How To Become Wise

Wisdom is captivating and has always fascinated many people. We look up to wise people with envy and admiration and wish to possess their knowledge and understanding. When life gets challenging, we seek insight and guidance from them.

But what exactly is wisdom, and how do we become wise? Moreover, and more importantly, how do we benefit from wisdom?

As we don't acquire wisdom quickly, get rid of all distractions and take some time to read this article. Then, think it through and consider whether you agree or would add or leave something. That's lesson number one on becoming a wise person. Contemplate every piece of information you receive.

Wisdom Meaning

Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge, understanding, experience, and collective agreement to make sound judgments and recognize connections and personal attributes.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, wisdom is the ability to use knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments.¹

Merriam-Webster says²:

• Wisdom is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships.
• A good sense: judgment
• A generally accepted belief
• Accumulated philosophical or scientific learning: knowledge

From these definitions, we can conclude that wisdom is the ability to use knowledge, understanding, experience, and collective agreement to make sound judgments and recognize connections and personal attributes.

Still, a clear definition of what wisdom is exactly is difficult. However, researchers agree that wisdom has nothing to do with IQ³ but is associated with⁴:

• Unbiased judgment
• Compassion
• Self-knowledge
• Self-transcendence
• Non-attachment
• Benevolence

Wisdom In Stoicism

For Stoics, wisdom is a cardinal virtue and something practical we can employ daily. Using logic to evaluate situations enables us to make rational and wise decisions without being overwhelmed by emotions.

Knowing what is good and evil, what's within our control and what is not, as well as what is reasonable and unreasonable according to nature, are proficiencies Stoics seek to cultivate as they help us in wise decision-making. Eventually, they nurture wisdom.

All of that requires proper judgment, the ability to put things into context, and to realize connections within the grand scheme of things (nature) - skills Stoics practice regularly. Through constant reflection, we acquire a good sense of our capabilities, weaknesses, and where we must improve.

In short, Stoicism offers everything to foster wisdom and become a wise person.

But there's a flaw. Only the Stoic sage can attain perfect and faultless wisdom. The rest of us must cultivate wisdom throughout our lives until the very end.

5 Benefits Of Wisdom

No one is born wise, and it's not there for its own sake. Wisdom has a fee. It needs time to grow, active engagement and nurturing, and a will to seek the truth. But paying its price and putting in the effort has several benefits for each of us, making striving for it worth it.

So it's worth noticing a few benefits accompanying wisdom, as they can serve as a valuable source of motivation on our journey to happiness and a good life.

Increased Tranquility

When we understand the world and how it operates, we gain a sense of tranquility - we no longer let every little thing cause distress. Instead, we become better at accepting things and learn to focus on what we can control.

Improved Decision Making

Wise individuals have the ability to consider different perspectives, and they understand the implications of their actions. They know their own limitations, so asking for help is no big deal, as they use it as a learning source. As a consequence, decisions improve over time.

Emotional Resilience

Wisdom also strengthens emotional resilience. Wise people demonstrate a heightened ability to cope with adversity, manage stress, balance life, and bounce back from setbacks. Their deep understanding of life's ups and downs and that change is the only constant in life allows them to navigate hardships gracefully.

Enhanced Relationships

Wise individuals are typically empathetic, understanding, and kind, qualities that foster strong bonds with others. They can put their interests aside, fostering harmony and mutual respect within their relationships.

Personal Growth

Finally, wisdom provides the cornerstone for personal growth. The quest for wisdom encourages continuous learning, self-reflection, and openness to new experiences. This ongoing journey of self-improvement keeps wise individuals adaptable, engaged, and constantly evolving, making them knowledgeable and truly wise. 

15 Ways To Become A Wise Person

With the right mindset and a path to follow along, wisdom grows every day.

And as wisdom is one of Stoicism's cardinal virtues, practicing Stoics try to cultivate some of it daily. They know that continuous training with small day-to-day steps compounds over time, leading to the ripening of wisdom. 

Use the following 15 ways to set your mindset in the right direction and apply some of them to your everyday life. You'll soon witness a difference in your thinking, nurturing the tender seed of wisdom and blossoming into a wiser individual.

1. Every day is a chance

Each day offers a wide variety of chances to gather wisdom.

Listen to conversations on public transport or the news. What can you learn? What perspectives are mentioned? What are the pros and cons of each perspective? How would you respond or participate in a similar discussion? Consider the different backgrounds of the involved parties; how could they have influenced their viewpoint?

Actively search for situations and keep your eyes, ears, and mind wide open.

2. Develop a positive outlook on uncertainties

Life is everything but certain, so dealing with uncertainties is essential for wise people. They know life will throw unexpected obstacles in our way, challenging our coping abilities.

Get familiar with uncertainty and welcome it, but prepare yourself with exercises like negative visualization or memento mori. If you're well prepared, there's nothing to fear, and you can look forward with the serene smile of a wise person.

3. Cultivate neutral thinking

Neutral thinking is vital for seekers of wisdom insofar as it helps us reduce the impact of emotions on our state of mind, leading to rational, unbiased, and value-free judgments.

Consider every event or encounter as neutral instead of negative or positive. Did someone yell at you at the supermarket? So what! It could happen. Perhaps this person had a bad day or endured a terrible childhood, hindering their ability to manage their emotions effectively.

The key message is that wise people don't allow such things to get in their way of happiness. Someone yelled at you. That's it. No value judgment is needed - the situation is neutral.

Such an attitude can help you react wisely and well thought out.

4. Get to know yourself

Self-knowledge is a gatekeeper to wisdom as it allows you to know your limitations and strengths very well.

First, you're less likely to bring yourself into situations you can't handle when knowing what you're incapable of. Still, if you encounter such a situation, you're wise enough to ask for help. Knowing your weaknesses also allows you to take the necessary steps to improve them.

