Tips For Applying Wisdom In Daily Life: Strategies And Advice

Wisdom, as both a practical trait and a more esoteric concept, has long been a topic of discussion across various cultures, generations, and schools of thought. Psychologists, researchers, philosophers, and others have explored what it means to be wise, how wisdom may contribute to well-being, and ways to develop wisdom. This article provides more context on wisdom, including what it may entail as well as ways of practicing wisdom in daily life.

Exploring the characteristics of wisdom

Despite all the research on wisdom, many people may wonder what, specifically, defines a wise person. For example, you might question whether there are certain shared characteristics for how wise people live their lives and interact with others. These questions have been the subject of much discussion, especially in the realm of psychology. A variety of frameworks and models have been proposed to provide answers. 

For the purposes of discussing concrete features of wisdom, it may be helpful to examine the description provided in the Encyclopedia of Geropsychology, which cites several cognitive and noncognitive characteristics, including:

• Broad and deep knowledge, or knowledge that goes in-depth on a wide range of topics
• Emotional regulation, or one’s ability to manage emotions and emotional responses to events
• Openness to new experiences or ideas
• Self-reflection, or the ability to reflect on one’s own thoughts, feelings, goals, or character
• Awareness of uncertainty, or the ability to acknowledge the inherent unpredictability of life

This definition may provide a helpful foundation for understanding the traits that may be found in a wise person. 

It may also be helpful to examine the three-dimensional wisdom scale, also known as the 3D-WS, a tool developed by sociologist Monika Ardelt for measuring and classifying different aspects of wisdom. According to the 3D-WS, wisdom may consist of three distinct characteristics, or “dimensions:”

• Reflection: The reflective dimension refers to the ability to look at oneself, other people, events, or situations from a variety of perspectives. 
• Cognition: The cognitive dimension of wisdom centers on the search for, and understanding of, the nature of life and the world—especially in the context of one’s relationship with oneself and others.
• Compassion: Also known as the “affective” dimension, the compassionate dimension refers to the ability to view and treat others in a generally positive manner.

In defining wisdom, the American Psychological Association (APA) states that it is “the ability of an individual to make sound decisions, to find the right—or at least good—answers to difficult and important life questions, and to give advice about the complex problems of everyday life and interpersonal relationships.” The APA goes on to state, “The role of knowledge and life experience and the importance of applying knowledge toward a common good through balancing one’s own, others’, and institutional interests are two perspectives that have received significant psychological study.”

Therefore, it may also be worth considering an interest in the greater good and the ability to learn from previous experiences as possible features of wisdom. 

Tips for cultivating and applying wisdom in daily life

Now that we’ve identified some common characteristics that have been associated with wisdom, you might wonder what these characteristics look like when applied to daily situations. In this section, we’ll explore tips that may be useful for practicing wisdom in everyday life. This advice may also be helpful for those seeking to further cultivate wisdom. 

Take time to reflect: Making room for reflection in daily life may be a useful strategy for responding to situations and making decisions from a place of clarity. Strategies like journaling and mindfulness meditation may be helpful everyday practices for gaining insight into your thought patterns and learning to manage your responses to events. These techniques can also foster self-reflection and emotional regulation. 

Embrace new situations and perspectives: Exposing yourself to new ideas or situations may be a useful way of developing wisdom in the cognitive and reflective dimensions. In practice, this might involve listening to a different point of view, even if you don’t share the same interpretation. It might also involve seeking out new or challenging activities, traveling, or finding opportunities to venture outside your comfort zone. 

Thinking about others: Applying the dimension of compassion in daily life may involve fostering a mentality of goodwill toward other people. This could be as simple as thinking about how the consequences of your actions might affect others, looking for ways to help those in need, or working to approach conflict with curiosity and empathy. It may also help to try something called lovingkindness meditation, or metta, which can be practiced via a guided meditation from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.  

Seek knowledge: The search for knowledge has been cited in a variety of models as one of the main components of wisdom. Expanding one’s knowledge in daily life might involve practices like reading, listening to podcasts, researching new topics, or making a point to interact with new people from all walks of life. 

Therapy may offer an additional opportunity to develop knowledge and explore new points of view. A licensed therapist may be able to provide insight into your thought process, emotions, or responses to situations. They may also suggest new ways of looking at challenges and life events. 

If you’re interested in connecting with a therapist but don’t have time for in-office therapy, you might consider trying online therapy. With remote counseling, you can attend sessions from wherever it is most convenient through flexible formats such as voice call, videoconferencing, and live chat. You can also contact your therapist at any time via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can. This may prove useful if you have questions or concerns in between therapy sessions.

A variety of studies have found online therapy to be a cost-efficient and effective alternative to traditional therapy. One 2017 study found that internet-based therapy, specifically, cognitive behavioral therapy, was a useful treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and phobias.