The essence of being wise as compared to smart is heart vs. head. Being wise-hearted speaks to character transformation. Let’s examine is wiser better than smarter.
Remember what you wished for in grade school? Ugh!
Your wish list was likely some version of: I Wish I was smarter, prettier/handsomer, a star athletic, richer, more popular, or funnier.
Ha! Never happened did it? If you were like me you never sat at the cool kids table in the lunchroom at school.
What’s the catch with this childhood Wish List? Well, for the most part, we don’t control those attributes.
For example, I don’t control my native intelligence. But, more critically, I DO control my attitude toward learning.
That is, I don’t have to be smart to have a growth mindset. Thus, to be teachable. Or, to be a life-long learner.
For a person of faith, asking in faith is certainly a way to become wiser. However, be prepared to hear back that we must make better use of what’s already revealed to, and provided to, us! proverbsforprofessionals.net
If Not Smarter, Then What?
Ok, if I’m not magically smarter, then what? What’s the outcome?
One of my aunt’s always said: “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” Basically, she was saying, “What good is all that head knowledge if it doesn’t take you somewhere in life?”
Actually, the “Then What?” is that I can become wise. In fact, it’s better to be wise than to be smart.
For me, becoming wise is primarily a factor of learning from life experiences. Those experiential insights can have a dramatic impact on the decisions I make, thus on the quality of life I enjoy.
Moreover, a wise-hearted person realizes, over time, that what they’re learning from life events is a set of universal precepts that have been around – forever!
So, becoming wise-hearted is the end point – the product. Similarly, knowing wisdom is the process that builds a wise character. Yes, better wise than smart!
Don’t forget, if I’m the smartest person in the room it usually suggests I’m in the wrong room! Or, I have a real problem admitting I’m not good at everything.
Truly, knowing wisdom involves process activities such as sense making, experiential insight, and discernment. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Getting Wiser
Ok, how do I get there? What’s involved in becoming wise-hearted?
How do I stop wasting valuable experiences and start converting those life experiences to experiential insights?
1). Reflection – Ask questions like “What just happened?” And, “What was I thinking?” Stick with What questions rather than WHY questions to side-step a victim mentality. Here, we are looking inward to discover new truths. In Proverbs 14.8 we are taught that reflection (being “prudent” or thinking critically to “understand his way”) keep us from being self-deceived.
2). Wise Counsel – Don’t miss the obvious. We become very much like who we hang out with. As such, go find wise people who will be a good influence on you! Note Proverbs 13.20 that says we become wise by “walking with” those who are wise!
3). New Growth – One sign of becoming wise-hearted is to purposefully grow new traits. So, be sensitive to the secondary traits that come as a result of being wise-hearted. That is, allow the universal precepts of wisdom to transform your character. Solomon repeatedly emphasizes heart transformation above head knowledge. For example, see Proverbs 3.1 “let your heart keep these precepts.”
Some of the traits of being wise-hearted include:
Discretion,
Critical thinking (think fast and slow),
Good judgment,
Discernment,
Grasping what’s essential, and
The practical, experiential insights already mentioned.
What changes here? Well, our thinking, our choices, and the actions we take all change!
The way I think and the quality of the decisions I make are two key changes as I become wise-hearted. Together, improved thinking and better decisions lead to wise behavior!
Self-awareness is a component of knowing wisdom. In fact, we’re defined by who we know we are, not by what others say we are! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Some Takeaways
The essence of being wise as compared to smart is heart vs. head. Being wise-hearted speaks to character transformation. Therefore, to change what I do, I first must change WHO I AM on the inside!
Stop memorizing lists of facts. Instead, become sensitive to the life learning that’s available through times of reflection and personal debriefings. That’s what learning from experience is all about.
Practice alone doesn’t make us perfect. Instead, we must reflect on what’s happened if we are to draw practical insights from life situations.
Becoming wise-hearted requires persistent effort on our part, over a long period of time.
We’re not using our time wisely if we are “ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.” Why? Because facts alone don’t take us very far.
Being wise-hearted is a source of a fulfilling and peaceful life.