How to Be Wise
Cultivate the mind of a beginner., Ask lots of questions., Slow down., Think first and talk second.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Cultivate the mind of a beginner.
Do you remember the first time you saw dinosaur bones at the museum? Or the first time you ate a really good peach? Your world expanded at that moment by a fraction and you became a little more wise.
The Buddhist concept of "beginner's mind" refers to the approach of a person just starting out, filled with the wonder of new learning, and being challenged anew by it.
This is the receptive state of mind embraced by the wise.
Rather than prejudging situations, learn to keep your mind open and tell yourself "I don't know what to expect," which will allow you to learn and gain wisdom.
When you cease to have a fixed idea of people, things, and situations surrounding you, you grow in wisdom by soaking up changes, new ideas, and don't set any person above or beneath you. -
Step 2: Ask lots of questions.
Learning doesn't stop just because you might have graduated from high school or college, or that you've got kids and have lots of experience you'd like to teach them.
Even if you're a teacher at the highest level, or an expert in your field, you're not done learning.
A wise person questions their motivations, questions widely accepted knowledge, and learns to love asking questions in moments of ignorance, because a wise person knows when it is time to learn.
Anais Nin neatly summed up this need to continue learning: "Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through.
Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it.
This is a kind of death."
Be still at least once a day, to allow yourself time to rest and to stop taking in the rush of the world.
Being constantly busy and worrying incessantly about being seen as inadequate may make you a paragon of workplace virtue but it does not make you wise.
Stop.
Stand still.
Take in what the unhurried perspective brings to you.
Fill your time with contemplation.
Fill your free time with learning rather than distractions.
If you find yourself filling downtime with television or video games, try to substitute one hour of reading for an hour of television, or choose instead to watch a nature documentary you've been meaning to watch.
Better yet, go outside and go for a hike in the woods.
Before long, you'll be , It's not always important to voice your opinion in a group, or to contribute something just because you can.
Wise people don't always need to prove their knowledge.
If your opinion is necessary, give it.
An old adage goes, "The best samurai lets the sword rust in its scabbard." This isn't to say you should withdraw socially, or never speak.
Rather, be receptive to others and be a good listener.
Don't just wait for your turn to speak because you think you're more wise than everyone else in the room.
That's not wisdom, that's egotism. -
Step 3: Slow down.
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Step 4: Think first and talk second.
Detailed Guide
Do you remember the first time you saw dinosaur bones at the museum? Or the first time you ate a really good peach? Your world expanded at that moment by a fraction and you became a little more wise.
The Buddhist concept of "beginner's mind" refers to the approach of a person just starting out, filled with the wonder of new learning, and being challenged anew by it.
This is the receptive state of mind embraced by the wise.
Rather than prejudging situations, learn to keep your mind open and tell yourself "I don't know what to expect," which will allow you to learn and gain wisdom.
When you cease to have a fixed idea of people, things, and situations surrounding you, you grow in wisdom by soaking up changes, new ideas, and don't set any person above or beneath you.
Learning doesn't stop just because you might have graduated from high school or college, or that you've got kids and have lots of experience you'd like to teach them.
Even if you're a teacher at the highest level, or an expert in your field, you're not done learning.
A wise person questions their motivations, questions widely accepted knowledge, and learns to love asking questions in moments of ignorance, because a wise person knows when it is time to learn.
Anais Nin neatly summed up this need to continue learning: "Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through.
Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it.
This is a kind of death."
Be still at least once a day, to allow yourself time to rest and to stop taking in the rush of the world.
Being constantly busy and worrying incessantly about being seen as inadequate may make you a paragon of workplace virtue but it does not make you wise.
Stop.
Stand still.
Take in what the unhurried perspective brings to you.
Fill your time with contemplation.
Fill your free time with learning rather than distractions.
If you find yourself filling downtime with television or video games, try to substitute one hour of reading for an hour of television, or choose instead to watch a nature documentary you've been meaning to watch.
Better yet, go outside and go for a hike in the woods.
Before long, you'll be , It's not always important to voice your opinion in a group, or to contribute something just because you can.
Wise people don't always need to prove their knowledge.
If your opinion is necessary, give it.
An old adage goes, "The best samurai lets the sword rust in its scabbard." This isn't to say you should withdraw socially, or never speak.
Rather, be receptive to others and be a good listener.
Don't just wait for your turn to speak because you think you're more wise than everyone else in the room.
That's not wisdom, that's egotism.
About the Author
Lori Taylor
Specializes in breaking down complex practical skills topics into simple steps.
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