Have you ever watched a documentary or read a book about a philosopher and asked yourself how they became so wise? Have you ever wondered if you could develop your own wisdom? Wondered what the secret ingredient is to have a greater wisdom? Through my reading, research, quests, and practical experiences, I have discovered that there are three critical factors, or more specifically three interdependent pillars that need to grow simultaneously to build true wisdom. Each pillar needs to be addressed and involved in the process of developing your wisdom, and this is not going to happen overnight. It can be difficult. However, if you use the right techniques and approaches you can reach a new level of wisdom faster than you think. These three pillars are:

1. Knowledge

2. Critical Thinking

3. Personal Experience

Knowledge

What other word (one word only) could be used to describe knowledge? If you were to ask me this, I would answer: “WORDS”. Knowledge is acquired by reading or listening to WORDS.

Hearing and reading the words of others is the first pillar of building your wisdom. Many centuries ago (and still in some parts of the world) storytelling was a powerful tradition. This was often because not everyone was able to read or write, but everyone could hear. They would sit around a fire or in the community building and listen to the elders’ stories and exchange words of wisdom. These stories were transferred through the generations. Then, over time the stories began to be recorded in one form or another to help them reach more people. With time people became able to buy these stories in book format by themselves and read independently. Through this evolution, we have lost the tradition of meeting to sit and listen to stories sharing this wisdom. Yes, we have podcasts, YouTube videos, seminars, and online courses that can help us to learn and deepen our knowledge. But where are the events that involve a conscious process of booking, traveling, reserving time, sitting, listening, being fully present and immersing ourselves in the moment? We have lost this method of transferring knowledge.

Acquiring knowledge is the first step in the process of gaining wisdom. However, knowledge itself has no value if we do not analyze or dissect the content. It is crucial to take in what we have learned (words) and process it through our higher cognitive brain (pre-frontal cortex). You may wonder what is happening in the pre-frontal cortex? The answer is: critical thinking.

Critical thinking

“Knowledge isn’t power, applied knowledge is power” - Eric Thomas

This is a famous quote that resonates with me. It stresses that you can read all the books you want, listen to thousands of podcasts and attend hundreds of seminars, but if you don’t engage critical thinking in your process of thought you won’t further your wisdom.

Fiction books are good material. They develop our empathy, decrease our stress, help us to sleep (very important before bed), develop our interpersonal skills (relationships), stimulate our creativity and abstract thinking, and keep our brains healthy (avid readers have 32% less risk to develop mental illness). To develop wisdom, both fiction and non-fiction books are important. However, non-fiction books have different qualities. This is because non-fiction books engage our critical thinking, build our vocabulary, support know-how, support real-world connections, increase our memory and concentration, and improve our analytical skills, amongst much more.

Nonetheless, not all non-fiction books are equal in value when we are wanting to develop our wisdom. You have probably read many books, articles or scientific publications that were interesting but not making sense when you used your critical thinking skills.

The latest example I can think about that reflects a lack of critical thinking is the story of Keith Raniere, who was an American cult leader and founder of NXIM. In 2019, he was convicted of several federal crimes including sex trafficking, conspiracy, and forced labor to cite a few. In 2020, he was sentenced to 120 years in jail and given a $1.75 million fine. I watched the series about his life, his success, and his downfall. It showed that he was a very smart person. What he wrote and said was interesting. However, if you use your critical thinking and question certain thoughts, ideas, or behaviors, you can see that something was very wrong. Too many people followed him with a blind faith because they didn’t analyze what he said. They didn’t use their critical thinking skills. To their credit, I must say that Rainere had a very good understanding of psychology. He was skilled in manipulating his followers and his team. Was he perhaps a sociopath or a psychopath? Maybe he fulfilled the criteria. I am not a psychologist so I will let you answer this question. Rainere is just one example, there are so many others.

To develop wisdom, you need to think critically. Is what you read true? Does the knowledge shared through words reflect the law of nature? Are there studies and research proving the facts? Is it a philosophical thought that is universal? Does it apply to everyone? Does it integrate with my spiritual beliefs and my understanding of the Universe? Will what I have learned benefit others? These are a few questions to ask yourself if you want to become wiser.

