10 Sources Of Wisdom

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ― Aristotle; this quote alone captures the true essence of this virtue, that not everyone has, but those who do are really and truly gifted.




Wisdom is a human strength that leads to well-being and growth. Wisdom can be defined as purposeful seeking to enhance the well-being of the self and of the society. People on the development path toward wisdom are motivated to achieve a common good, rather than optimizing personal gains (Sternberg and Gluck, 2019).

Here Are 10 Sources of Wisdom



1. Open-mindedness. 

Openness is considered a typical personality trait of wise individuals. Openness is to think carefully and thoroughly as we face information that may challenge our previous knowledge or beliefs. Openness to experience implies curiosity, imagination, insightfulness, and interest in multiple perspectives. Focusing only on what we already know can limit our ability to think more broadly.

Related: Research Reveals Open-Minded Individuals See The World Differently, Live Happier and Healthier

2. Empathy. 

Wise people have the ability to see others’ points of view. They have deep concerns for the welfare of others and the common human good.




3. Self-reflection. 

Self-reflection is an essential aspect of wisdom and personal growth. Highly reflective individuals are willing and able to question their own views and behavior, non-defensively, as they aim to learn from experience. Reflection helps individuals better understand what they know and do not know as they develop their knowledge.

4. A balanced approach. 

Wise individuals skillfully balance interests of their own and others’ interests to reach a common good. For a decision to be wise, it must account for diverse interests and seek to attain a common good.

5. Managing uncertainty.

Highly wise individuals have learned from experience how uncertain, and uncontrollable life can be. They have learned to trust in their own strengths to deal with whatever happens.

6. Wisdom in aging. 

As people age, they become less ego-focused and more connected to others and the world at large. Becoming more aware of death leads us to reevaluate what is really important in life and to find external sources of self-esteem, such as fame and money, less rewarding than intrinsic pursuits.

7. Wisdom develops through mastery of crises. 

Wise people are able to apply valuable life lessons gained from previous experiences of coping with adversity when confronted with crises and obstacles in their lives.

wisdom

8. Seeing the bigger picture. 

A wise person is not primarily guided by immediate goals of action, rather than the ultimate goal of one’s whole life. A broader perspective makes it easier to put complicating details aside and focus on what seems most important.




9. Purpose. 

Having a sense of direction or purpose (meaningful goals for oneself and others) is a significant contributor to the development of wisdom. Purpose in life is associated with emotional stability and resilience during vulnerable and stressful life events.   

Related: How To Find A Purpose in Life and Give Your Life Meaning?

10. Emotion regulation.

Emotional stability is a necessary component of wisdom. Emotion regulation is the ability to regulate emotions (e.g., when confronted with emotionally charged events) in ways that help us make progress with our immediate and long-term goals. For example, humor can be used to strengthen emotional bonds with others or down-regulate negative emotions.  

In sum, wisdom provides the inner resources to deal with adversity and hardship. Wisdom enables individuals to adjust to life circumstances by thoroughly understanding and accepting themselves, others, and the world.

References:

Sternberg RJ, and Gluck J (2019). The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom. Cambridge University Press.

Written By Shahram Heshmat  
Originally Appeared In Psychology Today
Sources Wisdom pin
Sources Of Wisdom pin



Published On:

Last updated on:

Disclaimer: The informational content on The Minds Journal have been created and reviewed by qualified mental health professionals. They are intended solely for educational and self-awareness purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or have concerns about your mental health, please seek help from a licensed mental health professional or healthcare provider.

Leave a Comment

Today's Horoscope

Accurate Daily Horoscope for 12 Zodiac Signs

Daily Horoscope 18 July 2025: Prediction For Each Zodiac Sign

🌟 Ready to unlock the secrets of 18 July, 2025? Discover your personalized horoscope and see what the stars have in store for you today! ✨🔮

Latest Quizzes

Which DC Superhero Are You (And No You Can't Just Pick Batman)

Which DC Superhero Are You? Take This Quiz To Find Out!

