There once was an optimistic man named Jenkins who had retired from his work in the coal mine. He lived next door to a man named Smoote, who had also retired from the mine. Smoote had grown bitter as the years passed. Every morning Jenkins would say, “Good morning, God!” Every morning, Smoote would say, “Good God… morning?” Where one saw opportunity, the other only saw problems. Where one was satisfied, the other was always discontented.
Determined to revive some joy and wonder in his cynical neighbour, Jenkins went out in search of a pet. And what luck! He found an amazing dog, which he bought from a stranger on the road. The dog could perform remarkable feats. It was smarter than any dog he’d ever encountered. He took it to the home of his neighbour, Smoote, and immediately invited him to watch the dog perform.
“Fetch!” Jenkins commanded. He tossed a stick far out into the lake. It bobbed up and down in the rippling water, almost too far away to see. The dog barked several times, then raced after the stick. But instead of jumping into the lake, the dog walked on the water, and then brought the stick back, bounding on top of the waves.
Jenkins turned to his neighbour, beaming. “What do you think of that?” he asked.
Smoote frowned. “It’s not much of a dog,” he said. “She can’t even swim.”
The Role of Adverse Experience in Wisdom Development
Certainly, we’ve all met people like the pessimistic Smoote. No matter how others may try to cheer them, and no matter how pleasant their lives may seem from the outside, they appear unable or unwilling to experience joy. Moreover, some may seem determined to provoke misery in others. Psychology explains this disposition as depressive. Many of therapies are available. Most aim to relieve the symptoms, while some, such as cognitive therapy, aim to change those thinking behaviours that cause the chronic gloominess. In contrast, we have the joyous people like Jenkins, who try to cheer their indifferent neighbours. They want nothing more than to share their natural bliss. Apparently, they take pleasure in making others happy. This is a reward in itself. We might identify someone like Jenkins as having with the basic characteristics of someone wise.
Not long ago, Western researchers discovered that wisdom produces a sense of well-being that enhances the lives of those who possess it. Knowing this, researchers set out to find the reason why being wise makes people happy. They discovered that the wiser among us have a better ability to cope with problems. The wise use strategies to get through difficult situations. Rather than simply reacting to a problem, they pause and take time to focus. They evaluate the emotional stress of a circumstance. Unlike others, who might groan and complain, the wise examine their anxiety. They consider creative solutions. If the situation is truly hopeless, the wise will search for a helpful life lesson in their misfortune. Individually, the wise develop coping styles that help them navigate personal challenges.
Research on Adverse Experience and Wisdom Development
Wisdom scientists have found an interesting connection between experience and wisdom. Patterns of similar adverse life events, particularly in childhood, have been uncovered in the life histories of the wise. Aristotle, Siddhattha (Buddha), Confucius, Augustine of Hippo (later Saint Augustine), Abraham Lincoln, and Gandhi all lost a parent early in life. Grief during youth appears to have the potential to make one unusually introspective. Another common experience among the wise during childhood is being bullied or teased. Both Moses and Aristotle, for example, had speech impediments. Socrates was so ugly that his appearance became a joke throughout the city of Athens. Gandhi was frail as a youth and suffered from a disabling shyness that caused other children to taunt him. Although suffering cruelty could certainly make one bitter, it seems also to have the opposite effect. Those who have been emotionally wounded can develop enormous empathy for others.
In 2017, Westrate and Glück conducted research on “hard-earned wisdom.” They looked at the impact that life experiences had on various individuals. They discovered that a difficult event alone isn’t enough to inspire wisdom. Rather, the ability to reflect on the experience is what makes the difference. That said, there seems to be a circular relationship between wisdom and self-reflection. Those who think about what has happened become wiser, and those who are wiser, by nature, will go on to reflect.
Of course, there is a chicken-or-the-egg problem here that continues to puzzle wisdom scientists. Are the wise naturally reflective, or does wisdom make one reflect?
