When it comes to acquiring spiritual wisdom, the truth is that while many of us may desire it there are probably few who know what it really is.

Wisdom is not the same thing as knowledge. As a matter of fact, you can very easily be acquainted with facts, truths or principles, but if you don’t apply this information to your life, you are actually the opposite of wise. Wisdom, especially spiritual wisdom, is not just about knowing what’s good for you, but applying that knowledge into your everyday life. When you do that, this is when you know that you are truly wise. The pursuit of spiritual wisdom is good for your human trinity (mind, body, spirit). This quest is not some magical thing that comes to some and overlooks others. If you want to be wise, all you have to do is simply make the choice to do so and act on it.

A philosophy around the concept of wisdom is that you are a vehicle for manifesting consciousness. If you accept an aspect of who you really are, you can live out your life in a state of unconditional abundance and health. Knowing this is knowledge. Applying it to your world is wisdom. So how do you begin applying the gift of wisdom to your life? There are many ways, but the following seven should inspire you:

1. Choose wisdom. If you want what’s best for your soul, it starts with making a decision to have it. Far too many people find themselves in debilitating situations simply because they have not chosen not to be there.

2. Trust your instincts. Oprah Winfrey advised people to trust their instincts because that’s where true wisdom manifests itself. Self-help author Wayne Dyer has said that a person’s intuition is more than just a hunch. To Dyer, instinct is a form of guidance. He views instinct as a way of God talking to us; therefore, this inner insight should never be taken lightly or ignored. Make it a point to pay special attention to the still, small voice inside you. It knows more than you think it does…about most things.

3. Set boundaries. Once you desire wisdom, the rules for how you live your life will change. You will start to wonder if it’s wise to eat junk food at 10 p.m., or if it’s wise to talk to your ex when he’s broken your heart three times before in the past 2 years. Guarding your soul (your feelings, your heart, your desires) is a path that leads to great spiritual wisdom.

4. Surround yourself with wisdom. Wise counsel, wise people, wise books – all of these things are avenues of wisdom. Birds of a feather flock together, right? Do you want to be an eagle or a dodo bird?

5. Learn from your mistakes. The first time might be an accident. The second time might be a mistake. But the third time? That’s a problem. Remember, being wise not only means that you have established information based on facts and truths, but you are now ready to apply them to your life. If you’ve gotten a speeding ticket on a certain street, how wise is it to speed down that road again?

6. Learn from other people’s mistakes. Chaplain and activist Gail Masondo once said, “Discernment prevents experience from being your teacher.” You, personally, don’t have to go through everything to learn a great lesson from it. Watch and observe. You can learn a PhD in life by enrolling in that class alone.

7. Choose it daily. One of the greatest pearls of spiritual wisdom that life can ever give you is that, for as long as you are living, you will never have all of the wisdom you need. What you learned yesterday was enough for yesterday. Keep yourself aware that every minute you will be open to the new things that life wants to teach you about your environment, yourself and others. As you evolve, so do the messages that you must add to keep the spiritual evolution going.

Once you have applied these seven principles to your life, you should be well on your way to achieving spiritual wisdom. It doesn’t come overnight, but if you ask and expect it to come (as you need it), you will receive it. For as long as the holistic health of your mind and body are a top priority in your life, spiritual wisdom will not be unattainable for you. Actress Margaret Young once said, “Often people attempt to live their lives backwards. They try to have more things or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.”

Peace and Love, Jim

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