Stephen Cheng (AIA Premier Academy)
via Email Wed 11/30/2011 12:58 PM
WISDOM FOR LIFE
Wisdom of Emotions
Wisdom in Decisions
Moral Wisdom
General Wisdom
via Email Wed 11/30/2011 12:58 PM
WISDOM FOR LIFE
Wisdom, by Stephen Hall & Decisive Moments, by Jonah Lehrer (edited)
Wisdom is the pinnacle of human development.
We crave wisdom –seek it ourselves and wish it upon our children – because it will help us lead a meaningful and virtuous life as we count our days.
Wisdom is basically about doing the right thing.
This demands that we be guided by the proper aims of our life activities.
Every profession from banking to doctoring has a purpose.
It takes expertise and wisdom to translate the general aims and principles of a practice into concrete actions.
We crave wisdom –seek it ourselves and wish it upon our children – because it will help us lead a meaningful and virtuous life as we count our days.
Wisdom is basically about doing the right thing.
This demands that we be guided by the proper aims of our life activities.
Every profession from banking to doctoring has a purpose.
It takes expertise and wisdom to translate the general aims and principles of a practice into concrete actions.
Wisdom begins with an experiential awareness of the self and the world outside of the self. Wisdom can be defined as expert or sage knowledge concerning the vital, useful issues of life. It is based upon factual knowledge but is also shaped by uncertainty.
Action is important but so is judicious inaction.
Emotion is central to wisdom, yet emotional detachment is indispensable.
A wise act in one context may be sheer folly in another.
The difference between a wise answer and an unwise answer lay in understanding context and being flexible. (Many famous maxims flatly contradict one another – such as “A penny saved is a penny earned” versus “Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.”)
The proper frame or context is important to the judgments we make!
Action is important but so is judicious inaction.
Emotion is central to wisdom, yet emotional detachment is indispensable.
A wise act in one context may be sheer folly in another.
The difference between a wise answer and an unwise answer lay in understanding context and being flexible. (Many famous maxims flatly contradict one another – such as “A penny saved is a penny earned” versus “Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.”)
The proper frame or context is important to the judgments we make!
Wisdom of Emotions
Our brain is composed of a messy network of different areas, many of which are involved with the production of emotion.
Our emotion actually helps us think, decide and act.
In fact, if it weren’t for our emotions, reasons wouldn’t exist at all.
And without emotions we are incapable of making decisions – A brain that can’t feel can’t make up its mind.
The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) region of the brain generates pleasurable feelings by releasing the neurotransmitter “dopamine”.
And the process of decision-making begins with the fluctuations of dopamine which are translated into a set of predictive feelings! .
When our prediction proves true, our dopamine neurons secrete a burst of enjoyment.
Our emotion actually helps us think, decide and act.
In fact, if it weren’t for our emotions, reasons wouldn’t exist at all.
And without emotions we are incapable of making decisions – A brain that can’t feel can’t make up its mind.
The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) region of the brain generates pleasurable feelings by releasing the neurotransmitter “dopamine”.
And the process of decision-making begins with the fluctuations of dopamine which are translated into a set of predictive feelings! .
When our prediction proves true, our dopamine neurons secrete a burst of enjoyment.
Successful results breed habit and failures breed learning.
We are designed to learn from mistakes, errors and unexpected outcomes.
Our brain’s appetite for learning is especially stimulated by failure, because an error in prediction is what motivates us to find a new solution to any problem at hand.
Prediction error activates the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which is linked to the alarm centre of the brain.
It triggers anxiety. The ACC makes sure that future predictions are revised.
The brain begins generating new associations, looking for insights that would give new answers.
The ACC helps remember what the dopamine neurons have just learned so that expectations can be adjusted in light of new events.
The ACC is populated by a rare, long and slender type of cell known as a spindle neuron.
These antennae-like neurons are able to convey emotions across the entire brain.
The short term feeling is translated into a long-term lesson.
We are designed to learn from mistakes, errors and unexpected outcomes.
Our brain’s appetite for learning is especially stimulated by failure, because an error in prediction is what motivates us to find a new solution to any problem at hand.
Prediction error activates the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which is linked to the alarm centre of the brain.
It triggers anxiety. The ACC makes sure that future predictions are revised.
The brain begins generating new associations, looking for insights that would give new answers.
The ACC helps remember what the dopamine neurons have just learned so that expectations can be adjusted in light of new events.
The ACC is populated by a rare, long and slender type of cell known as a spindle neuron.
