Do you know the difference between intellectual and emotional understanding? The intellect thinks it can do it. Emotion proves its ability through results. Too theoretical? Then here are a few examples. Many people want an honest feedback culture. Accepting authentic, timely feedback and growing from it. Many people want this and know how important it is. The intellect says feedback, but the emotion wants confirmation. When criticism comes, they take what they hear personally, react with hurt, and complain about a lack of appreciation.
Do you know anyone who has come back from a seminar with new knowledge, hopes, and lots of ideas? Full of good intentions, the work folder was stowed away in the filing cabinet: "I'll get to it when I have time..." You can guess what actually happened. The intellect wants change, but the emotion of familiar habits leaves everything as it is. What good is it if someone knows all the theory about jokes and no one laughs at their jokes? Intellectual knowledge about jokes only helps when a deep emotion can laugh conciliatorily at the seriousness of life.
The struggle between theory and practice
Thinking pragmatically: Who would you rather take advice from? A person of action who has experienced the things to be learned? A practitioner? Or a person of intellect who has gained their knowledge by studying many books? A theorist? "Both," I hear you say. And you are right. The battle between theory and practice is as old as teaching itself. In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, we find a hint at the right mix:
"One glance at a book and two at life will give the mind the right shape."
So two-thirds practice and one-third theory. Not the other way around!
If you are familiar with the continuing education landscape, you will often come across one term at the moment: resilience (Latin resilire, "to bounce back," "to rebound"). Resilience is a kind of psychological resistance and describes the ability to overcome crises and use them as an opportunity for development by drawing on personal and socially mediated resources. What a definition! In short: when life knocks you down, learn from it and come back stronger. It goes without saying that this strength is important for people and organizations. Naturally, this trend has spawned countless books and filled seminar rooms to capacity.
Can resilience be learned?
This raises the question of whether resilience can be learned through seminars. I ask this question so critically because I ended up in a wheelchair after an accident and lived on welfare for three years. Today, I live in financial freedom, am a recognized leadership expert, have two adult children, and own an institute that specializes in the "transformation of leadership teams."I don't even dare to talk about all the setbacks, crises, and rejections I experienced along the way. There were so many. Some of them still hurt today. I ask myself, and am asked again and again: Could I have prepared myself better with more knowledge beforehand?
My conclusion after careful consideration: It seems to me that people who strive to "learn" resilience through seminars essentially want to avoid any possible defeat or rejection in advance. They are looking for techniques that will allow them to avoid facing the pain of rejection. They believe that intellectual understanding will protect them when "Thor's hammer" strikes. However, this is an illusion. How do I learn resilience? By setting myself a goal, working towards it, and accepting and overcoming setbacks. Until I have achieved my goal. Too simple? It's not. Emotionally, it's a rollercoaster ride. Over and over again. Because every winner stands on a mountain of defeats. So please allow me one more little provocation: Those who can do it, do it. Those who only know how to do it, teach it.
The power of emotional intelligence
You can learn more about emotional intelligence in my latest video from "Grundls Gründe": Nelson Mandela – The Power of Emotional Intelligence. Nelson Mandela would have turned 100 this year. His career continues to inspire people today. Despite 27 long years in prison, he fought for freedom and justice. His ability to overcome adversity enabled him to control his own emotions and overcome the pain of rejection.
Everyone knows this feeling. We often try everything we can to avoid rejection—both in our professional and private lives. In this video, I'll show you how to learn to face your fears and build resilience. This is the only way to free yourself from the things that limit you and enable your transformation.
Image source: ©klimkin Pixabay
