Subcomponents of Wisdom

The Oxford Dictionary defines wisdom as having experience, knowledge, and showing good judgment.  Wisdom is one area that there is no dispute about it being a mental process, and like all activities is something that must be exercised. This impllies that wisdom cannot be just the intellectural exercise of having knowledge. Good judgement means action.

Being wise can apply to everything we do, illness prevention and health. A Chinese analect by La Tsu (Tao Te Ching) said “The wise avoid extremes, excesses, and complacency” (Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching).  Complacency in health is the uncritical self-satisfaction which makes us believe our actions have no effect on what happens to us.    

In the Neurobiology of Wisdom, Meeks and Jeste reviewed commonly defined traits of wisdom with the areas of the brain and processes that are associated with them. They identified six subcomponents of wisdom in their review that can be verified by underlying neurobiology (see Traits of Wisdom).  Each subcomponent can be viewed as a goal to improve on. The outcome is that we stop being indifferent, make decisions that consider effects on others, become more self-observant, are more flexible, tolerant, and even hardy.  

Prosocial attitudes and behaviors

There is an implicit idea that the wise see the common good, which is also in their best interest. Prosocial attitides and behaivors include altruism, positive emotion, warmth, and behaviors toward others. Indifference and hate are not prosocial.  

Social decision making/pragmatic knowledge of life

One understands when, where, how, and why to apply practical knowledge.  A wise person shows good interpersonal skills, understanding, ability to get and use information that is based on verifiable facts, and gives good advice.  In short, this aspect of wisdom has three aspects, judgement, life knowledge, and life skills.  

Emotional homeostasis

Homeostasis is the ability to survive despite extreme circumstances.  Our brain and body can maintain an internal stability despite a hostile surrounding.  Components include emotional stability despite uncertainty and remaining positive in the face of adversity.  This can also be called emotional management. 

Reflection/self-understanding

Reflective abilities are a key component of wisdom.  You don’t apply wishful thinking, blaming, or excessive self-criticism. You basically know what you wanted to achieve, accept what you didn’t think of, hold onto your ethics, and plan what you do next. 

Value relativism/tolerance

You can see a problem from multiple perspectives.  You don’t project your wishes or prejudices onto the situation.  You value tolerance and flexibility.  That is, you don’t have a one-track mind, or a single approach.  You can make back-up plans and accept difference in others. 

Acknowledgement of and dealing effectively with uncertainty and ambiguity

There are limits to anyone’s knowledge. It is wise for you to know what you don’t know and can handle uncertainty.  You have a capacity for dialectical thinking (the capacity to see the most “economical” reconciliation of seemingly contradictory information or postures).  You are open to new experiences.  You can act in the face of uncertainty and not freeze with indecision or flip-flop, but can still be flexible and change direction when new information warrants. 

Take Time to Reflect

How do we become wise?  Heed this Confucian analect: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” – Confucius

To reflect, no one has discovered a better way to do this than to set the time aside to do it.  This usually means daily mindfulness meditation at a time that you won’t be interrupted.  Do not choose the busiest time of your day to do it and do not do it when you are too tired to stay awake. You will be doomed to failure if you try.  This is not a religious thing. It is not the same as a daily prayer. You are not a supplicant asking for something.  The purpose is to reflect and learn from your experiences.    

The general pattern starts with a mindfulness practice, like deep breathing, to achieve a relaxation response (see meditation blog).  The next step is reflection while you are in a mindful (relaxed) state.  As a self-evaluation measure of how well you are doing, you feel relaxed and are no longer keeping a running verbal commentary in your head. 

To gauge progress, you should feel what Csikszentmihalyi described as The Flow Experience .  When you “have it” you lose self-consciousness and are comfortable and engrossed in what you are thinking, feeling, and doing. You have a sense of total control, and a distortion in time (i.e. time flies).  Finally, the experience should be rewarding and not anxiety producing. It is this positive experience that becomes your motivation to do more.   

Conclusion

I quoted from Lao Tsu, and a 2,150 year old text, to make the point that “insights” about “wisdom” are not new discoveries.  You just have to do research.  Scientific findings and treatment approaches, like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), confirm that the the ancient sages got it right. It just needs translating into idioms that are more modern and understandable to us.  

Both Taoism (pronounced “dow-ism”) and Buddhism, are not technically religions since they do not depend on a belief or worship of a superhuman power or God.  In both, the philosophy is that man creates his own unhappiness and suffering, and both teach how to live a better life.  In the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tsu is not the name of a person, but a Chinese honorific title “venerable old master.” Tao Te Ching is also not a religious book but a poetic book that describes the Virtuous Path (Tao = Path; Te = virtue; Ching = ancient text or classic). The philosophy does not teach passivity or aggression but recognizes there may be a time for both.  They teach being good, reflective, and unselfish.