These antennae-like neurons are able to convey emotions across the entire brain.
The short term feeling is translated into a long-term lesson.
Human emotions are rooted in the predictions of highly flexible brain cells which are constantly adjusting their connections to reflect reality.
Our emotions are deeply empirical. Dopamine actually regulates all of our emotions.
The dopamine neurons automatically detect the subtle patterns in our experience of the world that we would otherwise fail to notice.
The perceived patterns are virtual representations of reality.
We make order out of our experiences by coming to recognize patterns.
After years of domain experience, the patterns just jump out at the experts.
An expert naturally depends on the emotions generated by his dopamine neurons.
His prediction errors have been translated into useful knowledge which allows him to tap into a set of accurate feelings he can’t begin to explain.
When anxious deliberation disrupts this subconscious neural memory, it could cause a temporary choking of automated expert skills. When the dopamine system breaks down completely – when neurons are unable to revise their expectations in light of reality – mental illness can result.
The neurons of schizophrenic are unable to make cogent predictions or correlate their firings with outside events.
Our emotions are deeply empirical. Dopamine actually regulates all of our emotions.
The dopamine neurons automatically detect the subtle patterns in our experience of the world that we would otherwise fail to notice.
The perceived patterns are virtual representations of reality.
We make order out of our experiences by coming to recognize patterns.
After years of domain experience, the patterns just jump out at the experts.
An expert naturally depends on the emotions generated by his dopamine neurons.
His prediction errors have been translated into useful knowledge which allows him to tap into a set of accurate feelings he can’t begin to explain.
When anxious deliberation disrupts this subconscious neural memory, it could cause a temporary choking of automated expert skills. When the dopamine system breaks down completely – when neurons are unable to revise their expectations in light of reality – mental illness can result.
The neurons of schizophrenic are unable to make cogent predictions or correlate their firings with outside events.
The timeless human virtues of emotional self-control, patience, compassion, moral judgment and altruism form the foundation of wisdom. T
he wise possess an uncanny ability to make good decisions; they remain calm in the midst of crises; they convey an almost palpable sense of emotional contentment, often in the face of considerable adversity or uncertainty.
Having mastered the art of coping, they achieve emotional self-awareness, emotional balance and emotional resilience.
They have learned how to extract emotional satisfaction from life while minimizing the amount of energy squandered on negative emotion.
When they experience negative emotion, they diminish the effect by a “re-appraisal” or “re-framing” process. (Heightening the activity in the cognitive area of the brain’s prefrontal cortex dampens the negative emotional arousal in the amygdala and insula regions.)
They have also learned not to squander their emotional capital on everything that might go wrong.
They stop worrying. The successful regulation of emotion is a vital aspect of wisdom. Therefore, the most manifest sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness!
he wise possess an uncanny ability to make good decisions; they remain calm in the midst of crises; they convey an almost palpable sense of emotional contentment, often in the face of considerable adversity or uncertainty.
Having mastered the art of coping, they achieve emotional self-awareness, emotional balance and emotional resilience.
They have learned how to extract emotional satisfaction from life while minimizing the amount of energy squandered on negative emotion.
When they experience negative emotion, they diminish the effect by a “re-appraisal” or “re-framing” process. (Heightening the activity in the cognitive area of the brain’s prefrontal cortex dampens the negative emotional arousal in the amygdala and insula regions.)
They have also learned not to squander their emotional capital on everything that might go wrong.
They stop worrying. The successful regulation of emotion is a vital aspect of wisdom. Therefore, the most manifest sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness!
Wisdom in Decisions
We tell ourselves stories in order to live. We understand our own lives as stories. Where we are in our own life story provides the context within which we evaluate relationships, experiences and make decisions.
Many of our choices involve balancing clashing principles or aims, or choosing between better and worse. We are always performing balancing acts, such as between honesty and kindness when making a friendly comment.
Many of our choices involve balancing clashing principles or aims, or choosing between better and worse. We are always performing balancing acts, such as between honesty and kindness when making a friendly comment.
Wisdom is shown in the consistency of our choices in getting what we want. The decision making process in humans is mediated by a two-stage mechanism. The first stage is broadly construed as a valuation stage.
This is where we set the values on the options that stand before us. The second stage takes that as an input and chooses the best option amongst the current choices.
The preliminary valuation stage is subjective and idiosyncratic. Valuation is a very complicated problem.