Question for Discussion: In your opinion, why is it that some people experience difficult circumstances, grow older, and yet fail to develop wisdom? Are contemplation and self-reflection necessary for growing wise?
Determined to revive some joy and wonder in his cynical neighbour, Jenkins went out in search of a pet. And what luck! He found an amazing dog, which he bought from a stranger on the road. The dog could perform remarkable feats. It was smarter than any dog he’d ever encountered. He took it to the home of his neighbour, Smoote, and immediately invited him to watch the dog perform.
“Fetch!” Jenkins commanded. He tossed a stick far out into the lake. It bobbed up and down in the rippling water, almost too far away to see. The dog barked several times, then raced after the stick. But instead of jumping into the lake, the dog walked on the water, and then brought the stick back, bounding on top of the waves.
Jenkins turned to his neighbour, beaming. “What do you think of that?” he asked.
Smoote frowned. “It’s not much of a dog,” he said. “She can’t even swim.”
The Role of Adverse Experience in Wisdom Development
Certainly, we’ve all met people like the pessimistic Smoote. No matter how others may try to cheer them, and no matter how pleasant their lives may seem from the outside, they appear unable or unwilling to experience joy. Moreover, some may seem determined to provoke misery in others. Psychology explains this disposition as depressive. Many of therapies are available. Most aim to relieve the symptoms, while some, such as cognitive therapy, aim to change those thinking behaviours that cause the chronic gloominess. In contrast, we have the joyous people like Jenkins, who try to cheer their indifferent neighbours. They want nothing more than to share their natural bliss. Apparently, they take pleasure in making others happy. This is a reward in itself. We might identify someone like Jenkins as having with the basic characteristics of someone wise.
Not long ago, Western researchers discovered that wisdom produces a sense of well-being that enhances the lives of those who possess it. Knowing this, researchers set out to find the reason why being wise makes people happy. They discovered that the wiser among us have a better ability to cope with problems. The wise use strategies to get through difficult situations. Rather than simply reacting to a problem, they pause and take time to focus. They evaluate the emotional stress of a circumstance. Unlike others, who might groan and complain, the wise examine their anxiety. They consider creative solutions. If the situation is truly hopeless, the wise will search for a helpful life lesson in their misfortune. Individually, the wise develop coping styles that help them navigate personal challenges.
Research on Adverse Experience and Wisdom Development
Wisdom scientists have found an interesting connection between experience and wisdom. Patterns of similar adverse life events, particularly in childhood, have been uncovered in the life histories of the wise. Aristotle, Siddhattha (Buddha), Confucius, Augustine of Hippo (later Saint Augustine), Abraham Lincoln, and Gandhi all lost a parent early in life. Grief during youth appears to have the potential to make one unusually introspective. Another common experience among the wise during childhood is being bullied or teased. Both Moses and Aristotle, for example, had speech impediments. Socrates was so ugly that his appearance became a joke throughout the city of Athens. Gandhi was frail as a youth and suffered from a disabling shyness that caused other children to taunt him. Although suffering cruelty could certainly make one bitter, it seems also to have the opposite effect. Those who have been emotionally wounded can develop enormous empathy for others.
In 2017, Westrate and Glück conducted research on “hard-earned wisdom.” They looked at the impact that life experiences had on various individuals. They discovered that a difficult event alone isn’t enough to inspire wisdom. Rather, the ability to reflect on the experience is what makes the difference. That said, there seems to be a circular relationship between wisdom and self-reflection. Those who think about what has happened become wiser, and those who are wiser, by nature, will go on to reflect.
Of course, there is a chicken-or-the-egg problem here that continues to puzzle wisdom scientists. Are the wise naturally reflective, or does wisdom make one reflect?
Question for Discussion: In your opinion, why is it that some people experience difficult circumstances, grow older, and yet fail to develop wisdom? Are contemplation and self-reflection necessary for growing wise?
