Smart vs. Wise

A story about what matters for our success in life

Recently I remembered something that one of my high-school teachers said at our High school graduation. At that time, I felt like I agreed with her, and what she said inspired me. Now, I realize that I disagree with her.

She said: “You are the smartest right now, as you will ever be in your life!”

She meant it because we had just finished exams for all of the subjects, so it made sense that we knew the most about everything because afterward, going to Uni, everyone focused only on a few of those topics.

Thankfully in the English language, there is a distinction between “smart” and “wise”; however, in my native language, Latvian, there is the same word “gudrs,” for both intellectually smart and life-smart (wise).

Technically it makes sense we were smartest then as we ever will be, and those words inspired me for that moment.

Now I can reevaluate those words against my personal experience and see how it is not true. Back then, I did not know anything about limiting beliefs. Any theories from anatomy lessons about how our brain and nervous system work felt like dry theories only doctors needed to know.

Theoretical and intellectual knowledge are excellent…