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Wisdom (Part 2)

June 22, 2020


In one last Ardelt study to present, people with more wisdom have a greater sense of subjective well-being (SWB). Moreover, when those with high degrees of wisdom are faced with more intense or higher than average frequency of adverse life events, their SWB stays the same, or even slightly increases. In contrast, as expected, adverse events decrease the SWB of people possessing mid- or lower degrees of wisdom.

So what are the practical implications of evidence-based research on wisdom, aging, and adversity? 

  1. Wisdom has measurable qualities that people can intentionally develop throughout their lifespan.
  2. Wisdom is beneficial in helping people to face adversity and life trauma at all ages. 
  3. Aging facilitates the development of wisdom. The resulting wisdom may, in a positive feedback cycle, help the person to navigate the inevitable challenges of aging and dying well. 
Conclusion? Pursue wisdom! Do it early, do it now! 
 
  1. Learn to make decisions in spite of uncertainties, by paying attention and focusing on things previously unseen, and looking at the issue from different points of views to see other possibilities.
  2. Do acts of gratitude and kindness in your community. 
  3. Connect more with friends and family. 
  4. Manage emotions mindfully (especially anger), practice forgiveness, and develop humour. 
  5. Develop healthy physical and dietary habits along with meditation. 
  6. Engage in self-reflection of your purpose and meaning in life. 
My hope is that you will discover a bridge from Science to Faith in the process. Research has confirmed that in seeking wisdom, questions of worldview and spirituality are important. I pray that you will ask yourself those “big questions” of “who am I,” “why am I here,” and “why am I suffering.” In searching for your identity and meaning, I pray that you will be open to explore the perspective of Christian faith.

In the Japanese art of kinsukuroi, or kintsugi, lacquer mixed with gold is used to mend the cracks of broken pottery. The philosophy of kintsugi is that breakage and repair are part of the history of an object – worthy of being highlighted rather than hidden. Flaws become beauty. Likewise, we are the beloved but broken children of God, belonging to a community of broken people. When we pursue the path of wisdom using God's gift of revelation through Scriptures, alongside information from scientific research, we will be transformed as people aging well in our "golden" years.
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For further reading

Ardelt, M.; Jeste, D.V., (2018) Wisdom and Hard Times: The Ameliorating Effect of Wisdom on the Negative Association Between Adverse Life Events and Well-Being. Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2018 Oct 10; 73(8):1374-1383. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbw137.PMID: 28329810

Bangen, K.J.; Meeks, T.W.; Jeste, D.V., (2013) Defining and assessing wisdom: a review of the literature. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2013 Dec; 21(12):1254-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2012.11.020. Epub 2013 Apr 15.PMID: 23597933

Jeste, D.V. et al., (2019) The New Science of Practical Wisdom. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 2019; 62(2):216-236. doi: 10.1353/pbm.2019.0011.PMID: 31281119

Jeste, D.V.; Lee, E.E., (2019) The Emerging Empirical Science of Wisdom: Definition, Measurement, Neurobiology, Longevity, and Interventions. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2019 May/Jun; 27(3):127-140. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000205.PMID: 31082991

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1 comments

  1. Good post. Reflecting on these words of wisdom and the imagery of a broken yet beautifully mended pottery...

    ReplyDelete