament?
  • Are you more confident than Quaint?
  • Is Quaint more creative?
  • Who does the endorsing?
  • Which one is a genius?

Hold onto those answers. We will put them to use in a few moments.

Weigh

You have gathered information and used your insight. Now, it is time to exercise judgment.

Newsflash: Relationships are never 50-50.

Between spouses, lovers, friends, colleagues, siblings, parents and children, extended families…relationships are never 50-50. One person will bring a dominant number of assets to the relationship.

Newsflash 2: It is okay.

Every relationship we have is built upon the satisfaction of needs. Each person satisfies a need the other person has. In some cases, one person will satisfy more needs than have needs fulfilled. In weighing the needs in a relationship, be honest about how weighty your own needs are to the other person.

Newsflash 3: You can ask.

Doubt is very easy to abolish. Ask. When you do not know what medicine to take, you ask. When you do not know how to find a place, you ask. Do not bob along the relationship ocean. Ask.

Once you know, you can weigh whether or not the relationship is satisfying enough needs to continue as it stands now. If you find it lacking, you do not have to scrap it. Instead, work on it. Relationships change over time unchecked. Change is equally available as an overt action.

Whisk

Change the relationship to someone else: Your child, parent or sibling. Answer the questions again. How different are the results?

When we deal with our families, we often assume there is no way to work with them on our relationships. Why? No one chooses their family. Everyone can choose how or if interaction takes place.

Not Mini Me.

What?

While your children are small (until the age of majority), you are responsible for them. Consider it penance, if it is painful. During that time, you are not at the mercy of the relationship ocean. Identify in yourself and your child what assets are available.

No, your child is not helping you pay the mortgage. Your child is unlocking discovery in you by holding your hand on a new path of discovery. This is a chance to revisit your past and the formation of your identity, to remind you of yourself.

You can avoid slips and falls along the way by recognizing your child is not a miniature version of yourself…any more than (Quaint, Colleague, Mate) is. Instead, remember how your identity formed and observe the formation of your child’s.

If this was not the path your parent(s) took, this will be the discovery of a different way.

Weed-in-Law

When it comes to dealing with other members of your family, you have no obligation like the one to your child. You can choose to engage or disengage the same way you do with your colleagues and neighbors. Identify the differences between you, and determine if the relationship is worthwhile.

Every family has at least one member the rest tolerate for the peace of the family. Leave that person for holidays, and skip them on any random Tuesday. Just because someone is family does not mean they are identical or even compatible with you. Reread Newsflash 2.

Wisdom

More than just a random accumulation of knowledge, wisdom is an exercise in using insight and making judgments.


~~~~~~~~~~

Have you exercised wisdom in relationships with others or are you adrift on the relationship ocean? Have you ever had the wisdom to end a relationship with a family member? How can wisdom help you with teenagers…yours and those of others?

(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2012
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36 Comments

  1. I have found that with teens the best way to deal with them is to understand where they are coming from, even if I disagree with it. No yelling, don’t talk at them, but to them. Mine learned best from watching me rather than listening to me…so it was really all about my own behavior. Did I mess up at times? Lots, but I had to learn quick and admit my mistake or they would copy the bad behavior before the good behavior.
    If all the above does not work…well, there is always Loon advice. 🙂
    Honestly though, it seems to me it was all trial and error, and I was dealing with an alien the whole time. Teens seem to be a their own breed.

    Hugs, xx
    Deb recently posted..R is for RedMy Profile

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    • Red

       /  April 30, 2012

      LOL! I thought Loon’s advice was to eat them before they became teenagers… Although, that does work. you are so right they learn far more by what we do than what we say. i may have to post one of my guides to mutual respect. I spent a lot of time writing for both parents and tweens/teens about how to get along and grow up safely.

      Teens are not aliens…remember, we only admit being abducted…not being alien! ROFL!

      {HUGZ}
      Red.

      Reply
      • lol…Yeah, I know. I meant to put that part a little differently as to not call them that but my fingers sort of took over. They do seem to be a bit out of this world though. When they grow up and have a teen or two of of their own…they’ll know what I mean.
        Hugs ♥ xx
        Deb recently posted..R is for RedMy Profile

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        • Red

           /  April 30, 2012

          Now, Debbie Adams! Are you possibly transferring your mother’s curse to your own children?? ROFL! XXX

          Reply
          • Well if I did it’s a little late to fix it now. They’re 34 and 33 years old. 🙂

            Hugs, xx
            Deb recently posted..R is for RedMy Profile

          • Red

             /  April 30, 2012

            LOL! No, your mother cursed you with teenagers at least as bad as you were… 😉
            {HUGZ}
            Red.
            xxx

        • Lol…Oh yeah, I paid dearly for my own behavior as a teenager when I got my two. . I got what I gave my mother to say the least. …pay back really is a b#tch.
          Deb recently posted..R is for RedMy Profile

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