Liana
Is it true that balancing wisdom and knowledge really contributes to a strong character?
I read an article on Forbes called "Why Most People Will Never Achieve The American Dream" and the writer mentioned that many leaders "don't balance knowledge (the head) and wisdom (the heart)." And it's not just what you know it's what you DO with what you know. #business #management #entrepreneurship #public-relations
4 answers
Troy Golba
Troy’s Answer
Liana,
Hoping that you are well! I think that has a good amount of truth. Just take the thought of a person may be very smart and educated but has no drive.
An example a person who knows there grass needs cut and can theorize and figure out everyday to cut it but then never goes and does it!
What I find is patience in finding careers that you truly enjoy. It's about finding that balance of using your smarts often and making them applicable to a job that you really enjoy and have passion for. You'll find that it will come more natural for you then and with any great career there will be challenges but they won't bring you down because you'll have that continuing mix of knowledge, and practical know how and that will develop into a great happy American Dream for you.
:) any questions or thoughts please feel free.
My best!
Troy
Hi Troy,
Hope you're well too! Thanks so much for answering my question! I really appreciate it! Yes, I'm in the process of figuring out my life trajectory but life is an elective not a core curriculum! Best!
Liana
Daniela Silva
Daniela’s Answer
Hi Liana,
Wisdom and knowledge are linked. Wisdom is enhanced by knowledge and the ability to acquire knowledge effectively. But wisdom is also the ability to use knowledge in a practical and productive manner. Knowledge is often considered to be "externally generated," meaning that it comes primarily from outside sources, such as books, classroom lectures, videos, etc. On the other hand, wisdom is deemed to come primarily from "internal sources," meaning one's own introspective thinking, analysis, and judgment. Wisdom cannot be acquired and applied without knowledge, but knowledge isn't necessarily guided or enhanced by wisdom.
The application of knowledge is often a matter of finding or knowing the right facts, meaning that there is a distinct difference between the "right" and "wrong" facts. In contrast, wisdom often requires much more than facts to perceive and choose the "right" action or to avoid the "wrong" action. The factors involved may include speculation, feelings, and moral or ethical values. In this general sense, applying knowledge tends to be a much simpler process.
Oftentimes, wisdom is passed down in cultures in the form of common sayings, philosophical phrases, and quotes, such as aphorisms and proverbs. (One popular English proverb, for example, is "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.") However, whether such wisdom is absorbed, believed, and applied depends on the individual.
Comparison chart:
Knowledge is information of which someone is aware. Knowledge is also used to mean the confident understanding of a subject, potentially with the ability to use it for a specific purpose.
Wisdom is the ability to make correct judgments and decisions. It is an intangible quality gained through our experiences in life.
In the link below you can have a video about it:
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Knowledge_vs_Wisdom
Best!
Thanks so much again Daniela! I've actually visited this website before!!
Liana
G. Mark Stewart
G. Mark’s Answer
Knowledge is knowing "what" and wisdom is knowing "why". A strong character is the will to adhere to a course of action because it's the right thing to do. In other words, "why" it should be done. So if you agree with what I just said, you'll agree that balancing those things will contribute to a strong character. As you grow older, you accumulate more experience that shows you the effects of your actions and enables you to decide whether you should do the "what".
Brandi Eckles
Brandi’s Answer
Great question!! In my opinion, wisdom and knowledge are two different things. Knowledge is gained through education while wisdom is gained through experience. One of the most important things you can do is to get to know yourself better through character awareness exercises such as a Meyers-Briggs type personality assessment. There's quite a few free ones out there. Additionally, once you have attained the knowledge of your character and personality, you'll then want to look to gain the wisdom to use your strengths to your advantage or work on your opportunities for improvement. You can also read up on Emotional Intelligence. Again, lots of information out there on this topic too. Google is my favorite resource because I can literally self-learn about almost anything! Use it to your advantage!
Here's a good article about Emotional Intelligence: https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/emotional-intelligence
Here's a good start for a personality assessment: https://www.onlinepersonalitytests.org/mbti
Good luck!
Hi Brandi! Thanks so much for your lovely and thoughtful answer! I have taken the Myers-Briggs test and I usually get INFJ! They're very fun to take. I'll also take a look at the links. I think emotional intelligence is interesting and important in life! All the best!
-Liana
Liana