It depends on emotional state, habits, recent experience and symbolic knowledge (such as ratios and percentages. In human decision making, losses loom larger than gains.) One of the requisites of a good choice maker is to have a positive state of mind.
Let your beliefs, values and passions inform your decisions.
This is where we set the values on the options that stand before us. The second stage takes that as an input and chooses the best option amongst the current choices.
The preliminary valuation stage is subjective and idiosyncratic. Valuation is a very complicated problem.
It depends on emotional state, habits, recent experience and symbolic knowledge (such as ratios and percentages. In human decision making, losses loom larger than gains.) One of the requisites of a good choice maker is to have a positive state of mind.
Let your beliefs, values and passions inform your decisions.
The human mind deals with multiple tasks and decisions by mobilizing multiple systems of thoughts.
Both rational thinking and emotional intuiting are needed in good decision making. Conscious deliberation is good when the decision should be made on a few aspects but is bad when we have to integrate information across a large number of details.
When people are confronted with too many possible solutions to a problem, they can’t decide! – This is called decision paralysis.
The conscious brain can only handle about seven pieces of data at any one moment. Too much information can actually interfere with understanding.
When the prefrontal cortex is overwhelmed, a person can no longer make sense of the situation. The only way to break the impasse is to be able prioritize the solutions and edit down the choices to a small number.
This might not be an easy, conscious task to do in a hurry. Therefore, when faced with a decision involving a large number of uncertainties, intuition may be better than reflection. Intuition offers us a more holistic version of processing.
But, we cannot intuit a useful decision out of the blue without having the relevant experience that forms the foundation of expert knowledge.
A model-based thinking-intuiting system compares a possible future action or choice with similar situations we have confronted in the past.
The scientific method of learning is the process of going back and forth between reasons and reality, finding the prediction that matches the circumstance.
To be wise, we need cognitive and perceptual machinery that picks up on similarities without being blind to differences.
Both rational thinking and emotional intuiting are needed in good decision making. Conscious deliberation is good when the decision should be made on a few aspects but is bad when we have to integrate information across a large number of details.
When people are confronted with too many possible solutions to a problem, they can’t decide! – This is called decision paralysis.
The conscious brain can only handle about seven pieces of data at any one moment. Too much information can actually interfere with understanding.
When the prefrontal cortex is overwhelmed, a person can no longer make sense of the situation. The only way to break the impasse is to be able prioritize the solutions and edit down the choices to a small number.
This might not be an easy, conscious task to do in a hurry. Therefore, when faced with a decision involving a large number of uncertainties, intuition may be better than reflection. Intuition offers us a more holistic version of processing.
But, we cannot intuit a useful decision out of the blue without having the relevant experience that forms the foundation of expert knowledge.
A model-based thinking-intuiting system compares a possible future action or choice with similar situations we have confronted in the past.
The scientific method of learning is the process of going back and forth between reasons and reality, finding the prediction that matches the circumstance.
To be wise, we need cognitive and perceptual machinery that picks up on similarities without being blind to differences.
But, when we are confronted with something unexpected, something that doesn’t align with our prior experience, we need to pause to gather more information and evaluate more options.
When our dopamine neurons have no idea what to do, we need to tune out our feelings and turn to our prefrontal cortex for a creative solution.
So, wisdom is not simply a matter of knowing the best answer; it is a matter of knowing the best approach for finding that best answer. Wait long, and strike fast. Weigh and decide. We won’t always be making the right decision.
But we can always make our decision right! We can always learn and improve.
When our dopamine neurons have no idea what to do, we need to tune out our feelings and turn to our prefrontal cortex for a creative solution.
So, wisdom is not simply a matter of knowing the best answer; it is a matter of knowing the best approach for finding that best answer. Wait long, and strike fast. Weigh and decide. We won’t always be making the right decision.
But we can always make our decision right! We can always learn and improve.
Generally, it’s the easy problems that are best suited to the conscious brain. Complex problems require the process power of the emotional brain, the supercomputer of the mind.
Yet, we need to regularly question our emotions, being aware of its limitations (such as distortions through temporal discounting and loss aversion.)
Yet, we need to regularly question our emotions, being aware of its limitations (such as distortions through temporal discounting and loss aversion.)
Some wise guidelines to help us make better decisions are:
1) Simple problems require reason,
2) Novel problems also require reason,
3) Trust your emotions in your areas of expertise,
4) Embrace uncertainty and extend the decision making process whenever possible,
5) Be aware of the kind of decision you are making and the kind of thought process it requires.
