Wisdom is not an innate talent, but can be earned only through experience. Anyone who is interested in trying new things and reflecting on the process has the ability to achieve policy. By learning as much as you can, analyzing your experiences and questioning your knowledge, you can become a wiser person.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Gaining Experience
Step 1. Try new things
It's hard to achieve wisdom if you stay at home and do the same thing every day. You will be wiser if you give yourself the opportunity to learn, make mistakes and learn from experience. If you're the introverted type, try training your curiosity and willingness to put yourself in new situations. Every time you try something new, open yourself up to learning opportunities and to become wiser afterwards.
Go to places you've never been. Book a trip to another city, or take a road trip to the next city. Try eating at a restaurant that is well-known among the local people, rather than just visiting the branch of the restaurant you usually go to. Every chance you get, try something new instead of the usual
Step 2. Get out of your comfort zone
If you're afraid to do something, maybe that's the thing you should try. When you have to deal with an awkward or scary situation, you'll know how to deal with it better the next time around. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We gain strength and courage, and confidence from every experience where we stop and see fear… we have to do what we think we can't.”
- For example, if you are afraid of public speaking, offer to give a presentation.
- If you don't like talking about your feelings, try to have a dialogue with the people you love and express how much you love them. Also ask the person's feelings.
Step 3. Try to make conversation with people you don't know
Talk to people from different backgrounds with different perspectives, and see what you can learn from them. Try not to judge them by your narrow perspective. The more you try to empathize with others, the wiser you will become.
- Practice being a good listener, and ask questions to find out more. Really pay attention to what other people say instead of letting your mind wander. Each conversation gives you an opportunity to get to know people better, broaden your perspective and thus become wiser.
- Share yourself with the people you are talking to. Work deeper than small talk and develop new friendships.
Step 4. Open your mind
Instead of judging things you don't know much about, consider them from different points of view and try to understand. It's easy to base our thinking on our brief experiences in life, but that's not the way to achieve wisdom. You can't change the fact that you grew up in a certain place with certain people, but you can decide how open you are to learning about different ways of life.
- Don't base opinions on how people think, or whether something is famous. Do your own research, look at both sides of the story before you decide what you think about something.
- For example, maybe you think certain music is not good because your friends don't like it. Before you completely agree, try to see the band play real music and observe. If you take the time to understand something, you may decide you don't like it, but not before.
Part 2 of 3: Learn from the Wise
Step 1. Enrich yourself with education
If you are interested in learning something new, one of the best ways is to take a class. The classes you take can be related or independent from the university. Find out if members of the community where you live teach classes or workshops in their area of expertise.
- Self-study is as valuable as taking classes. You don't need to have access to a particular class or topic you want to know more about, try to find other ways to learn. Try checking libraries, interviewing people, and learning by doing.
- For example, if you want to learn a new language, you can take a class or do it yourself. Find a group of people who learn the language, read a book in the language, or go to a country where it is spoken.
Step 2. Find a wise mentor
Who do you think is wise? Policies come in many forms. It could be in the form of a pastor who gives his congregation something important to reflect on each week. It could be a teacher who is able to provide inspiration through his knowledge. It could also be a family member who is able to face difficult situations with a cool head.
- Identify why you feel the person is wise. Is it because he reads a lot? Is it because he can give good advice when people need it? Does he seem as though he's found the meaning of life?
- What can you learn from them? What life choices and actions can you emulate? In certain situations, ask yourself what he would do.
Step 3. Read as much as you can
Reading is a way to absorb other people's perspectives, whatever the subject they are writing about. This gives you insight into how people think that would be difficult to obtain any other way. Reading both sides of what matters will give you the information you need to make wise decisions.
Step 4. Realize that everyone can be wrong
As you gain wisdom and experience, you will find that the people you look up to have weaknesses too. Don't overlook these people with such high standards that a few mistakes can startle and drive you away. Try to see the human side of these people, so that they do not see it as a focus, but accept the bad and the good from them.
- Every child will reach a point where they realize that their parents are not perfect, that they are struggling to find the right path like everyone else. Reaching the point where you see your parents as equals, people who make mistakes like everyone else, is a sign of maturity and wisdom.
- Forgive if the person you respect makes a mistake. Try to empathize with other people instead of kicking them when they're in trouble.
Part 3 of 3: Putting your policies into practice
Step 1. Be humble in new situations
As Socatres puts it, “The only policy is to know that you know nothing.” It's hard to really grasp this concept until you're faced with a life situation that really trips you up. No matter how smart you are, or how much experience you have, there will be times when the line between right and wrong seems blurred and you are unsure of the choices you are making.
- Don't throw yourself into a new situation thinking you know what you have to do. Examine the problem from different points of view, meditate or pray, then move according to your conscience. That's all you can do.
- Accepting your limitations is a form of high policy. Know what you have to do and use your talents to the fullest, but don't assume you can be more than you are capable of.
Step 2. Think before you act
Take some time to think about the problem before jumping to conclusions. Consider the pros and cons, experiences and advice of others so that you can make the wisest choice.
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Turn to someone you think is wise and ask for advice. However, even advice that you fully trust should be considered carefully. In the end, you are the only one who can decide what is best for you
Step 3. Act according to your values
Seek advice and policies from society, religion and books. Don't just accept certain values because that's how you were taught. In the end, your values must align with your conscience, with your instincts and what you think is right. When it comes to making big decisions, remember and apply your values.
- For example, let's say someone is being booed at at work and you know defending them will make your boss angry. Is it the right thing to do? Think carefully and decide what's important to you: keeping your job or helping someone who is hurting?
- Defend your values even if they are criticized. This is not an easy task, since your whole life people have been telling you what to do. Separate your values from them and do what you think is right.
Step 4. Learn from mistakes
Even well-considered decisions can be wrong. Every time you have a new experience, reflect and think about what went well and what didn't. Each time you realize you made a mistake, try to find a new invention that you can use next time you encounter a similar situation.
- Don't beat yourself up too much when you make a mistake. You are human, and you can only learn from your mistakes.
- Realize that perfection does not exist. The goal is not to be perfect or to play God, but to do one's best conscience and be a good person throughout life.
Step 5. Share your policy with others
This doesn't mean you have to tell people what to do, but you can do it by leading, for example. Show others the importance of being open, non-judgmental, and considerate. Think about the mentors who helped you along the way, and think about how to play their part so that others can benefit from what you learn.
