Don’t Mistake Knowledge For Wisdom
In a world inundated with billions of gigabytes of information, it is said that knowledge is power. Add to that wealth of information nearly 328.77 million new terabytes daily, and the blue planet should be an intelligent place. With AI’s advent, the rate at which information is created is rising exponentially. Meanwhile, our poor little brains only hold about 2.5 billion gigabytes of information. Some days, I feel like my brain is already full, but that muscle isn’t even close to its potential.
With this plethora of knowledge, one would think most of the world's problems would have been solved long ago. But not quite, right? Most days, the world's travails seem to be getting worse. Solutions to big problems evade even the most knowledgeable people on the planet. Why is that true? Here is one reason.
Solutions to little problems evade our grasp as often as working out issues of magnitude.
Many years ago, King Solomon explained that knowledge opens doors to an enjoyable existence – as long as it combines wisdom. Wisdom is the priceless gem sparkling in a twenty-four-carat setting of knowledge. We repeatedly prove that knowledge without wisdom is not so helpful and sometimes very dangerous.
Wisdom is aptly applied knowledge. The two are the marriage partners of quality decision-making. The sage ancient writer taught that knowledge tends to foster pride while wisdom is born of humility. Unfortunately, we gain wisdom from making bad decisions based on our vast knowledge. But do not despair; bad choices often lead to wise ones, but not until after a bit of suffering.
That is why when people ask for my thoughts on many subjects, I reply, “I am not certain of the right answer, but I can tell you a dozen paths that are not so good to travel.”
So, would you say you make most of your essential life choices based on wisdom or knowledge? Determining if you’ve made unwise decisions is not usually too challenging. A foolish course of action nearly always leads to personal pain, either yours, someone else’s, or both. We reflect on a decision and say, Well, that wasn’t very smart! What we are really saying is, Boy, was that ever unwise!
Solomon also later wrote in Ecclesiastes that with much wisdom comes much sorrow, while increasing knowledge is accompanied by grief. It would appear that there is just no winning with this knowledge/wisdom thing. A wise person understands that the world is, at the same time, a splendid and treacherous place. Wisdom is not shocked by either beauty or ugliness, for they must co-exist. Earth is not heaven. The maturity of wisdom and knowledge helps us keep an even keel no matter the situation, which is a good thing. Here are a few more thoughts about how to harness wisdom.
· Wise choices often take more time and patience than choices based solely on facts. Though there are instances when time is of the essence, acting rashly is usually not the best path. For instance, I am an impulse buyer. Marketers and advertisers love me! However, I have learned that it is usually best to sleep on the decision when I see something I desire or over desire. A new morning often reveals clarity. Waiting is a challenging but wise word. God tells us numerous times to wait on Him. He does everything at precisely the right time.
· One can tell if a foolish decision was made when it creates as many or more problems than it solves. Many young leaders come to occupy new positions of power and allow their knowledge to motivate them to make sweeping changes in their department or organization's policy, programming, and personnel. Sometimes, we fix problems that do not exist and end up hurting ourselves and our organization in the process. Impulsive organizational or family decisions often result in disaster.
This tendency can be avoided by obtaining mentors and coaches a few steps further down the track. If you want a better marriage, find mentors and coaches and listen to them. If you want to improve your leadership chops, let people coach and mentor you. If you want career advancement or better parenting skills, follow suit.
It is significant to note that late in life, Solomon began to believe his own press releases. He was indeed the most brilliant, wisest guy in the room. It was then that the old king made his biggest mistakes. One never outgrows their need for wise mentors, coaches, and friends who will tell it to us like it is, not how we want it to be.
· Here are a few random thoughts about the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” There is a shorter term for this stage of development - immaturity. Small children don’t know that they don’t know, but they don’t care because their world revolves around them. That is why they must have close oversight.
“I don’t know that I don’t know.” At this stage, we cannot see what is plainly apparent to the more experienced person. But at least we have grown enough to care, which is a clear step towards wisdom.
“I am learning what I don’t know.” This process never ends, but as we grow, the vastness of our ignorance becomes ever more evident. At first, this is disconcerting, but as time passes, it frees us, thinking we must have all the answers.
“I know what I don’t know.” A true revelation. Two of my favorite sayings are: “I don’t know squat” and “That is above my pay grade, and I’m good with that.” There are many situations in life where it is freeing to know that God is capable of handling His creation.
“I know, but I wish I didn’t.” One views a situation and knows where it leads but cannot change it. For instance, we watch our children make foolish decisions they will wish they did not make.
“What I thought I knew; I didn’t really know.” Things are not always what they seem, are they? For instance, someone is short or rude to us, making us angry. What we may not know is that their family member just received a cancer diagnosis. You get my drift. Another of my favorite sayings is: “There is always a story behind the story.”
“I am comfortable not knowing.” Finally, I’m free! When one finally figures out they are not God, one can let out a sigh of relief.
“I am becoming wise.” We usually don’t know when this state of being happens because if we do, we probably still don’t know what we don’t know.
Enough of this serious stuff. Since it is Thanksgiving week, I’d like to share some critical Thanksgiving wisdom.
“I hate turkeys. If you stand in the meat section at the grocery store long enough, you start to get mad at turkeys. There's turkey ham, turkey bologna, turkey pastrami. Someone needs to tell the turkey, 'man, just be yourself.'”
“An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.”
“If you want to soar like an eagle, you can’t be flocking with the turkeys.” Warren Buffett
“May your stuffing be tasty, May your turkey plump, May your potatoes and gravy Have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious, And your pies take the prize, And may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs!”
Live Inspired . . . and thankful,
Don Mark
