If you are looking for it, wisdom can come from the most unlikely places. Even really goofy, border-line stupid places.
Sure, to satisfy your craving for wisdom you could consult ancient texts, visit a Tibetan monastery, or even consume large amounts of Chinese food simply to get to the coveted fortune inside those little brown cookies.
You could do those things… but why go to all that trouble when wisdom is literally everywhere?
A Day of Scripted Lethargy Gone Awry
Recently, I was taking what I call a brain day. That is a day when I literally and intentionally do nothing and let my brain rest.
Between my hectic traveling job, my family, and growing my blog, things can get a bit crazy at times. I’m sure your life is no different.
I chose to spend two hours of my last brain day watching an old favorite – Tommy Boy.
If you haven’t heard of Tommy Boy… well, I am honored to have the opportunity to familiarize you with this American comedy classic.
Highly regarded (even by me, up to that point) as a mindless, goofy “buddy film”, Tommy Boy had some surprises in store for me that day.
Wisdom From The Most Unlikely Places
As I settled back on my couch to enjoy the mindlessness of one of my old favorites, I noticed something odd. The shallow lines I’d heard so many times before were suddenly evoking deeper thoughts.
I’m not sure what caused my new perspective that day, but even the silliest of scenes had me reflecting on deeper life lessons. I was involuntarily learning. From Tommy Boy, no less.
I’m not here to tell you that Tommy Boy should rank among the teachings of Christ, Mohammed or the Dalai Lama. Heck, I’m not even telling you it should rank up there with the teachings of your high school guidance counselor or your weird uncle.
What I am saying (seriously) is that wisdom is all around us every minute of every day. And if we just pay attention, valuable lessons are available to us whenever we need them.
Consulting The Not-So Ancient Books of Slapstickery
To illustrate my point, here are 7 quotes from the comedy Tommy Boy, each one offering a pearl of wisdom, if you make a little effort to peer below the surface.
[Quote #1]
Richard (as he hands Tommy a technical manual):
“It’s called reading. Top to bottom, left to right. A group of words together is a sentence. Take Tylenol for any headaches. Midol for any cramps.”
[Pearl of Wisdom #1]
You’re not helpless, so it’s time to stand tall and do something for yourself. You’re not as weak or fragile as you think. If you believe (or pretend) that you are, you’re doing yourself and the world a disservice. No one is going to babysit you all the way from here to significance. You have the capacity to stand on your own.
[Quote #2]
Tommy:
“You know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years.”
Richard:
“I know. They’re called doctors.”
[Pearl of Wisdom #2]
If you performed unspectacularly at something in the past, don’t try to make it sound better than it was. Some of the best lessons we will ever learn come from our past mistakes. But in order to learn from our mistakes, we have to first admit to them.
Besides the educational benefit of mistakes, there is something therapeutic about looking your most incredible blunders straight in the eye – and then shaking them off. It’s a feeling of power and accomplishment. It’s also a quality that others notice and respect a great deal.
[Quote #3]
Big Tom Callahan:
“I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull’s a**, but I’d rather take the butcher’s word for it.”
[Pearl of Wisdom #3]
Sometimes it’s just much, much smarter to ask for help and call in an expert. Some jobs are too complex, others are too time consuming, and yet others are simply too unpleasant to take on yourself. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Sometimes it just means you’re smart enough to know when you’re in over your head. No pun intended. Ick!
[Quote #4]
Zalinsky:
“What the American public doesn’t know is what makes them the American public.”
[Pearl of Wisdom #4]
Keep yourself educated and informed. Whole countries and civilizations have been overthrown because individual people allowed themselves to become comfortable and ignorant. That may sound dramatic, but it’s true. Be aware, be a perpetual student, and refuse to be anyone’s sucker.
[Quote #5]
Richard:
“Of course I understand what ‘no’ means, but if I took ‘no’ for an answer, I’d wind up on a street corner selling spicy hot dogs and wearing a funny hat right?”
[Pearl of Wisdom #5]
Fortitude, fortitude, fortitude. The ability to stay on your path when things get rough is one of the best qualities you can develop in yourself. So many people quit way too soon. The sad thing is that they often wind up quitting just when they were about to have a breakthrough.
When you encounter massive resistance, consider that it might very well mean that you’re very close to achieving something great. The hardest part of any race is the push at the end. The most grueling part of childbirth is also at the end. But consider the value of the reward after the pain is over. Press on.
[Quote #6]
Big Tom Callahan:
“Any business that tries to ‘wait it out’ will be just that… out! In auto parts, you’re either growing or you’re dying. There ain’t no third direction.”
[Pearl of Wisdom #6]
The truth is that once you’ve lost the drive to grow and evolve, you’re looking at the beginning of the end.
When you reach a goal you’ve set for yourself, take a moment to enjoy your victory – but whatever you do, don’t stop and get comfortable. Set a new goal that will keep you motivated and moving forward. Keep growing and evolving.
[Quote #7]
Tommy:
“Brothers don’t shake hands. Brothers gotta hug!”
[Pearl of Wisdom #7]
Never miss an opportunity to express appreciation or gratitude. When life gets busy, we tend to deal with problems and obstacles first. We often don’t take the time to acknowledge what is going right. It’s all too easy to think that you’ll say “thank you” or “I appreciate you” tomorrow, when there’s more time. You don’t have an infinite amount of tomorrows coming to you, so do it now. Wear your gratitude on your sleeve.
But Seriously, Folks…
While this post is clearly a light-hearted look at personal development, I’m also making a serious point here. If you really want to improve yourself and your life, you don’t necessarily need a gigantic personal epiphany to get the job done. Wisdom is everywhere.
Open your eyes. Look for learning opportunities in everything that crosses your path. If you’re open to learning, you’ll find teachers literally everywhere you look. Even in the most unlikely places.
What about you? Tell us about the important lessons you’ve learned from unlikely places in the comments section.
Gary Korisko writes at Reboot Authentic about human-based success, market creation, and content marketing. Download Gary’s free eBook, How To Alienate All The Right People — a real-world guide to breaking away from the herd and doing something special.
Image courtesy of Bigstockphoto:Wise Man
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