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Sep 9, 2024 · Every culture has stories of wise people, ranging from monks and spiritual leaders to philosophers and mountain hermits whom travelers would consult for advice. But what traits do the wisest people on Earth all have in common?
- Finn Robinson
- They self-regulate. Wise persons are able to regulate their emotions so that they are able to think clearly about what decisions and actions may bring about a positive outcome, and, yet, emotions are not the enemy of wisdom.
- They are virtuous. From philosophers such as Aristotle to the most recent psychologists who research wisdom, it is firmly believed that wise persons are virtuous people in that they act, make decisions, and counsel others in ways that are mindful of the well-being of all who are involved.
- They see and recognize patterns. Psychologists who study wisdom tend to agree that those who are older are not necessarily wiser, but to be wise one must have enough experience to glean from to discern how and when to apply knowledge and past experiences to new situations.
- They navigate environments well. Robert Sternberg, a psychology professor at Cornell University, has written that one attribute of wise persons is their ability to decide between three possible responses to one’s environment when a person is not pleased with their given situation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Generosity. Generosity is a marker of deep wisdom, because it indicates a person who has overcome a purely “me-first” attitude. From its earliest tribal roots, human survival relied greatly on cooperation, not just competition.
- Adaptability. The only constant in life is change. Those who are wise have internalized this and are willing and able to adapt to what comes. They do their best to remain flexible in pursuit of their goals
- Decisiveness. When the time comes to make a decision, a wise person is able to do so. They are decisive and don’t get lost in over-analysis. The image we may have of a Confucious or Lao Tzu figure who remains apart from the world and lives a monastic life isn’t necessarily what to look for in a wise person.
- Having limits. As adaptable and decisive as they may be, truly wise people have limits. They respect themselves and are willing to establish limits, including on things they enjoy.
Jul 11, 2022 · Following are five attributes or abilities of wise persons: They self-regulate. Wise persons are able to regulate their emotions so that they are able to think clearly about what decisions and...
Wisdom is important because of its benefits both for the wise person and for society (Jeste et al., 2019). First, on a personal level, “research suggests that wisdom is linked to better overall health, well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience ” (Jeste & Lee, 2019).
We hold trees in our imagination, where they grow in strange, wonderful ways in forests inhabited by fantasy and also by our fears. In fable and legend, a forest shelters spirits, witches, and...
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