It is scary to see people who suddenly join a movement, a spiritual practice (more specifically a cult or sect), or follow a guru/leader solely because he resonates with them at that moment in their life. Often, these people have not engaged their critical thinking. They were simply attracted by the idea. They found a place where they felt safe. They blindly followed their shepherd like sheep.

One day, I was blessed to share a ride to a seminar with an amazing woman. She was a high-level researcher in a biotech company. She was originally from India. She was very knowledgeable about the Sutras and Hindu religion. She taught Hindu philosophy at the local temple. We had an amazing conversation during the 3-hour drive. At one point, we talked about how to develop wisdom and what skills are needed to become a good philosopher/wise person. Her answer was very simple: analytical thinking. She said that wise people and notorious philosophers all have an extraordinary capability to engage with the analytical mind. She said that a wise person will use his critical thinking to question every sentence and word. I had thought that philosophers were free-flow thinkers, abstract thinkers, and that ideas just appeared to them like a revelation. Yes, perhaps I was naïve, but this woman highlighted that often wise people and philosophers have come from a scientific background. When I heard that, it gave me hope 😊.

Acquiring knowledge and applying critical thinking are the first two pillars. These two pillars are generated in our mind. It is mental gymnastics, but to really develop our wisdom, we need to add one more pillar: experiencing the wisdom ourselves. Our own personal experience is the third pillar. It can be an internal experience (inwards) or an external experience (outwards).

Personal Experience

“Knowledge is NOT power. Knowledge is only POTENTIAL power. Action is power.” - Tony Robbins.

This statement is true for wisdom as well. Knowledge and critical thinking only engage the intellect so far. We need to engage our body in the material world and act. True wisdom is acquired through living it. There are two ways of doing this: externally, by contributing to a noble cause and internally, by developing our senses and our mind. In both cases, we trigger sensations within by doing something for humanity that is making us feel good. We deepen our understanding of the world, human nature, and life. One is more action related, whilst the other relates more to stillness, like mediation.

True wisdom involves the application of wisdom into the world through personal experiences. Giving money to help an organization is not really a personal experience. It is a very good deed for sure. But it is not applied wisdom. Participating is applied wisdom. If, for example, you give money to help refugees with the intention to help humanity, you just stay on the intellect level (mind). You may create a vision about how the money will help someone or a family. You feel good about your deed, and you should. But if you really want to gain true wisdom, you must participate yourself. You need to immerse yourself. Maybe there is an organization close to where you live that is focusing on refugees. Invest yourself in it. Take action and serve. This way, you create a personal experience that will test your own wisdom about humanity. Maybe the three pillars will interconnect and give you a higher level of wisdom. Maybe it does not! It can happen both ways.

A few years ago, I gave a lot of money to a local organization taking care of youth. I really liked what they were doing (through looking at their website and brochures). I wanted to help the underprivileged youth. Later, I was invited to become a member of the board of directors. I was happy to contribute even more. Then, I discovered after a few months, that the funds were not used in the way they advertised. These programs were not running, and the money was spent on the salaries of a few people. Did I elevate humanity by giving them money? No, I didn’t really reach true wisdom with my interest to help humanity. My first two pillars were still intact. I needed to find a new avenue for my personal experience. It is when I decided to go out to Africa and help the youth directly. The circle was closed again. I felt that with my small contribution, I was changing lives, I was helping humanity. I created my own experience.

Personal experience can also be internal. Meditation is an example. Taking time for yourself, observing your thoughts, your bodily sensations and feelings can deepen your wisdom. It is a long process. But as with any sport that requires skill, like golf, tennis, or martial arts, you need to practice regularly to master that sport. Meditation is the same. We need to practice it with discipline on a regular basis. Personally, I do it every day. Meditation transforms and brings real results in this lifetime. It is slow and subtle. But it brings results. If you meditate for a month and nothing changes in the way you feel, think, behave or see the world, you are doing something wrong. It takes time to see and feel the subtle changes.

