This is how stack wisdom for life, Carl Sagan’s most powerful rules for life & more
Weekly digest of practical philosophy, psychology and productivity wisdom
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Becoming wise is a personal responsibility.
“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else … Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it,” says poet and novelist Hermann Hesse. With the right knowledge, you can stay on the right trajectory for as long as possible. Remember what Confucious said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
These are a few practical ways to acquire wisdom for life.
Self-awareness. Aristotle was right when he said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” A wise person is self-aware and understands their strengths, weaknesses and values. They are aware of their goals and how they want to achieve them. They also understand their emotions so they can cope better when things don’t go as planned.
Practice. You stack wisdom by putting knowledge to work. The more often we seize opportunities to practice what we know, the higher our chances of stacking timeless wisdom. Practice means using what you learn as an opportunity to solve problems or change your life in some way. Learning to write? Write in public. Get to work. It’s the only way to truly learn it and stay proficient at it. “How can a man know what is good or best for him, and yet chronically fail to act upon his knowledge?” argues Aristotle.
Curiosity. “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom,” says Socrates. Curiosity ignites our imagination, allowing us to think outside the box, develop new ideas and explore new possibilities. In other words, it makes us smarter. Curious people ask questions about almost everything, even if it seems like a random thing to do at first glance.
Self-directed learning. One of the best ways to gain wisdom is by reading books by smart people. Reading is one of the oldest hobbies, but it also has many benefits. Reading allows you to expand your horizons and learn from different people and perspectives. The practice not only expands your knowledge, but also exposes you to other ideas and ways of thinking. It can also improve your writing skills, develop your analytical and critical thinking skills, and become more mentally active.
Meaningful conversations. A simple conversation with someone can change the way you think (they may have valuable insights or perspectives that you haven’t considered before). The same is true for one-on-one meetings, group discussions, or small talk with strangers. If you’re willing to take the leap and open yourself up to someone else’s thoughts and ideas, you can gain wisdom for life. “A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds,” Francis Bacon said. Lookout for wisdom sources everywhere.
Reflection. Life experiences are invaluable because they teach us something new and force us to think about our actions and how they affect others. Reflecting is an excellent way to get in tune with yourself as it helps you look at your life from different angles, reconsider your past decisions and find ways to improve for the future. It also encourages us to value what we have rather than focus on what we lack or don’t have.
Painter Helen Frankenthaler reminds us that everything — even the mistakes and misfortunes — is material for your next move:
“You have to know how to use your accidents.”
Writer and scholar C. S. Lewis on wisdom and skill acquisition.
“If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them.”
A free read on Medium
Carl Sagan’s Most Powerful Rules for Life Will Instantly Change Your Priorities.
I’ve read a lot of self-help books. A lot of them recommend the same ideas. But life from an astronomer’s perspective is different. Carl Sagan spent his entire career studying the universe. His ideas will change your daily priorities. His wisdom goes beyond astronomy. He had so much to say on spirituality and psychology. “Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious,” he said. Sagan’s rules for life are practical tools. They will force you to rethink your values in life.
Get them for free or donate what you want
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About me: I’m Thomas. My essays cross between productivity, philosophy, psychology. I also write a Fast Company column on smarter living. My readers include intellectually curious people from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Apple, BBC, HubSpot and Morning Brew.
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