The Dance of Knowing and Experiencing
We’ve all heard the phrase “Knowledge is power,” but how often do we stop to think about what that really means? Is knowledge alone enough? Or does its real power come from how we use it?
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this balance, how knowing something intellectually is different from genuinely understanding it through experience. The teachings of Saint Kabir, a 15th Century mystic poet, capture this beautifully. He warns against mistaking intellectual knowledge for true wisdom. His metaphors are simple but powerful: A parrot can recite everything about a mango, but until it actually tastes the fruit, does it really know what a mango is?
Saint Kabir's words emphasize a profound truth: Knowing is not enough. Doing, feeling, and living the experience is what leads to true understanding.It made me wonder: How often do we think we know something when, in fact, we’ve only read about it?
The Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Think about the first time you learned to drive a car. You might have studied road signs, memorized traffic rules, and even watched videos on perfect parallel parking. But when you actually got behind the wheel? A completely different experience. The nerves, the instinctive adjustments, the feel of the car it wasn’t something a book could teach.
This applies everywhere. A doctor spends years in medical school, but real expertise comes from interacting with patients, making tough calls, and learning from mistakes. A leader can read every book on change management, but until they’ve navigated real resistance and uncertainty, they’re still just scratching the surface.
Kabir’s metaphors resonate deeply. He compares knowledge without experience to a parrot reciting a description of a mango—it may know the words but has never tasted the fruit. Similarly, we may read countless books on leadership, strategy, or innovation, but until we step into the arena, make tough decisions, fail, and learn, we don’t truly know.The Digital Age Dilemma: Are We Consuming More Than We’re Experiencing?
In today’s world, we have access to more knowledge than ever. We can Google answers, use AI tools to create answers, binge podcasts, take online courses, and read thought leadership articles (like this one!). But are we applying what we learn?
How often do we take a step back and ask, am I just knowing, or am I experiencing?
I see this dilemma play out in different ways. Some experienced professionals cling to “the way things have always been done,” dismissing new knowledge because they trust their years of experience. On the flip side, younger professionals consume endless information but hesitate to dive into real-world challenges, waiting until they feel ready.
Both perspectives have blind spots.
Striking the Balance: The Continuous Dance Between Knowledge and Experience
The dance between knowledge and experience is a continuous and dynamic process. It’s not about choosing one over the other but recognizing their complementary roles. True wisdom and mastery come from:
- Seek knowledge: Stay curious. Keep learning. Keep asking questions.
- Apply it: Take what you know and put it into action. Experiment. Fail. Adjust.
- Reflect on what you experience: Understanding doesn’t just come from doing but from stepping back and making sense of what worked and what didn’t.
- Adapt and evolve: The best lessons come from this cycle of learning, doing, and evolving.
This is what mastery looks like—not just gathering information but experiencing, adapting, and growing.
My life, both personal and professional, has been truly shaped by how I have applied my knowledge. My experiences have brought my knowledge to life, transforming theories into wisdom and ideas into impact. In the fast-paced, changing world, I used to get caught up in intellectual pursuits, reading, learning, and accumulating insights, but I felt a sense of completeness when I experienced what I had learned.
Over to You
Now, I would like to hear from you.
Think about a time when experience completely changed the way you understood something. Was there a moment when you realized that knowing wasn’t the same as understanding? Or a time when learning something new changed the way you approached an old challenge?
Please feel free to drop a comment and share your story. I would love to hear from you.
#Leadership #LifelongLearning #ExperienceMatters #WisdomInAction
