A short YouTube talk by Betsy Guerra about pursuing wisdom through humility and applied understanding. Guerra distinguishes knowledge (having information), understanding (experiencing its consequences), and wisdom (applying understanding in life). She illustrates the gap between knowing and living a lesson with a personal anecdote in a chapel (a man turning on the light), and invites listeners to begin with awareness and humility. Concludes with a brief call-to-action and a link to betterwithbetsy.com.
Chapters
You just don't get it. But this will help. I sometimes think that I know so much because I read, because I've studied, because I have a lot of beautiful experiences in life, and I think I'm so wise. But then life and God have a way of humbling me and reminding me what Socrates once said. I only know that I know nothing. I love learning, and I learn something every day. Even when I think I don't need something that's been offered after I consume it, I'm like, whoa, how did I live without this before? Hasn't that happened to you? Even my clients, when they come to therapy, they think, what is she going to do for me? What is she going to do for our relationship? And it's not that other people may know more, be better, or be wiser. It's that they have a different perspective, a different lens, and they can shine wisdom and help us understand things that have been in our faces, but we haven't had the words to explain it, to understand it properly. I once heard a preacher say that there's a difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom. He said that knowledge is just having the information. You know that texting while driving is not good, but you understand it, truly understand it, when you get into an accident because you were texting. And then wisdom is when you use your understanding and you apply it to your life. So a wise person is not just wise because that person knows so much and has the right words to express what he knows. A wise person is wise because he or she leads by example, practices what he or she preaches. I aspire to be wise, but sometimes in some areas of my life, I just know stuff. The other day, I was in the Blessed Sacrament, which is like a chapel where I go to and practice my silent prayer and meditation. And I was there with my eyes closed, feeling good, very still. And then suddenly, a grumpy old man comes and abruptly turns on the light. And I see, like, all that light in my eyes, and I'm like, what the heck is going on? And I was so upset because I felt I interpreted that as though he was being totally inconsiderate. And that's my happy place. Who does he think he is, coming and deciding how the light's gonna be when it's supposed to be dimmed? And I remember at some point being like, come on, Betsy, you know better. You know that somebody cannot take your peace away, your joy away from you. That's up to you. Come on, Betsy. It's his place, too. It's his happy place too. So you're just like him. You think this is your place and you're entitled to have it with the dim lights and. And he thinks it's his place and he's entitled to have it with the lights on. And I remember having this battle because I have the knowledge that nobody can take the peace away from me and that sometimes I project myself onto other people and I judge them for what I am and do. And I could. I knew that. And I could understand it, but I couldn't feel it and apply it for my life. I was so upset all day. I was so upset. And that's what happens. It's not the same to know something than to understand it and live by it. So my invitation to you is that you start somewhere. I start by awareness. And I believe wholeheartedly that when you are aware of where you're at, although it's not the answer to all the questions and. And it doesn't resolve the feelings immediately, it's a good starting point to get to the goal. When you become aware of why you feel the way you feel, on how you're projecting your own issues and weaknesses onto the other people. When you're aware, you get to the wisdom. Because wisdom is when you've already processed that knowledge and understanding and are able to apply it to your life. I only know that I know nothing. So I will be open and humble to learn from you and everybody around me. Our children, the people on the streets, they all have something to teach us. Life experiences. So don't think you know so much and open your heart. Come from a place of humility because that'll help you get wiser. If you enjoy this video, please remember to like and subscribe and share with someone that may need to hear this message. And for more resources, go to my website, betterwithbetsy.com.
