Are You Sure You’re Acting from Wisdom?

The longer we live, the wiser we get. Right?

Or do we become more jaded and fearful because of painful past experiences?

Put another way: What is the difference between wisdom and baggage?

I first heard the question posed by a friend, who wasn’t sure whether a decision she had made was the result of divine inspiration or her fears from the past.

I’ve been wrestling with her question for years.

For example, someone who feels she’s never had a healthy romantic relationship decides not to date again. Is that decision based on wisdom or baggage?

Someone who has been successful professionally decides not to go for a promotion, because it conflicts with the perceived requirements of parenting. Is that wisdom or baggage?

A group in a business or church decides not to institute something new because an old-timer says, “We tried that, and it didn’t work.” Are they basing the decision on the old-timer’s wisdom or baggage?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Have your experiences taught you careful discernment before making a decision? Or have they persuaded you to stay safe even when your soul longs for greater expression?

I’ve been working on definitions for wisdom and baggage, and here’s what I have come up with so far:

• Wisdom is when your life experiences inform and guide your present decisions in constructive ways.
• Baggage is when your life experiences invade the present, making you defensive or fearful, and keeping you guarded against ever feeling pain again.

Does that capture the conundrum?

I would love to hear how you know when you’re acting on the wisdom of your life experiences, instead of the baggage of your fears and failures.

Can you name a current situation in which you are not sure which is governing you? I hope you will share your thoughts below, because I am always trying to understand this better!