Wisdom Strategy:
"The Greater Good"
One thing is true about people who are wise: they are devoted to a "Greater Good." That is, a sense of purpose and meaning, manifested as projects, work, and callings, that make a positive and often transformative difference for all.
Wisdom may be difficult to define, but one thing is clear: people seem to recognize wisdom in others when they see it. When we see good things in the world - good decisions, inventions, relationships, programs, solutions, kindnesses, and initiatives - we are seeing the result of wisdom.
What is less clear of course is the process of wisdom. Those neural flashes, visceral wrenches, and flutters of the heart that transpire in people who, keenly aware of what gives their life meaning, create results that we call wise. Making that process visible, so that more of us can give wisdom a try in our own lives more often, is the mission of Wisdom Out.
Really great relationships can provide the perfect climate for people to live their Greater Good. Look at George and Donnalei Sumner (meet them on this video). At his core, world-renowned artist George Sumner is a peace and environmental activist who uses his gift to engage people in the greater dialogue about how to preserve our planet and the creatures that inhabit it. Donnalei, his business partner and spouse, applies her gifts in communication and marketing to bring George's art out into the world. Together they work passionately, not only to assure that George's paintings grace private collections and public spaces, but that they are used in worthy initiatives to benefit education programs and marine mammal conservation. Together, George and Donnalei leverage their individual gifts toward their shared passion for world peace and a healthy planet. You must check out their website at www.sumner-studios.com to fully grasp the accomplishments of this wise couple. Of course George and Donnalei have faced some tough times, from merging their families and raising each other's kids, to weathering medical emergencies, and reconciling George's desire to move the furniture around on a regular basis with Donnalei's desire to keep it exactly where it already is! The point is, they offer a model for the rest of us who are wondering how people in a relationship can work together to provide a source of personal happiness and make a mark on the world.
The Greater Good is one hallmark of wisdom. In our new book Renewal Coaching: Sustainable change for individuals and organizations, my co-author Doug Reeves and I explain that the Greater Good creates a compelling force field that draws people and organizations forward while providing the reason for renewal along the way.
Oddly enough, hardship is often the precursor to wisdom. If this is true, then even as you read this newsletter, an unprecedented number of us are clarifying the meaning of our lives and devising ways to manifest that meaning in our work, families, communities, and relationships.
What's your Greater Good and how is it showing up in what you do in your life? I'd love to hear your story. Please write to me at: elle@wisdomout.com
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Do you know a wise couple?
Do you know a wise couple who, like George and Donnalei Sumner, are using the synergy from their relationship to do something great together? Let me know about a couple you know, married or not, gay or straight, that you feel are living life with wisdom. Wisdom Out Relationships seeks to illuminate the nature of wisdom in couples - to shine a light on the way these couples navigate life together.
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Wisdom Quote
"Life is a romantic business. It is painting a picture, not doing a sum - but you have to make the romance, and it will come to the question of how much fire you have in your belly."
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
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