1, #24 - The truth in clichés
On Knowing Through Doing — Estimated Read Time: 44 seconds
I recently learned a Hawaiian phrase: Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke. It means, roughly, “Through the doing comes the knowing.”
This idea resonates with a theme that I’ve been thinking about a lot, lately: how deep truths are often hidden in clichés.
There are things I’ve heard my whole life that seem trite and obvious. But then, I have a profound experience and in trying to convey it… I end up coming back to some (overly) familiar phrase:
“Focus on the journey, not the destination.”
“There’s nothing new under the sun.”
It seems that—despite what I wrote last week—some things just don’t make sense until you’ve experienced them for yourself.
Coincidentally, one of my favorite writers discussed this exact concept this week and offered an incredible analogy: Words as containers.
When we’re young and inexperienced, words are shallow. As we get older, the experiences of our lives add depth to the containers, creating more space for meaning in what we say and what others can say to us.
In the meantime, though, Julie says “You cannot teach wisdom.” And while there’s reason to try to learn from others, I think she’s right:
Through the doing comes the knowing.
Insight inspired by: Pastor Walt Mix Kealekupuna +
and her post, You cannot teach wisdom.