What place does the accumulation of knowledge have in your world? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“The unfed mind devours itself.”
“We are drowning in information and starving for knowledge.”
“Knowledge is like underwear. It is useful to have it, but not necessary to show it off.”
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Early childhood education plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s future success.
Here is evidence of its supporting role on cognitive, social, and emotional development:
EXERCISE:
Who are the little ones in your life and in your communities?
How are you playing a role in assuring that they get all the support possible to benefit them well into adulthood?
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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is one of my all-time favorite books.
I’ve read it numerous times over the years and even participated in several workshops and seminars based on its wisdom.
For some unknown reason I can’t recall ever seeing today’s quote.
The idea that our habits can be created and strengthened at the intersection of our knowledge, skills, and desires really hits home!
EXERCISE:
Draw a Venn Diagram with three overlapping circles to include each of these attributes.
Place the word Habit where the circles intersect and consider displaying this visual in an area you visit often to foster your capacities to create and strengthen the habits you most desire.
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I agree with today’s quote in most cases, especially for individuals with a growth mindset and a propensity toward lifelong learning.
The pursuit of knowledge and experience takes time.
Raw smarts and wisdom build at different rates.
Consider a heavy rain as it fills a puddle versus years of rain carving a river’s path.
EXERCISE:
How has your growth and development journey evolved over the years?
Where and how have you stepped beyond acquiring raw smarts to embracing the gift of wisdom?
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Among the skills introduced to our children during their early years, reading, writing, and ‘rithmatic as we called it, took top billing. The nightly bedtime story is still an integral part of many family rituals, including my grandchildren.
There probably isn’t a family that doesn’t have at least a few choice Dr. Seuss books that haven’t seen some considerable wear over the years.
Beyond the funny characters and rhyming words, there was almost always a life lesson in those pages to inspire and guide our little ones to be good people and do their part to help and serve others.
Please download and read The Carbon Almanac for Kids to help our future generations become knowledgeable and contributory stewards of our beautiful world. It’s free!
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What were your favorite subjects in school? In what areas did you excel and demonstrate significant mastery as you grew up? Who were the teachers, mentors, coaches, and family members who guided and supported your development? What resources guided them before they were there for you?
How fortunate we are these days that so much knowledge is available at the touch of a few buttons or keystrokes. How exciting it is that we are only moments away from tapping into the greatest minds of all time whenever we wish, and can stand on their shoulders if we choose.
To what extent have you taken full advantage of great minds to support your personal and professional efforts? Where and how can you, too, be a great mind to support future generations in the years ahead?
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My grandson Weston loves lemonade. He loves it so much that he prefers it to eating if given the choice. One minute a full glass is in front of him and the next it is empty and he asks for more.
Another wonderful thing about Weston is his thirst for knowledge. His candle is always ablaze with interest in learning about his world and showing others what he can do.
How about you and others in your personal and professional communities? Where do you have the greatest thirst for knowledge and the interest in lighting the candles of others?
Who are the open-minded and always ready students in your world? How can you be their teacher, mentor, or coach supporting the next steps in their development? How ready are you as a student, and who are the wise ones in your world that help you light your way?
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Where are your skills and knowledge not keeping up with the times?
Where have you dropped your intellectual anchor, letting the whole world know you have stopped at what seems like a safe spot to rest and sit things out?
I was recently asked to help a friend with her printer, to make copies of her resume to secure a new job. Although she had brand new cartridges installed, her computer couldn’t communicate with her printer due to an old, unsupported operating system.
Where are you falling a bit behind in the skills and knowledge needed to be successful professionally or personally? What investments can and will you make that will appreciate in value in the years ahead?
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Who are the people in your world who give you instructions to build a clock when all you ask is the time?
Knowledge can definitely be useful, but too much of a good thing can go awry pretty quickly.
We all wish to be helpful, to be of service, and to contribute. Unfortunately, in our many efforts to do so by sharing what we know, we do not always consider the openness and receptivity of those we wish to enlighten.
Where would it be much wiser to share far less of what you know in either your professional or personal communities? We all know no one likes a know-it-all.
Thomas Jefferson
Who are the “know it alls” in your personal and professional communities? Who are those who insist on showing everyone that they are the human version of Google?
How do you feel when you are around them? To what degree might you be on someone else’s “know it all” list?
Being interesting versus interested can only take us so far, and it almost always backfires. Wanting to be understood versus seeking to understand with more of a beginner’s mind seems like a wiser path to take.
Click on this link to explore more of Jefferson’s wisdom and learn more about his brilliance.