Why learning more might not make you happier
A common trap we fall into is the pursuit of endless amounts of knowledge, believing that it will make us happier. We are left wondering why our determined acquisition of knowledge doesn’t yield the happiness we hoped for. Each time, we set our sights on the ever-next piece of knowledge, because *that* will be the one that finally makes a difference.
What we really need for happiness is wisdom.
Wisdom is taking what you have learned and using it practically and skillfully to transform yourself and the world around you for the better. We could spend years transforming one piece of existing knowledge into wisdom: embodying it, sharing it, and using it to make real, tangible change for the greater good. And in the process of doing so, we experience a deeper and more lasting state of happiness.
Maybe you don’t need more information right now. Maybe you don’t need to consume more of other people’s knowledge. Maybe what you need right now is to take what you are, have and know, and decide to put it to use: to cultivate your character, support those around you, and create something that makes the world a bit brighter.
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