When I see the word ‘wisdom,’ I think of four words: intelligence, education, knowledge, and discernment. One definition of wisdom is ‘the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.’
I always wrestle with the concept of being wise, because it seems to be a permanent condition with many contextual definitions. As a noun, wisdom is the state of, or quality of being wise. That could be either a permanent or circumstantial state.
I recently heard wisdom defined as ‘knowing what to do and when to do it.’ That makes a bit more sense because it is making a decision or performing an action at a specific time. In other words, a decision today may be wise, and then tomorrow another may not.
I am reasonably well educated and have learned a fair amount through the years, but I still make decision-related errors almost daily. Even with gained intelligence and knowledge, the ability to discern or judge is what separates those with wisdom.
Discerning is showing insight, understanding and having good judgment. I could be bright, educated and very knowledgeable, but without the ability to be discerning, I would not be wise. This is the key to ‘knowing what to do and when to do it.’
In business and personal situations you often see “smart” people make foolish decisions, while seemingly uneducated people make great decisions. Often times those same people who lack “knowledge” rise to wealth and fame. Where does the wisdom to make these sound decisions originate? I doubt that it’s dumb luck. Intelligence doesn’t need to be gathered through school and book knowledge, but in life experiences that provide a framework for having sound judgment.
Everyday you’re presented with the opportunity to learn and gain wisdom. At work, in social groups, through community events and with any other experiences you have, there are chances to grow and build a deeper understanding of judgment and discernment. The accepted perception of education is important, but putting yourself into situations that force you be decisive will only help you develop knowledge, and eventually wisdom.
Always remember to fail forward through each decision you make. A poor choice of judgment gives you the opportunity to learn, and offers a greater understanding of ‘knowing what to do and when to do it.’