Knowledge isnt power. Heres what is.

Knowledge isnt power. Heres what is.Knowledge isnt power. Heres what is.Never in the history of mankind have humans enjoyed such an abundance of knowledgethan in todays digital age.Since the emergence of the internet, we have had unprecedented access to thousands of years worth of information, at the tip of ur fingers.We are spoilt for choice of self-help books, podcasts, articles, videos, courses, seminars and much more.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTheres a widespread belief that knowledge is power the more information we consume, the greater the odds of success in our endeavors.But has this abundance of knowledge made us better off than before? Since we all have access to a similar knowledge base, why do so few people enjoy success?It would appear that the major difference between people who live a rich, fulfilling life and those who dont, isnt knowledge. Its something much more powerful.Its wisdom.The Key Differences Between Knowledge and WisdomThe saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge beinaheer than society gathers wisdom.? Isaac AsimovWe often mistake knowledge for wisdom and wisdom for knowledge.Knowledge is potential power- like a paintbrush in your hands. Its the accumulation of information and facts through reading or dialogue.Conversely, wisdom is applied knowledge- knowing exactly how to use the paintbrush to create a desired image. Its the synthesis of experience with knowledge to derive truths that linger for the rest of your life.Knowledge isgivenand easily accessible, even to the foolish person. But wisdom isearnedthrough learning from mistakes in the real world.One can gain knowledge, but one does not seek wisdom- it emerges when least expected.Knowledge paves the path for wisdom, but wisdom is the doorway that reveals truths in the external world that already reside in the internal one.Knowledge is proud tha t he has learned so much, wisdom is humble that he knows no more.1Knowledge is the tool. But wisdom is the treasure.Knowledge is only useful in the face of certainty. Wisdom is always useful both in times of certainty and uncertainty.These are some of the key distinctions that highlight the superiority of wisdom over knowledge.The question then is How do we discover the treasure of wisdom from the sea of knowledge out there?The Age of Knowledge ObesityReading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge it is thinking that makes what we read ours.? John LockeThe two Greek words philo and sophia from which the word philosophy is derived, literally meanslove of wisdom.No other society in history has embodied this love of wisdom anymore than the Ancient Greeks, whose favorite pastime involved sharing knowledge and engaging in intellectual discourse.The Ancient Greeks believed that the body and mind were inseparable a fit body attached to an unfit mind was rendered useless.It is no surprise then that the Ancient Greeks gave birth to the greatest thinkers of all-time including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.Their wisdom brought us the alphabet, democracy, science and mathematics, philosophy, the jury, schools, and much more.But much like today, the Ancient Greeks were exposed to an abundance of information and knowledge.So, how did they sift through the noise of knowledge to extract the wisdom that transformed the world?According to the Ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius, this can be broken down into three simple stepsBy three methods we may learn wisdomFirst, by reflection, which is noblestSecond, by imitation, which is easiestand third by experience, which is the bitterest.Whilst this may seem straightforward, its shocking that modern society is yet to take the first step ofreflection.Were on a rat race to get things done as fast as possible, so we make no time for much-neededsolitude.Were quick to buy the most popular books on the The New York Times Be st Seller list, yet we fail to reflect on the knowledge weve consumed- or worse, we dont even read it, leave the books to collect dust on our shelves and show off our unread book collections to others.Theres much talk in the media about physical obesity caused by excessive food consumption. But what about mental obesity caused by excessive information consumption?Just like fast food, consuming self-help information can be extremely addictive, as we hope to someday discover the magical bullet to solve all of our problems.Like an addict, we hop from one source of information to another, never satisfied with what weve consumed.The irony is that our over-consumption of information has led to the inverse of what we had expected instead of being inspired to take action, were paralyzed and overwhelmed.Beneath the surface, our manic search for knowledge is an excuse to procrastinate and hide behind our fears- we know a lot, but have little to show for it.Nowadays, any Tom, Dick, and Harry c an claim to be an expert and share their opinions on any topic, with little experience.Meanwhile, so-called experts with decades of experience, know-it-all but lack wisdom. In fact, they are the mostsusceptible to making the worst decisions and predictions.If an overweight person wishes to shed excess fat and get in shape, they exert their body through exercise.In a similar fashion, if we wish to shed excess knowledge and gain wisdom, we need to exert our mind, through deep reflection.Humility Is the Key to WisdomWhen pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.- King Solomon, Proverbs 112.Knowledge isnt power, its the potential of power. And that power is wisdom.Through reflection, action, and experience, we can tap into our inner wisdom. But this isnt possible without one key ingredient humility.Without humility, its impossible to gain wisdom. As the Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates said The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.Alongside wisdom, humility opens our minds tonew ways of thinkingthat help us makeoptimal decisions.In todays noisy world, it has become extremely difficult to decide whos advice to listen to and who to ignore. Youd be hard-pressed to find a wise person, as their voices are drowned by the noise.When in doubt, tune your ears to the voice of the humble person.Because not all knowledgeable people are wise. But all wise people are knowledgeableandhumble.This article first appeared on Mayooshin.com.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people