True wisdom is often confused with knowledge or intelligence. And although a wise person may be knowledgeable or intelligent, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are truly wise.

People with high IQs can make some really unwise decisions or lack common sense.

My Lack of Wisdom

I took the test to be in Mensa and passed (I never joined as I didn’t see the point). I aced all my exams at school and college and was generally thought of as an intelligent person. Yet, in my late teens, when I developed an anxiety disorder, I did a really unwise thing.

A wise person would have gone to a doctor, therapist or psychiatrist about it. But what did I do? I drank alcohol to numb the anxious feelings. Despite all my book-learning and having a high IQ, I did the most unwise thing imaginable. And, in the end, I became a full-blown alcoholic – something I now have to deal with for the rest of my life.

And when I used to go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, I would meet doctors, teachers, lawyers, business moguls – really smart and savvy people – and yet they had fallen into the same trap as I had because of trying to deal with problems and stresses by drinking them away.

My Friend’s Unwise Behaviour

I also meet very smart people who can have massive lapses in common sense. Someone I know got into huge debt, I mean thousands of pounds, because she was falling behind on some payments, but refused to open all the red “debt” letters that came through her letterbox. Eventually, the bailiffs turned up and she was evicted from her home.

True wisdom is essentially about doing the next right thing. So, for me, it might have been going to see a psychologist or medical professional. For my friend, the wisest thing to do would have been to open the letters, phone the companies she owed and organise payment plans.

So What Is True Wisdom Then?

I have a tattoo on my arm, which says “Face Your Truth, Take Your Freedom”. Please don’t tell me I’m unwise for getting a tattoo – it’s a recovery tattoo to remind me to be wise, and I thought long and hard about it. It reminds me every day that I am an alcoholic and must be abstinent, so I can be free, and never become a slave to alcohol again.

An appropriate phrase for describing true wisdom might be “Search For The Truth, Considering All Options”. Or perhaps if you’ve already sought out the truth, and know your options, true wisdom could be encapsulated in the phrase: “Face The Truth and Take The Next Right Step”.

Although there are many dilemmas and tricky situations we sometimes have to deal with, you will generally feel peace of mind when you’ve made a really wise decision. Even if it is a difficult decision to make or makes you sad (like breaking up with someone you now deep down is a bad match for you), you should have a feeling inside of it being the “right” thing to do.

True wisdom won’t always make you happy with the world or your situation, but it will always make you feel more clear-headed, more serene and at peace with yourself.

Anyone Can Learn To Be Truly Wise

You don’t have to be some guru to become a wise person. And you don’t have to have a long white beard and sit contemplating in a cave for a decade. Anyone can learn to be insightful and make wise choices. There are steps you can take and practices you can follow to gain true wisdom. And some of the ways to make smarter decisions and start becoming truly wise are actually quick and easy.

I’ve written a book (now that I am a lot wiser than I was!) to help you become wiser faster, which I will be releasing in 2018. If you’d like a sneaky peek at the first chapter, go ahead and sign up below and I’ll send it to your inbox.