The Wisdom Problem

In my journal from 2016, my thinking starts approaching a question that feels like it will be a good question for me. My journaling is asking questions about why I do what I do. Why do I do what seems to be bad for me? Why is it that I can sit down with a pen and a journal, review what I've been doing and then spend the following week doing the "wrong" things? Why is it that behaviours and drives and habits seem to make me do things that when I pause and review them, that are bad for me? Not even that. Why do I do things that can almost immediately have bad outcomes? How come I can be great at somethings, like my job, but be terrible at other things, like being a husband? My journals start identifying "authenticity" as a driving value. It seems that I want to live authentically, in a way that is authentic with a deep set of values. There is pain in living a life that is inconsistent with the deepest values of myself. But then the question arises, why are there "deep" values? What is authentic about them? What are "deep values"? Are they virtues? Are there different "depths" of virtues? Are there great virtues? and finally my journalling asks, "What is wisdom?"

I had a religious upbringing and even did lay preaching and lead a youth group. I still quote the Bible to give advice, "Start with "love is patient, love is kind". Once you've done those two things, you've pretty much done almost all that love needs you to do." But I want to have an explanation of values and virtues and honesty and authenticity that makes sense to the secular version of myself. And that was why the next question I wrote in my journal was, "Is wisdom a secular value?"

Over the nearly four years since September 2016, I've been asking myself questions about wisdom. I've wanted to become better at making decisions, and the overall framework has been, "what is a wise decision?". I've got so many demands on me, and I want to, in general, make more wise decisions than unwise ones. It seems sensible to be wise. But yet, it isn't a voice I hear widely. It is uncommon to consider wisdom or its pursuit. Especially in a secular world. But, that doesn't seem sensible to me, because by definition, wise decisions are good decisions, and good decisions must have an element of good outcomes. Good outcomes for yourself seems like a sensible thing to pursue. Asking, "What is a wise decision?" seems to lead you down a path of good decisions about your body, your health, your wealth, your relationships, your purpose and your legacy. So, despite there being no regular voice discussing this in the secular world, it has become something I want to think about. Because, regardless of you, I want to be wise for myself. Atleast future me can look back at past me and say, "Wise decision, bro. Thanks dude."