Wisdom comes from understanding and applying what we learn every day. Think about the most important thing you have gained positive insight into and learned about yourself over the past week. How can you apply this today?

Every day, life throws experiences our way. These arrive at face value as either "positive" or "negative" in terms of how easy or difficult they are for us to handle. They come in the form of people, places, conversations," aha" moments, accidents, illness, financial loss and so on. However, the reality lies not in what shows up on our doorstep, but how we choose to respond to it. We have choice in that moment. Thus our responses have a profound effect on whether we take positive or negative learning from it.

If we choose only to focus on the resultant problems, the lack, the hardship and so on, then chances are we will end up bitter, resentful, constricted and with a victim mentality. If, however, we choose to see the blessings, insights or gifts from the experience, it instantly becomes a huge learning and growth opportunity. Approached from the latter perspective, we are able to gather more and more wisdom that we can utilise for the rest of our lives, and share with others too.

Practical Exercise

Set aside an hour where you will not be disturbed. Look back over the past week, or further if needs be, and start writing down all the so called "negative" experiences or interactions you have had. Try to find at least three you can work with. As you are writing down the event, be as specific as possible and be sure to include the result or outcome e.g. - last night my spouse and I had a fight when we both arrived home from work. I felt unsupported when describing my frustrations of the day. I just wanted to let off steam and I landed up sulking the whole night and being very quiet.

Next, rewrite the same event, this time from what you feel could have been the other person's experience of the situation. Write it as if you were them (including animals, the bank, God, i.e. whoever was on the other end of the negative experience you had).

What new insights do you have now?

Go one step further: looking back at this event from your perspective, ask yourself what you could have done differently that is within your control. If you had taken full responsibility for yourself and behaved in an adult, rational, reasonable fashion, what different outcome could you have affected? Now ask yourself what the gift is for you to take from this situation?

To sum it all up - what is the wisdom you now have about yourself that you can immediately start applying to other areas of your life? Wisdom is timeless, expanding and positive, and it assists us to have peace and acceptance.

About the author: Kate Emmerson- Supporting Women on the Threshold of Making Courageous Leaps. Master Life Coach (Association for Coaching UK, COMENSA), NLP and EFT. Kate is a natural entrepreneur with 18 year's business experience and is committed to assisting clients step into a life that matters. She shares passion and vibrancy in her coaching sessions, workshops and e-mail programmes. Her special interest lies with women who are ready to harness their gifts and talents, live a wild and gorgeous life, and who are willing to enjoy the balance of having it all. Kate will support you to actively find the courage & energy to put these choices into a solution-based plan. To purchase the SELF COACHING CARDS or for other information, contact her on 082-341-3143 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.life-coaching.co.za

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