Wise Up

What’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom? If we have knowledge we know a 'whole bunch of stuff'. If we have wisdom we know how to use or apply the 'whole bunch of stuff'!

Knowledge is passive. Wisdom is active. Having knowledge means we can remember facts from history. Having wisdom means we can learn from history. Knowledge is useless if it’s not used or applied.

Most of us have met people who have numerous degrees or who have travelled the world, and yet they don’t actually seem very wise. And most of us have also met people who have no formal education and yet they hold incredible wisdom.

In the fields of psychology and education, wisdom is often linked to what American Professor Howard Gardner in his 1983 book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences named 'intrapersonal’ intelligence.
Not to be confused with inter-personal intelligence, which is being able to relate well to others, ‘intrapersonal’ intelligence is the ability to know yourself well. This includes an awareness and understanding of your emotions, goals and motivations.
Excellent leaders, managers, motivators and coaches are high in this intelligence. They have to be. We can’t know others well to inspire them, if we don’t know ourselves, can we? 
To build your own intra-personal intelligence, your wisdom, you could attend seminars and read information that deals with the development of your emotions, values and motivations. Personal Coaching is also a popular and valuable way to quickly and easily increase your intra-personal intelligence.

And it's possible that... it's not what you know, or who you know, that matters most, but how you use what you know!