Leading Wisely

3Wisdom and sorrow

Small sorrows are talkative. Deep sorrows are silent.

—Seneca

Those who do not weep, do not see.

—Victor Hugo

Wisdom and sorrow

What should be very clear by now is that wisdom will always be a very elusive concept. In that respect, the pursuit of wisdom could be compared to a Sisyphean task. Relegated to forever roll a boulder up a hill in the depths of Hades, only to have it roll back down, Sisyphus was given a task that would never come to an end, and so too it is with seeking wisdom. The pursuit of wisdom should also be seen as an interminable challenge. However, unlike Sisyphus, wise people are in a position to learn something from their suffering and seek to do so. Perhaps, if they would be assigned Sisyphus' task of rolling this boulder up the hill, they would welcome the boulder rolling down, considering it a brief opportunity for reflection.

In the wisdom equation, suffering can turn into one of life's great teachers. Suffering may help you find your inner strengths and hidden talents. Suffering can contribute to profound insights. Furthermore, having gone through difficult experiences could make you less judgemental. Hopefully, it also contributes to a more nuanced way of looking at things. Ironically, personal misfortunes may well lead you to a greater sense of compassion and empathy. Not only could these experiences give you a greater understanding of your own challenges, but also about other people's tribulations. This observation was ...