How to Think Like a Wise Person
Wisdom is the ability to make sound judgments and choices. . So, what does it take to distinguish wise people from the rest of the pack? Here are several insights.
The people with the highest wisdom scores are just as likely to be 30 as 60. It indicates that the number of life experiences has little to do with the quality of those experiences. Wisdom emerges not from experience itself, but rather from reflecting thoughtfully on the lessons gained from experience. Developing wisdom is a deliberate choice that people can make regardless of age.
Balance self-interest and the common good
One quality of wisdom is the ability to look beyond personal desires. This doesn't mean wise people are self-sacrificing. In fact, well-being and success both suffer if we're too focused on others or on ourselves. Wise people reject the assumption that the world is a win-lose, zero-sum place. .
Aim to understand, rather than judge
More often than not, many of us judge others' actions so that we can sort them into categories of good and bad. . Over time, this emphasis on understanding rather than evaluating brings an advantage in predicting others' actions, enabling wise people to make better decisions.
Focus on purpose over pleasure
It turns out that wise people don't experience more positive emotions, perhaps because wisdom requires critical self-reflection and a long-term view. . From time to time, what makes us happy will weigh less than our quest for meaning and significance.
A. Choose your wisdom deliberately
B. It's a virtue desired by nearly everyone
C. Start developing your wisdom right now
D. It seems like an extremely tough problem
E. They find ways to benefit others that also advance their own objectives
F. However, there's a clear psychological benefit: a stronger sense of purpose in life
G. Wise people resist this, operating more like detectives to explain others' behaviors