To achieve anything of significance in life you need a firm decision and commitment. Commitment is an inner drive and determination to complete your goal, whatever it is.
When you feel passionate about your goal, you’ll always act on the knowledge and insight that will help you to achieve it. If it’s not important to you, you won’t be committed.
Your commitments will soon become a way of life
And your goals will give your life meaning
Moral Wisdom
Wisdom represents knowledge that is profoundly social, deeply personal, and adaptive - It is knowledge that is deep, broad and balanced.
It includes the ability to understand human nature, to perceive a situation clearly from many angles and to make decisions despite ambiguity or uncertainty.
It is applied flexibly to life situations for the wellbeing of oneself and others, and requires a synergy of mind and character.
It includes the ability to understand human nature, to perceive a situation clearly from many angles and to make decisions despite ambiguity or uncertainty.
It is applied flexibly to life situations for the wellbeing of oneself and others, and requires a synergy of mind and character.
The Hebrew term for wisdom, Chokhmah, suggests the concept resides in both the mind and the heart. The book of Proverbs can be read as among the earliest of self-help manuals.
Its code of prescribed behaviors – such as the repetitious injunctions against lust, infidelity and imprudent business affairs – is packaged as an instruction manual on wisdom.
Here, the fear of transgressions that would invoke God’s wrath on wrongdoings guides wise behavior. It is impossible to be practically wise without being good.
Its code of prescribed behaviors – such as the repetitious injunctions against lust, infidelity and imprudent business affairs – is packaged as an instruction manual on wisdom.
Here, the fear of transgressions that would invoke God’s wrath on wrongdoings guides wise behavior. It is impossible to be practically wise without being good.
Emotion infiltrates and influences virtually every aspect of cognition, including memory and reasoning.
A surprising amount of decision making is actually driven by the emotional mind, such as moral judgment that derives from ethical intuitionism in the emotional brain and not nearly so much from rational reasoning.
Emotions inform us at the unconscious but felt level what is right and wrong. Emotions like disgust do not merely tilt moral judgment; they wag the tail of moral decision making. They drive the whole process. (But emotions are not perfect.
Sometimes we need to summon enough wisdom to discern the occasions when emotion distorts our moral judgment, and enough courage to deflect the compass needle of our passions and point it towards loftier, meaningful goals. )
A surprising amount of decision making is actually driven by the emotional mind, such as moral judgment that derives from ethical intuitionism in the emotional brain and not nearly so much from rational reasoning.
Emotions inform us at the unconscious but felt level what is right and wrong. Emotions like disgust do not merely tilt moral judgment; they wag the tail of moral decision making. They drive the whole process. (But emotions are not perfect.
Sometimes we need to summon enough wisdom to discern the occasions when emotion distorts our moral judgment, and enough courage to deflect the compass needle of our passions and point it towards loftier, meaningful goals. )
At its core, ethical and moral decision making is about sympathy and empathy. “Mirror neurons” marbled throughout our brain enable us to feel another person’s physical experience, sense another person’s intentions. (Sounds of distress from another person arouse activity in the insula and anterior cingulate of our brain.) Such awareness is at the core of empathy, compassion and altruism.
Altruism is simply the antithesis of selfishness – A sense of fairness is central to many of the decisions we make.
Altruism feels good! It feels right! A psychopath is someone who is totally devoid of empathy.
We got to learn how to love before we learn how to live! Find people who will be supportive of you.
Child abuse can permanent damage the developing brain of a child –The biological program that allows human beings to sympathize with others is turned off.
Altruism is simply the antithesis of selfishness – A sense of fairness is central to many of the decisions we make.
Altruism feels good! It feels right! A psychopath is someone who is totally devoid of empathy.
We got to learn how to love before we learn how to live! Find people who will be supportive of you.
Child abuse can permanent damage the developing brain of a child –The biological program that allows human beings to sympathize with others is turned off.
Humility is a virtue that greases the wheels of group interactions, minimizing inter-personal friction and enhancing the odds for cooperation.
It’s an ability to perceive weakness, acknowledge mistake and be open to new ideas.
Patience and the element of time in decision making is another important dimension of wisdom. Because of the limbic system (which is the “instant gratification” part of the brain), it takes some kind of effort to evaluate a smaller present satisfaction as less desirable than a greater one in the future.
Temporal discounting is a form of “seduction by short term rewards”. Credit-card lending takes advantage of this flaw of the brain –the limbic impatience – that tends to overvalue immediate gains at the costs of future expenses.
