There are many definitions of wisdom but I find this to be more encompassing:
“Wisdom is the ability to make a decision based on the combination of knowledge, experience, and intuitive understanding.” -Advanced English Dictionary
It involves the aptitude to understand and appropriately apply one’s knowledge, navigating each situation with the right actions. The capability to discern between right and wrong is integral to wisdom.
Your decisions, choices, and way of life serve as indicators of the extent of your wisdom.
Becoming a wise woman, much like embodying authenticity, is an ongoing journey rather than a destination. Wisdom is a continuous pursuit throughout life, allowing for constant learning.
Continual pursuit of wisdom is inherent in the human experience, as there is no definitive endpoint. Therefore, acquiring wisdom is an ongoing process that can be cultivated.
Who qualifies as a wise woman? What distinguishes her from others? What characteristics define a wise woman, and how does her behavior set her apart on the path to wisdom?
1. A wise woman takes life seriously
A woman with wisdom comprehends the sacredness and significance of life, leading her to live purposefully and with zeal.
Recognizing the finite nature of existence, she seizes every opportunity to make the most of her life.
Her intentional and passionate approach contrasts with a lackadaisical lifestyle, as evident in her thoughtful life decisions.
Do you take life seriously or you’re ‘anything goes’ kind of woman?
By taking life seriously, I don’t mean you go around with a serious face and not take things easy.
I mean you value life and decide to live it well.
2. A wise woman makes quality decisions
A woman of wisdom recognizes that life revolves around decision-making. Understanding that one’s life is shaped by the choices and decisions one makes, she invests time in ensuring the quality of her decisions.
She refrains from impulsive choices, demonstrating a deliberate and thoughtful approach to decision-making.
3. She’s a passionate knowledge seeker
Given that wisdom involves the proper utilization of knowledge, a wise woman is a dedicated seeker of knowledge.
You can’t apply what you don’t know.
A wise woman is always seeking knowledge through reading, listening to respected wise people, and asking questions.
A wise woman has a functional library, an inquisitive mind, and a humble heart.
These help her to garner the knowledge that makes her wise.
“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” Proverbs 18:15 MSG
4. She seeks counsel and heeds to it
Recognizing the wisdom in the proverb “in the multitude of counsel, there is safety,” a wise woman seeks advice before making significant life decisions.
She respects the wisdom of people that have gone ahead of her, she taps into their wisdom.
She’s not wise in her own eyes. She doesn’t claim to know it all.
She understands that wise counsel can save her from avoidable mistakes.
5. She learns from her mistakes/experiences
Remember wisdom is the ability to make decisions from experiences as well.
A wise woman doesn’t have a short term memory when it comes to her experiences/mistakes. She learns from them and is careful not to make the same mistake again.
What wisdom is there in making the same mistakes over and over again?
Only a dull mind doesn’t learn from their mistakes.
6. She learns from others’ experiences/mistakes
The saying goes, “experience is the best teacher,” but a wise woman grasps that it doesn’t necessarily have to be her personal experience.
As a matter of fact, it’s wiser to learn from other people’s experiences and mistakes than always waiting to learn from yours.
Even though there are some mistakes you’ll make in life, learning from others’ mistakes will minimize the mistakes you make and prevent you from repeating others’ errors.
Instead of mocking others for their mistakes, a wise woman learns from them.
7. She associates with wise people
A wise woman understands that “he that walks with the wise shall be wise but the companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).
A wise woman understands that your company can either make or mar you, so she chooses her association wisely.
8. She thinks before she speaks
A wise woman understands that her word is her power. She understands that “life and death are in the power of the tongue”. Proverbs 18:21
A wise woman doesn’t speak carelessly. She’s mindful of her words because her words could either trap her or bring her freedom.
Not only that, she understands the influence of words on others, so she chooses her words carefully.
A wise woman thinks. She’s a thinker.
9. She doesn’t live for the moment
A wise woman understands that actions have ripple effects, thus, a decision she makes now could affect her or others in the future in some way.
A wise woman doesn’t live for the moment. She thinks about the future. She’s futuristic. She makes plans. She doesn’t leave her future to chance.
10. A wise woman is spiritual
A wise woman possesses the understanding that life extends beyond what can be perceived by the physical eyes.
She understands that everything – humans and all the wonders of the world couldn’t have been a product of the big bang theory.
She’s wise enough to know that every creature has a creator, that there is superior wisdom behind every human wisdom.
So, Instead of ignoring the creator because she doesn’t understand some things, she seeks to know the creator to understand.
A wise woman seeks to know God. She’s spiritual.
A wise woman is not a perfect woman. Far from it.
She’s just a woman who understands the value of life and seeks to live it well.
Source: Olubunmi Mabel
