Intelligence and wisdom are incredible qualities to possess. Both these qualities are different from each other. They seem to have similar traits but they are very different. It is very much possible to have both these qualities in a single person.
How Wisdom and Intelligence Differ?
To understand the difference between the two terms, we need to know their meanings. Wisdom is something that includes the qualities of having experience, good judgment and knowledge. People with wisdom pick up from the experiences of life and recall them whenever they need it in reality. On the other hand, intelligence is the ability to learn and apply knowledge/skills whenever required. Intelligence is about applying the intellect and using the correct logic to make decisions or solve problems in life.
Wisdom or Intelligence, Which is More Important?
Some people may pick one quality over the other. But in reality, both wisdom and intelligence are equally important. Ideally, both these qualities can be used at different stages or situations of life. Like for example, to make a decision, you would use your intelligence but when it comes to reading between the lines, wisdom is important. So both the qualities are essential and having them is always good.
There would be times when it would be difficult to know whether the thoughts are coming from your intelligence or wisdom. To help you identify in such a scenario, here are some of the strategies.
- When the decisions are taken based on facts, it is coming from your intelligence. Whereas when your decision is based on gut feeling or intuition, it is coming from your wisdom.
- When you make decisions or solve problems in life, you know which side between intelligence and wisdom is more accurate most of the time. So when you make decisions, find out which side is stronger and leads you to better results.
- When you having a tough time making a decision, ask others what have they done in that situation. Ask them the reasoning for the decision. Process their answers and find out which decision between your intelligence vs. wisdom would be better.
Life will always through up challenges at you and you must be prepared to handle them well. When a situation gets tough a person with a higher IQ may not seem fully equipped to deal with the challenges. Sometimes to sail through the rough times in life you need experience and wisdom. Similarly, in some situations, you would need only skill and knowledge. During those times intelligence is important.
It would not be wrong to say that both wisdom and intelligence are incredible qualities to possess. Our life decisions will always be a balance between wisdom and intelligence. On some days you will need years of experience, on other days you will need to exercise your intelligence. Therefore, with a deeper understanding and learning about yourself, you can turn into a better person using both these qualities. If you want to learn more about intelligence and wisdom, you may get in touch with Living In Wellbeing’s expert counsellors.