You don't superspeed or heat vision, just be your honest self and let your instincts do the talking.

Latest Quotes

Readers Blog

The Courageous Journey Of Two Teenage Women Who Challenged Nazi Oppression 

The Courageous Journey Of Two Teenage Women Who Challenged Nazi Oppression

In the ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata, women unite to put an end to the Peloponnesian War in a rather inventive way: by refusing to have sex with any of the men in the country. Now, the Holocaust and World War II were real and anything but humorous, in contrast to this fictional farce. However, it…

Latest Articles

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ― Aristotle; this quote alone captures the true essence of this virtue, that not everyone has, but those who do are really and truly gifted.




Wisdom is a human strength that leads to well-being and growth. Wisdom can be defined as purposeful seeking to enhance the well-being of the self and of the society. People on the development path toward wisdom are motivated to achieve a common good, rather than optimizing personal gains (Sternberg and Gluck, 2019).

Here Are 10 Sources of Wisdom



1. Open-mindedness. 

Openness is considered a typical personality trait of wise individuals. Openness is to think carefully and thoroughly as we face information that may challenge our previous knowledge or beliefs. Openness to experience implies curiosity, imagination, insightfulness, and interest in multiple perspectives. Focusing only on what we already know can limit our ability to think more broadly.

Related: Research Reveals Open-Minded Individuals See The World Differently, Live Happier and Healthier

2. Empathy. 

Wise people have the ability to see others’ points of view. They have deep concerns for the welfare of others and the common human good.




3. Self-reflection. 

Self-reflection is an essential aspect of wisdom and personal growth. Highly reflective individuals are willing and able to question their own views and behavior, non-defensively, as they aim to learn from experience. Reflection helps individuals better understand what they know and do not know as they develop their knowledge.

4. A balanced approach. 

Wise individuals skillfully balance interests of their own and others’ interests to reach a common good. For a decision to be wise, it must account for diverse interests and seek to attain a common good.

5. Managing uncertainty.

Highly wise individuals have learned from experience how uncertain, and uncontrollable life can be. They have learned to trust in their own strengths to deal with whatever happens.

6. Wisdom in aging. 

As people age, they become less ego-focused and more connected to others and the world at large. Becoming more aware of death leads us to reevaluate what is really important in life and to find external sources of self-esteem, such as fame and money, less rewarding than intrinsic pursuits.

7. Wisdom develops through mastery of crises. 

Wise people are able to apply valuable life lessons gained from previous experiences of coping with adversity when confronted with crises and obstacles in their lives.

wisdom

8. Seeing the bigger picture. 

A wise person is not primarily guided by immediate goals of action, rather than the ultimate goal of one’s whole life. A broader perspective makes it easier to put complicating details aside and focus on what seems most important.




9. Purpose. 

Having a sense of direction or purpose (meaningful goals for oneself and others) is a significant contributor to the development of wisdom. Purpose in life is associated with emotional stability and resilience during vulnerable and stressful life events.   

Related: How To Find A Purpose in Life and Give Your Life Meaning?

10. Emotion regulation.

Emotional stability is a necessary component of wisdom. Emotion regulation is the ability to regulate emotions (e.g., when confronted with emotionally charged events) in ways that help us make progress with our immediate and long-term goals. For example, humor can be used to strengthen emotional bonds with others or down-regulate negative emotions.  

In sum, wisdom provides the inner resources to deal with adversity and hardship. Wisdom enables individuals to adjust to life circumstances by thoroughly understanding and accepting themselves, others, and the world.

References:

Sternberg RJ, and Gluck J (2019). The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom. Cambridge University Press.

Written By Shahram Heshmat  
Originally Appeared In Psychology Today
Sources Wisdom pin
Sources Of Wisdom pin



Published On:

Last updated on:

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D.

Leave a Comment

    Leave a Comment