Jelena Dincic
It’s easy to feel like you’re not as wise as some people, but the truth is that you may be wiser than you give yourself credit for.
In this article I’m going to share 20 signs that you’re wise (even if you don’t realize it), so read on to find out just how wise you are.
Let’s jump right to the first sign:
1) You think before you speak and act
If you are the type of person who likes to take a moment to think before they speak or act, then you are a wise person.
But, why? What’s the big deal? Doesn’t everyone think before saying or doing something?
Actually, no, they don’t.
Some people tend to blurt out the first thing that pops into their heads. They also do things without thinking about the consequences – like cheating on their partner because at that moment it feels good.
Thinking before you speak means that you avoid hurting other people’s feelings, getting into trouble, and saying something you may regret later.
And thinking before you act means that you’re not likely to act on impulse and do something stupid.
2) You are humble
“The only thing I know is that I know nothing.”
– Socrates
Sometimes the smarter you are, the less smart you feel.
I know that sounds a bit weird, but here’s the thing:
The more you learn, the more you become aware of the vast amount of knowledge out there.
You realize that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be even close to knowing and understanding all that the world has to offer.
3) You are open to new ideas
Another sign is being open-minded and open to new ideas.
Wise people don’t think that they know everything or that they’re always right. This means that when someone offers an alternate point of view, they’re open to it.
Does this sound like you?
4) You practice self-care and self-reflection
Self-care is about taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Self-reflection is about introspection and gaining insight into your thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behavior.
A wise person knows that self-care and self-reflections are important for their overall well-being and development, and what’s more, they can improve their relationships with others.
5) You learn from your mistakes
A wise person is not ashamed or afraid to admit when they’re wrong.
I really admire and respect when someone is able to own up to their mistake and to learn from it.
Only a fool will act as if they’re always right and everyone else is wrong (if you look at a lot of the politicians out there, you’ll see what I mean).
6) You’re able to look at multiple perspectives
This is related to what I mentioned earlier about being open-minded. If you’re wise, you’re able to look at a situation from multiple perspectives in order to best understand what’s going on.
You don’t just look at things from your point of view, but you try to understand how others see things.
This means that you have empathy, are a good communicator, and are likely to look for the best (and not most convenient to yourself) solution to a problem.
7) You take responsibility for your actions
- Do you admit when you’re wrong?
- Do you know when it’s time to say sorry?
- Do you work to make things right?
If you answered “yes” to my questions, it’s because you’re an intelligent person who knows the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.
You are accountable for the choices you make and their consequences which means that you are honest with yourself and others.
The world could use more people like you right now.
8) You’re patient
Patience truly is a virtue.
If you’re patient, it means that you understand that great things cannot be achieved overnight and that some things are worth the wait.
And what’s more, by being patient, you’re allowing yourself the space to think logically and make well-thought-out and informed decisions.
9) You think critically and ask questions
Another sign that you’re wise is that you always take what someone says with a grain of salt.
No matter the source of the information, you’re able to think for yourself instead of blindly accepting other people’s claims as the truth.
And not only that, but you’re not afraid to ask questions!
When something is unclear, you’ll ask for a clarification. When something seems off, you’ll point it out.
You want to understand why someone thinks what they think because you’re a critical thinker.
10) You’re open to change
As scary as it may something seem, the truth is that change can be a positive thing.
The world is constantly evolving, new information is coming to light, and if you want to thrive, you must change with the times.
So if you’re flexible, eager to learn new things, and a supporter of progress, then I have no doubt that you are wise.
11) You’re willing to take risks
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
An intelligent person knows that sometimes they need to take risks in order to make something happen. They’re not afraid of failure because failing at something means that you’re trying.
I mean think about it: How can you succeed in life if you’re too scared to even try?
The most successful people in life are those who failed many times before finally making it.
12) You seek out knowledge
If you’re constantly reading, watching the news, keeping up with current affairs, traveling, and looking for new experiences – it’s because you know that knowledge is the key not only to success, but to understanding the world around you.
13) You practice self-discipline
- You know that meditating or doing yoga before work is good for your well-being and that even though you may be sleepy, having the self-discipline to wake up at 6 a.m. every day will pay off in the end.
- You know that if you want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, or keep your blood sugar levels low, you need to eat plenty of greens, avoid sugar and processed foods, and drink plenty of water.
- And finally, you know that you need to finish what you started because you started it for a reason and because the feeling of having completed something (especially if it was challenging) is quite rewarding.
14) You have empathy for others
Wisdom is not all about how much you know, it’s also about having emotional intelligence and empathy.
If you’re able to empathize with other people, to recognize and understand their feelings and see things from their point of view (even when their point of view clashes with yours), it’s a surefire sign that you’re a wise person.
I think that if more people had empathy we could avoid many wars.
15) You don’t follow trends
You don’t do things in order for other people to like you. You don’t blindly follow trends just to make you fit in.
Take me for example, back in junior high, a few of my friends decided to experiment with cigarettes and alcohol but I refused. I knew that those things were bad for me and I wasn’t going to do something I didn’t think was right just to be cool.
If they were truly my friends, they would accept me for who I was. I think I was a pretty wise kid, what do you think?
16) You’re not materialistic
If you don’t care about money, clothes, and things in general, if you understand that life is about more than just things and that in any case, when we die we can’t take anything with us, then you’re a pretty smart and wise person.
17) You can forgive
It takes a wise person to figure out that holding a grudge is unhealthy.
I know that it’s not always easy to forgive someone, but, even if they’ve done something horrible and you don’t want to have them in your life anymore, forgiveness is important for your mental well-being.
You see, by letting go of your grievances you’re essentially releasing a lot of tension and negative emotion.
Thus, by forgiving someone, you’re freeing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment. And trust me, those can weigh heavy on the soul.
18) You don’t care about appearances
You really don’t judge a book by its cover, do you?
Whether it’s really about a book or someone’s physical appearance, you know that it’s what’s underneath that matters most.
Just think about all those beautiful book covers and beautiful faces that didn’t turn out to be very interesting. And all those book covers and faces that didn’t seem like very much at first glance that ended up being amazing.
19) You value quality over quantity
Would you rather eat an extra large meal at a McDonald’s or a normal or even small portion at a Michelin Star restaurant?
If you value quality over quantity it’s because you’re wise enough to appreciate the finer things in life.
20) You’re always learning
Finally, wise people are aware that learning is a life-long process and they embrace it wholeheartedly.
So if you’re constantly looking for ways to expand your horizons, if you feel like with every new experience you’re growing and evolving, then let me assure you that you are indeed wise!
