Learning to Live in Wisdom

 Trying to Talk About Wisdom

R.J. Sternberg wrote  in Wisdom: Its Nature, Origins, and Development that "Wisdom is about as elusive as psychological constructs get."  We often use models to help us talk about and perhaps understand elusive things like wisdom. A model is not a full description of the real thing, but it's a starting place. Those who use models understand the aphorism that "All models are wrong, but some of them are useful."

The first model below focuses on human reflexive self-conscious wisdom, meaning that we have the ability to think about ourselves, and the free will to make either wise or foolish decisions. The model represents a system of interactions among complex processes.

The model reflects our view of wisdom. It implies that wisdom begins with knowledge and intuition, which include formal learning and experience. Those lead to awareness, emotions, and understanding, which are the basis of discernment for decisions and actions that maintain the integral functions of the system that give it resilience. These decisions and actions feed back to knowledge and intuition, thus potentially increasing and refining wisdom. All of this happens in the context of faith/trust, hope/imagination, and love/spirit and is shaped and guided by those. 

But while we usually think of wisdom as a human possibility, in Proverbs 8:22 Wisdom says “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old.” This implies that Wisdom is integral to all of Earth’s processes, which is recognized by many faith traditions and is being increasingly confirmed as we learn more about Earth's systems. 

Most of Earth's processes take place within complex adaptive systems, which are self-regulating. This implies that the systems have within them some basis for prompting actions that are necessary for their survival and well-being. This is what we mean as the wisdom within the system.  

The second model is an effort to identify some of the things that comprise Earth Systems Wisdom. It begins with genetics and instinct. Those provide sensitivity to external and internal changes which stimulate and direct adjustments to maintain resilience. Those adjustments are supported and limited by genetics and instinct and feed back to them, thus supporting systemic evolution. These processes are supported and limited by climate and weather, geology and topography, and the presence of adaptive alternatives. 

Earth Systems Wisdom is the most basic. It functions whether or not we decide to cooperate. Our task is to incorporate Earth Systems Wisdom into our Human Self-conscious Wisdom.

Journal Prompt

Think about these diagrams, and in your journal reflect on how you might use them to try better to understand wisdom. If these models don't work for you, make your own. 

We believe that wisdom is inherently spiritual. 

Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives. Brené Brown

In your journal, reflect on the idea that wisdom might be an antidote to fear.