Playing With The Dice

We often pursue degrees from prestigious universities, believing that their reputation alone bestows expertise upon us. Some institutions are so renowned that merely mentioning their names signals authority and knowledge. But today, I am not speaking of Harvard or Stanford. Instead, I refer to the University of Real-Life Experience in Mental Health and Well-being.

A degree from this university does not come cheaply. While elite academic institutions demand financial investment, real-life experience exacts a different price— often far greater than we are willing to pay. Unlike tuition fees, which are agreed upon, real-life expertise costs are unpredictable, unavoidable, and often relentless. It can take the form of trauma, instability, or lasting disabilities—burdens that remain with us long after the lessons have been learned.

The credential earned from real-life experience is not a flat, framed certificate but a multidimensional dice with many sides. One of its more desirable sides is lived expertise, a deep and personal understanding that cannot be taught in a classroom. However, we often fail to acknowledge the other sides of this dice—the trauma, memory, and conditioning accompanying lived experience.

Employers, recruiters, and managers frequently seek the wisdom gained from real-life expertise, but they may be unprepared for the full reality that comes with it. When we hire someone with lived experience, we are not just gaining their insight—we are also encountering the struggles that shaped them. This reality demands a shift in perspective: true expertise is not just about knowledge but about resilience, adaptability, and the courage to carry wisdom forged through hardship. Only when we recognize and honor all facets of lived experience can we create truly inclusive and understanding workplaces.

#livedexperience, #livedexpertise, #trauma, #leadership