6 Ways to Become a Wiser Person
Intelligence is something, say some, we are born with.
On the other hand, wisdom,
far more useful, is definitely something one can accumulate over a
lifetime. Many search for ways to become wise, but few feel they have
really achieved it. The Berlin Wisdom Project of the late 80s defined
wisdom as:
- Spiritual knowledge
- Factual knowledge
- Excellent judgment
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Ability to learn from past experience
- Humility, emotional strength or ability to recover from defeat
- Openness and maturity - allowing another to see you as you really are
- A deeper understanding of human nature, including empathy for others and other cultures
However, if you don't think you embody all these qualities, there are SIX other ways to become wiser in the human experience:
1. Being Social
Research has shown that people who
keep more contact with other people display higher levels of wisdom than
those who remain more secluded. Some think this may be due to new
people constantly giving us new ideas to think about, new information,
new experiences, and this enriches the mind and gives us more wisdom. So
make an effort, if not for others than for yourself. Stay in touch with
old friends, go take a course, and stay in contact with those around
you, it's the wise thing to do.
2. Open mindedness
Wisdom is the ability to
understanding all aspects of a problem, without surrendering to personal
feelings. The meaning of an open mind is to find true empathy and to
understand that everyone has a life story that affects them in some way,
and it is not our place to judge. A good habit is to write down, every
day, what ails you. At the end of the day, take a look at that list and
try to get a new perspective on each problem, you'll be surprised what
things will come to mind.
3. "I could be mistaken"
A smart person understands that it is
impossible to know everything, and that life always throws you a curve
when you least expect it. Acknowledging our mistakes may, and often
does, lead to greater wisdom. Remember, your ability to be wrong
shouldn't damage your reputation as a wise man, but should increase it,
because wise people know how to take responsibility for their mistakes.
Nietzsche is quoted to have said: "Wisdom sets limits on knowledge, too.". Acknowledge the limits of your knowledge and admit when you are wrong.
4. Experiencing new things
While we each have our own personal
tastes in books, music, art or just what is good cinema, it is important
to note that getting familiar with styles unknown will broaden your
horizons and introduce new world views, new ideas and new outlooks on
life. So put down the novel you're reading and try a science fiction
story, a history book or just a great romance. Whatever it is you
almost never read, now is the time to add some real experience in things
you haven't really touched on. So try something new, or learn a new
skill - it won't just make you wiser, it'll also keep you young!
5. Self awareness
Many will say they have rich life
experience, but when was the last time you really stopped to think of
all you've learned throughout life?
Try this exercise:
Write down your three biggest failures and your three biggest successes.
Next to each of them write some of the events that lead to it and the
lessons you learned. Look for patterns, without pride or regret, simple
patterns to teach you about how you used each experience to drive you
forward. After all, knowing yourself is the biggest challenge of all.
6. Know what goes on around you
Yes, the news is often dramatic,
misrepresented or just depressing. But it's hard to make balanced
decisions for yourself and others if you don't learn from the mistakes
that happen to others and to on larger scales, to your city, country and
world. Keep updated, read a newspaper, watch the news or just read a
news site online from time to time. Read the articles, not just
headlines, and understand how you fit into this bigger world, and where
you stand. This is crucial for true wisdom.
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