(Complete list and links to the 31 Flavors of Wisdom)

“If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you…”  Proverbs 9:12 (TNIV)

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine

While doing research in the Book of Proverbs on the subject of Wisdom (in addition to the Bible as a whole), I noticed when the word “Wisdom” appeared there were other words, concepts or ideas which were also repeated, and below you’ll read about 31 of these words, concepts or ideas.  

It struck me that the presence and reiteration of certain words illuminated important and noteworthy cognitive processes and human behaviors that seem to accentuate or “flavor” the meaning and significance of Wisdom as it appears in the texts, hence the name of this subsection, “The 31 Flavors of Wisdom.”  

So what follows is an exploration of the 31 words or “flavors” associated with Wisdom, that flow from Wisdom, are the manifestation of Wisdom, as we are encouraged to exemplify Wisdom.  To assist you in your exploration of each flavor I’ll ask and elaborate on these three questions in this subsection: 

1. What is the meaning, essence and significance of this “flavor” or word?
2. Practically, what does this flavor look and taste like, and what is the nutritional value of it?  
3. Who in your life could use some “seasoning” of this flavor from you, and what might your behavior look like?

Let me describe what we’re aiming to achieve with these three questions: 

1. What is the meaning, essence and significance of this “flavor?” Here you’ll receive the definition of the word or “flavor” being discussed, in addition to its importance in relation to the development and maintenance of wisdom in your life and in your relationships.  You’ll also read about the power and impact of the “flavor of the day,” and how the presence and demonstration of behavior connected to this word could impact, enhance and transform your focus, thinking, feelings and eventually the outcomes in your life.

• Practically, what does this flavor look and taste like, and what is its nutritional value? Here you’ll read about practical applications associated with the word, especially when it comes to loving yourself (1.5) and your neighbor (2.0 or others) in your life. These practical applications are important because wisdom is all about demonstrating the right behavior, at the right time, for the right reason, to obtain the right outcome you’re working to achieve. Equally, like receiving a dosage of strong and effective medicine, my hope is the practical application of the word revitalizes a person or situation, resulting in creative and better insights, quicker solutions, stronger connections and functional outcomes because of your activity. 
• Who in your life could use some seasoning of this flavor from you, and what would that behavior look like? Here, I’ll present an example of how the word might be applied to specific people or situations in your life, where the “sprinkling of the behavior” just might be what the Doctor ordered and is the exact expression of wisdom others may be craving from you!

In a few moments you’ll have the opportunity to begin reading about the 31 Flavors of Wisdom.  Are you ready to visit and enjoy an experience with them?  You’ll grow in your knowledge of what Wisdom tastes like, but Wisdom is the result of skillfully applying the knowledge you possess.  To that end, allow me to suggest a very doable 31 Day Challenge as you seek to learn about, integrate and become skilled with the application of these 31 Flavors of Wisdom.

The 31 Day Wisdom Challenge

1. I encourage you to read each of the 31 Flavors on the numerical day of the month upon which it falls (i.e., Day 1 – Flavor #1: Wisdom; Day 6 – Flavor #6: Empathy, etc.). 
2. Integrate, apply and “season” your day and activities with that Flavor of Wisdom for your personal benefit (1.5 or Loving Yourself), and for the benefit of others (2.0, or Loving Your Neighbor, the person in closest proximity to you). As I’ve said before, don’t worry about being perfect at it; just try to practice the behavior.  With practice, I know you’ll get better at it!  Now let’s step it up a bit.
3. On Day 1, I encourage you to practice Flavor #1. On Day 2, I encourage you to practice Flavor #1 and Flavor #2. On Day 3, I encourage you to practice Flavors #1, #2 and #3.  By the end of the month, you will have practiced Flavor #1 thirty-one times, and Flavor #2 thirty times, and Flavor #3 twenty-nine times, and so on.  In total, by the end of the month, you would have produced or seasoned your interactions with all the 31 Flavors of Wisdom a total of 496 times.  If you practice this over one-year then you’re talking about 6,000 moments where you’ve impacted yourself and your relationships with actions that reflect you’re producing wise and skilled-at-living behaviors!  I trust that you, and your relationships will experience positive outcomes as you engage in and practice these wisdom principles. Are you up for the challenge?  But wait, there’s more. 
4. I want to challenge you to bypass the Golden Rule (“Do to others what you would have them do to you”) and move to practice the Platinum Rule (“Treat others in the manner in which they’d like to be treated”). The Platinum Rule demonstrates you’re empathetically taking steps to get to know the person, their needs, and within reason, you’re attempting to meet their needs in the manner they’d like to experience the Flavor of Wisdom you’re demonstrating.  This takes time but I bet they’ll appreciate your effort!

That’s it!  That’s the 31 Day Wisdom Challenge I’d like to suggest to you, and I’d love to hear how it’s going for you!  I wish you the very best as you flavor, consume, enjoy, are strengthened by, then reproduce these nutritionally rich and healing ingredients!

One last thing: Keep in mind that practicing these 31 Flavors of Wisdom will accomplish a few more objectives: 

First, by practicing the behaviors, you’re developing really good reparenting skills, especially if these behaviors weren’t modeled in the family you grew up in, or the relationship or marriage you’re currently in.  

Second, gaining competency with the practice of these behaviors enhances your ability to develop Attunement and “Earned Secure Attachments.” We’ll talk more about these two concepts, but Attunement is your ability to be emotionally present and responsive to another person’s internal experience, while Earned Secure Attachment refers to developing a stable, trusting and positive relational style as an adult, despite what you experienced in the family you grew up in. Both are essential in life and relationships because we all want to be Seen, Safe, Soothed and Secure with others, and practicing the 31 Flavors of Wisdom equips and contributes toward you accomplishing these skills.   

Finally, practicing the 31 Flavors of Wisdom provides you with concrete behaviors that you’ll add to your “68° – 72° Degree Target Chart” of behaviors, because the practice of these and other Healthy Adult Mode behaviors you’ll add to your personal chart will help you to return to, or remain in your “Green Zone” if emotional dysregulation threatens to knock you off target personally or relationally.  

So thanks again for looking at these 31 Flavors of Wisdom and hopefully, participating in the 31 Day Wisdom Challenge!  

Thanks for reading this excerpt from Cultivating Love: Wisdom for Life. As time permits, please visit the other blogs written by Dr. Ken McGill: Daily Bread for Life and “3–2- 5–4–24” for additional information that could be helpful.