14 Quotes to Help Cultivate Wisdom in Your Life

Wisdom is a trait people often associate with experience. Some people become wise as they age due to the life experience they have gained. Others live through unique or difficult events that make them wise in a way they were not before. If this happens at a young age, it may cause someone to seem “wise beyond their years.”

Therapists are often expected to be wise. Indeed, wisdom may help therapists know how to navigate a number of situations in therapy. Whether you rely on the wisdom of a support network, seek to grow your own wisdom, or both, we hope these quotes give you something new to consider.

“In wisdom gathered over time, I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.” -Ansel Adams

“Enlightenment for a wave in the ocean is the moment the wave realizes that it is water.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.” -Rene’ Descartes

“All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.” -From “It’s a Wonderful Life”

“Nine-tenths of wisdom is appreciation. Go find somebody’s hand and squeeze it while there’s still time.” -Dale Dauten

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“We’re all just walking each other home.” -Ram Dass

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” -Thomas Jefferson

“Holding on to anything is like holding on to your breath. You will suffocate. The only way to get anything in the physical universe is by letting go of it. Let go and it will be yours forever.” -Deepak Chopra

“We do not receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey through the wilderness, which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come out at last to regard the world.” -Marcel Proust

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” -Aristoltle

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” -Plutarch

“Anything that you throw comes back. All your actions are echoes.” -Satchidananda Saraswati

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” -Rumi

Wisdom has been linked to improved mental health. Some experts believe this is because wisdom can increase the likelihood a person will participate in activities that are meaningful to them. This meaning-building can, in turn, strengthen mental health. Wisdom can also lead to feelings of peace and may help people feel more confident about their decisions. 

There are many methods of increasing wisdom. Some people attend yoga sessions or practice meditation. These habits can help people learn to declutter their minds and gain a greater capacity for focus. This may make it easier to cultivate wisdom. Others suggest that pushing personal boundaries is a helpful way to increase wisdom. By breaking out of your comfort zone, you may gain new experience and learn more about yourself. Both of these things can lead to wisdom.

Self-awareness is often considered a cornerstone of wisdom. Talking regularly with a therapist may reveal new insights about the inner self. A therapist can teach people to challenge beliefs they hold about themselves and the world. Therapy may reveal new perspectives that can increase wisdom by allowing someone to see an issue from another point of view. Working through life challenges with the support of a therapist is one way to approach difficult situations with some extra wisdom and consideration. Seeking help does not mean you are not making an effort on your own. It can mean you are drawing from the wisdom of others who can encourage you to face challenges in healthy ways.

Reference:

Webster, J. D., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2014). Wisdom and mental health across the lifespan. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2(69), 209-218. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbs121

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