Knowledge. Experience. Maturity. Wisdom.

• Knowledge is information
• Experience is understanding having applied the knowledge
• Maturity is the ability to manage yourself during the experience
• Wisdom is knowing where to find meaning

Think of it like having a score for each element

As you improve the score for each one through applying Actfullness, you increase your ability to achieve meaningful outcomes. Which in turn helps give you positive feelings.

Each element can be at different levels for every area of your life

For example you can have a set of scores for being a parent, a friend, your job, your hobbies and so on.

They can cross pollinate, so for example maturity from one area can help you in another. So it’s possible, let’s say, that when you start a new job, your self-mastery elements may look like this:

Building each element doesn’t have to be sequential

It can start with information about how to do something. Other times you just try without knowing or having the ability to manage yourself in the scenarios you face. Both give you experience and build your knowledge, maturity and wisdom.

The order just impacts how the journey feels and carries risk if you stretch too far past your current level of maturity and wisdom.

How do you know what scores you have?

You don’t, and it doesn’t matter. It’s the principle of having four elements to develop and the stronger you are at each one, the more self-mastery you have. I think it’s also fair to say that we will never be at 100% in any of them. In my experience so far, there’s always something else to learn, and we need regular practice to keep our abilities up.

It’s like treading water

Managing yourself is a constant. Even though your maturity grows overtime, you need to practice self-management throughout the day. That could be little breaks, looking after your blood sugar or simply changing focus to something else.

The point is, our moods and emotions change, so we need to regulate them so that we can stay in control.

You need time

That all might make sense, or feel overwhelming. Either way you can take some comfort that as long as you practice Actfullness you will develop all 4 elements, but it does take time to build.

More about each element

Knowledge sets a solid foundation

Educating yourself and gathering information gives you the ingredients to use. Learn from others, read, watch and listen. Hoover it up.

Experience brings it to life

Using that knowledge helps you know what to expect. How you will feel. What works for you. And if you’re missing areas of knowledge.

Maturity is how you behave

You can know what to do, and what to expect. But managing yourself can make or break your chances of success.

Maturity is staying calm during the experience. Not attaching yourself to the emotion. Knowing when you have the capacity to push and when you need to back off.

You are the golden goose.

Wisdom keeps you focused on the bigger picture

Wisdom is knowing what’s important, when to quit if the meaning has gone, the stubbornness to carry on when your purpose is clear, or sometimes the innocence to start in the first place.