Wisdom as it applies to self-control is really the awareness that what you do now predicts your future. On the other hand, a ham-handed concern with how every choice predicts your future can make you compulsive –The highest wisdom is the art of balance.
It’s an ability to perceive weakness, acknowledge mistake and be open to new ideas.
Patience and the element of time in decision making is another important dimension of wisdom. Because of the limbic system (which is the “instant gratification” part of the brain), it takes some kind of effort to evaluate a smaller present satisfaction as less desirable than a greater one in the future.
Temporal discounting is a form of “seduction by short term rewards”. Credit-card lending takes advantage of this flaw of the brain –the limbic impatience – that tends to overvalue immediate gains at the costs of future expenses.
Wisdom as it applies to self-control is really the awareness that what you do now predicts your future. On the other hand, a ham-handed concern with how every choice predicts your future can make you compulsive –The highest wisdom is the art of balance.
General Wisdom
The way we think about the phenomenon of “time” affects the way we choose to live our life. Time has its own momentum and continues to pass.
Therefore, why would you put anything off? You may as well act as soon as you can and get on with your life. Find your courage and commitment in the phrase, “Yes, I can!” Getting things done today for tomorrow, suggests a clear route that leads to success!
Therefore, why would you put anything off? You may as well act as soon as you can and get on with your life. Find your courage and commitment in the phrase, “Yes, I can!” Getting things done today for tomorrow, suggests a clear route that leads to success!
When faced with the inevitable and when there seems to be no choice, accepting the things that presently can’t be changed can give us the opportunity to stand back, see the options that do exist and get creative with our choices!
Put your energies into moving on to something different, such as a passion that you have put aside for quite a while.
In doing this, you are making a choice that gives you back a sense of freedom and control!
Put your energies into moving on to something different, such as a passion that you have put aside for quite a while.
In doing this, you are making a choice that gives you back a sense of freedom and control!
Certainty has more to do with people and their belief systems than with any given set of facts.
The anchoring effect of our mental focus can have a strong impact on our perception and decision. For example, the initial sticker price of an item is deliberately set to make the subsequent salesman’s offer price seem like a great deal. We have to be vigilant about not paying attention to unnecessary information.
The anchoring effect of our mental focus can have a strong impact on our perception and decision. For example, the initial sticker price of an item is deliberately set to make the subsequent salesman’s offer price seem like a great deal. We have to be vigilant about not paying attention to unnecessary information.
Successful people in many walks of life understand the importance of the right details.
Want a quick win? Fix the details.
It’s something you can instantly improve.
In a real sense, when you sweat the small stuff, you enhance the big stuff.
Paying attention to the relevant details leads to small improvements that add up to make a big difference.
Attention, precision, perfection. Well, sometimes good is also good enough.
Want a quick win? Fix the details.
It’s something you can instantly improve.
In a real sense, when you sweat the small stuff, you enhance the big stuff.
Paying attention to the relevant details leads to small improvements that add up to make a big difference.
Attention, precision, perfection. Well, sometimes good is also good enough.
To summarize, a wise person:
1) knows the proper aims of the activity he engages in,
2) knows how to balance conflicting aims,
3) knows how to interpret rules & principles perceptively,
4) knows how to read a social context,
5) knows how to take the perspective of another and do what is right,
6) knows how to make emotion an ally of reason, and
7) knows how to be brave in the midst of adversity and uncertainty.
In life, you must first be a certain type of person. Then do what you need to do in order to have what you want. Being precedes doing.
The right attitude leads to the right practice. This in turn leads to understanding and having the things that matter most in life – compassion, bliss, happiness, freedom and wisdom.
To do our best works, we must be fully absorbed in our activities.
Authentic happiness is a combination of engagement, meaning and positive emotion. The wise choose meaningful, engaging and discretion-encouraging occupations.
The discretion to use our judgment allows us to develop wisdom.
The right attitude leads to the right practice. This in turn leads to understanding and having the things that matter most in life – compassion, bliss, happiness, freedom and wisdom.
To do our best works, we must be fully absorbed in our activities.
Authentic happiness is a combination of engagement, meaning and positive emotion. The wise choose meaningful, engaging and discretion-encouraging occupations.
The discretion to use our judgment allows us to develop wisdom.
Life is for living
Live the life of your choice
Use your energy for vital things
Do the things you love to do
-JUST DO IT-
Be wise!
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