Lately, I have seen a change in the way I connect with people. Through my mediation, something has shifted about the energy I carry with me. People look at me differently and I experience more interesting conversations. I meet new people every week. Something has changed and I credit that to how I want to contribute to this world and how I want to serve. I started to dig deep within myself, by meditating (first personal experience). The ripple effect of meditation created new connections in the real world (second personal experience). I believe that through these connections, I will become wiser. I will have a better understanding about the shape and form of my contribution. Better ideas will rise. I strongly believe that through these connections, I will be able to grow and create something that will help humanity. I hope you don’t see that as being arrogant, I just believe that I can do more in this world.

Acquiring knowledge through words, engaging our critical and analytical mind, and finally experiencing externally or internally are the three pillars that can develop a higher level of wisdom. Staying on the intellect level is only half the process. Wisdom needs to be applied and physically experienced (bodily sensation, feelings). These three pillars are, from my research and in my own experience the keys to developing long-lasting wisdom. These pillars will continue to grow and reach the level of true wisdom which can only be experienced individually. We all have our individual paths, our own Truth which is basically by itself the Universal Truth. Read it back! Yes: We all have our individual paths, our own Truth which is basically by itself the Universal Truth. Let that sink into your soul for a moment…

Final words

In my daily life, I often observe what is happening in the world. As an ex-fighter pilot, I like to have the 50,000 feet God-side view. From that perspective, I have noticed two things that are concerning me:

The first one is about the thought leaders, scholars, and philosophers. I like to read books from people who have had an amazing life, who really brought the wisdom in humanity to another level. One of my favorite readings is a book about the Stoic philosophers (The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman). Through this book, I discovered a new perspective about wisdom. Even if the Stoics were born thousand years ago, their writings are relevant to what is happening in the 21st century. I noticed that most of the greatest wise people are people who lived decades or centuries ago. There was so much more richness of wisdom than today. It is harder to find words of wisdom from living beings in our current times. I am concerned that we are not growing the True wisdom for humanity. I feel we just stagnate. Is it due to technology which has advanced faster than our personal development as human beings? It could be. Maybe we are too busy and live less in the present moment. It could be too. The True wisdom growth curve is flattening and that is concerning me. It is not a good sign for humanity.

The second thing I noticed through many conversations with entrepreneurs, parents, and teachers (from elementary school to university professors) is the lack of critical thinking in the new generations. When I ask an executive or an HR person what is the main challenge with new hiring in the company, the answer is the lack of critical thinking. Why is that so? Technically, it can be explained through a lack of intelligence (let’s say IQ), arrogance (I know it all!), cognitive impairment or conditioning (belief systems that force people to think in a certain way, as in religions, sects, communities, clubs, tribes…). However, that is only part of the answer. When I reflect on it, I came up with a simpler answer. In my opinion, the younger generations rarely converse with elderly people, wiser people. In some tribes, it is common to send a young adult with an elderly person through an initiation to adulthood. Words of wisdom are shared. Before we had TVs, people will sit together, play board games, and tell stories. People will sit around the fire and listen to stories. They reserved time to sit with the community and learn. Young boys and young adults were exposed to older people who intended to share their own experiences and give those young men the necessary tools to lead a good, healthy, and fulfilling life. We don’t have that anymore. Everyone is locked on a screen. They may sit around a fire… but they all look at their phone or tablet. I think that this is a problem for the younger generations. We have created it by developing technologies that isolate youth more and more. I think we can reverse it if we go back to the source. Maybe we should have mandatory classes at school that educate youth in critical thinking. Classes where stories of the elderly are shared. I believe that this is the medicine for the new generation. It is the remedy to open their minds and expose them to new perspectives.

Better than school, I think that we should start to have campfires again, sit in a community hall to share stories and experiences. This is how we will engage young people in critical thinking, in connecting with others. Simple… a campfire… think about it… would you join? If yes, why not start one? Think about it…

- Hubert
YourHPcoach

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