Second, knowing your strengths can help you make the most of them. You can confidently use them to overcome challenges. It also enables you to recognize when a situation does not align with your strengths and allows you to make informed decisions.

5. Read a lot

Reading helps to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world. It nurtures your mind by delving into new ideas.

Read across different genres, topics, and perspectives to gather unexplored insights. Do it consciously and with complete focus to grasp and fully comprehend what you've read. Make notes, highlight important points, and write your own summary after reading a book.

To water the seed of wisdom each day, set aside time to read daily.

6. Gain experiences

Without your own practical experiences, you're less likely to become wise, as every experience teaches you something valuable you can't learn from books or lectures.

By stepping out of your comfort zone, trying new things, and making mistakes, each new experience will broaden your perspective and thus contribute to cultivating wisdom. Take also some time to reflect on your experiences and ask yourself what you've learned and how you can apply that knowledge in the future.

Remember, the path to wisdom is a vibrant adventure, not a passive affair.

7. Ask questions

Not knowing everything is natural; wise people know that. Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem silly or you think you should already know the answer.

Asking questions shows you are curious, open-minded, and willing to learn and understand something entirely.

Preserve a beginner's mindset and be bold; ask many questions to let wisdom blossom.

8. Learn to listen

Asking questions is only halfway. You must also listen actively and empathetically to go beyond hearing words and get the entire answer. 

What a person says is vital while listening, as well as the body language or tone. Furthermore, consider the speaker's social, economic, political, or even religious background to create a well-rounded image of why someone says what they say. It'll help you understand their perspective and foster kindness if you don't agree or when dealing with something controversial.

An Argentine proverb says, "Who speaks, sows; Who listens, reaps." Therefore, we can consider listening reaping of wisdom.

9. Think before you speak

Wise individuals are known for well-thought-out answers. They take the time to find the right words and consider the impact of their remarks on others.

Instead of succumbing to your gut feeling to answer immediately, take your time before you say something.

You can use this simple THINK framework:

• Is it True?
• Is it Helpful?
• Is it Inspiring?
• Is it Necessary?
• Is it Kind?

These questions will help you slow down and think about what you will say. It nurtures wisdom as you ponder your first opinion and consider the influence of your message.

10. Consider a broader perspective

Wisdom is almost always about putting things into perspective. So, when dealing with struggles or complex challenges, gather as many viewpoints as possible - ideally from different angles and opinions as well as ages and genders. Take each perspective as equally suitable and stay neutral.

It'll help you understand the situation better and make more informed decisions.

11. Learn to put things into context

Wisdom is not just about knowledge but also having the ability to put it into context. It requires connecting the dots between the lines and trying to see and understand the hidden connections within the bigger picture.

To cultivate this skill, practice critical thinking and reflection regularly. Question your assumptions and biases, seek out different perspectives and sources of information, and evaluate the implications of your actions in a broader context.

Let's consider an example. When a friend acts out of character, focusing solely on the behavior is easy. However, instead of labeling the friend as 'irrational' or 'unreasonable,' a wise person will strive to understand the context behind the behavior. They might mull factors such as stress at work, personal issues, or health problems that may influence the friend's actions to identify the root cause. Such an approach can lead to empathy and support instead of criticism. Additionally, it'll foster a deeper bond in the relationship. Putting the situation into context allows for a more compassionate and comprehensive response, strengthening the friendship.

12. Learn from your mistakes

Making mistakes isn't evil per se. Only if we fail to learn from them will they become a problem. 

Wise people use mistakes as a chance for growth. They don't condemn themselves when looking into the ugly face of a bad judgment or mistake. Instead, they courageously face them, reflect on them, and try to understand what happened. They learn and do better next time.

Take risks, recognize and embrace your mistakes, and learn from them. Then, they're your buddy on the long journey of cultivating wisdom.

13. Focus on the process, not the outcome

In Stoicism, there's the metaphor of the Stoic archer. Although the archer aims to hit the target, she knows many influences are out of her control. The wind may shift, or an unexpected noise can affect her target's movement. She knows that she can only control her actions and focus on the process of aiming and shooting the arrow to the best of her ability.

This mindset helps us cultivate wisdom by shifting our focus from external results to internal efforts. It takes away the pressure of achieving a specific outcome and allows us to appreciate the process itself, which often holds more value in terms of personal growth and learning. It also fosters non-attachment to external things, which is also associated with wisdom.

14. Be kind

Kindness and compassion are strengths of wise individuals. They understand the world is not just black and white, right or wrong. Every human has unique struggles, perspectives, capabilities, and coping mechanisms that lead to a particular behavior. Wise people take that into account.

Kindness lets us approach others with empathy rather than judgment, bringing to light our finest qualities.

If you want to nurture wisdom, always be kind to others.

15. Practice Stoicism

Lastly, practice Stoicism, make it your life's philosophy, and establish your individual Stoic routines to progress in your journey to wisdom and a happy, flourishing life.

As wisdom is one of its cardinal virtues, Stoicism is perfect for everyone in the pursuit of becoming a wise person.

Final Thoughts

Wisdom isn't a destination but a journey; pursuing it is a lifelong endeavor. 

Each day is an invitation to water the seed of wisdom, letting it grow. But, like watering a big garden with only one watering can, it requires effort. We need to practice self-reflection and foster a willingness to learn from good and bad experiences.

By incorporating these 15 practices into our daily lives, we can cultivate wisdom and see positive changes in our perspective and actions. 

Remember that wisdom is not about being perfect or having all the answers; it's about continuously striving to improve ourselves and our understanding of the world.

Resources:

1) Cambridge Dictionary

2) Merriam-Webster

3) Pnas

4) Wikipedia