Not sure if I'm wise yet. This is just a collection of things that took me a long time to know/see; to spare you the pain of having to learn them the hard way.
Remember the basics: be honest, work hard, be trustworthy, make good on your word ( do what you say you will ), don't lie, cheat, steal, murder ( Ten Commandments ), and do to others what you would like for them to do to you. These seem trivial... perhaps not worth mentioning. But the fact is, life can get complicated in a hurry when you forget just one of these. And then somehow, the rest can become blurred and forgotten. Get back to these basics at that time.
The biblical Ten Commandments are actually a very good guide to a workable morality for any society. Our laws are based largely upon it.
It really is good to give. I've heard it's better than receiving --ya sure I guess so, but receiving is really important too. You can't give much until you've received ( or have ) something. So be a good receiver of God's gifts. Open yourself to God like you are an empty pot. Then when you're filled up you can shine like a light and give from the treasure inside you.
A part of wisdom is the ability to discern important differences between things. IE: People you meet on the street are different than your friends. And likewise, your boss is different than your friends or people you meet on the street. Your friends are entitled to more respect than random people on the street, and your boss is entitled to more respect than your friends. Do your friends put money in your pocket? Likely no--but your boss does.
Your boss/employer is the one who enables you to survive; to provide for yourself; to pay rent and buy food and even to provide for your family. So your boss is entitled to more respect than almost anyone you know. That is not to say that you should kiss your boss' ass. But... if you're going to kiss someone's ass, then your boss' ass will have the best payout.
Many ( all? ) problems are only wisdom problems. Everybody has heard about the poor guy who suddenly became rich via lotto, and then got broke again--or worse--within a year. That's all about wisdom, or lack thereof. Wisdom is a worthwhile goal. You can't have too much of it. But the lack of it is poverty and even death. There's just no substitute for wisdom.
Wisdom comes from God. Pray to God for wisdom / intelligence.
When wisdom and intelligence start to arrive, people may appear to become stupid and intolerable. That's when you must also ask for a loving and patient heart. Find a way to love and serve people even when they seem so unwise and unlovable ( that's when they need you the most ).
You may be tempted to give back the gift of wisdom / intelligence / perception; "life was easier without it... please take it back" you may think. Resist that.
Dress for success. Who is the weak and ineffectual leader in the office? It's the one in the polyester suit. The business attire of successful people is made of wool, silk, cotton or better--not synthetics.
Live debt-free.
Always have "screw you" money. This is money that enables you to walk away from a horrible situation in your life--like a rotten job--without suffering any devastating effects. If you think about it, you can still have "screw you" money even though you're in debt: just have enough money to make payments on your bills and loans for the next 3 to 6 months...then you won't be devastated if you walk away from your job/situation today.
For your personal survival, know that many/most of the people in this world are still very primitive, each of whom is ready to fly into a rage in a split-second over the slightest provocation.
It is natural to assume that government/world leaders are the cream of the crop; the very best of the human race. But in fact, it is seldom true. Power and virtue aren't always connected. People like to say pithy things like "virtue will be rewarded with privilege and power." That's true sometimes, but the practical fact is: money, privilege and power may or may not accompany virtue. They are where they are; they reside with whom they will.
The Proverbs book of the Bible is a great practical source of wisdom. Read it at least once. See also: random mentions of wisdom in the Bible.
Luke 17:21: "...the kingdom of God is within you." I don't think there is a more mysterious/profound passage in the Bible; it's worth some reflection. It's hard to understand: "How can a whole kingdom be within you?" But since we cannot possibly understand God, shouldn't a book about God challenge our understanding?
Hate and anger are not "free." There is an extremely high price to pay for indulging in these. Yet, you would never guess it by the way people live. We indulge in these negative emotions as though there were no consequence. But there is consequence! The life spent in hate and anger will manifest in one's countenance, and it's internally hazardous too. If you want to stay young and beautiful, live your life in love, acceptance, forgiveness, understanding and wisdom.
Beauty is only skin deep. But if you want to be ugly to the bone, spend a lot of time in hate/anger.
What is the one true religion? Real religion is about rejoining, reuniting or reconnecting with God. So maybe--if any of the world's religions actually work ( they connect you with God ), then perhaps that religion is suitable. Don't be afraid to trade up: If your religion isn't working for you--even though it's working for your friend--then maybe you should leave it. Again, the one true religion is one that connects you with God. There is no other.
Worship: Humans were designed for worship; it's an inexorable part of our makeup. If we don't seek the very Highest and worship That, then we'll land on something less and worship that. But you--as a human--will worship someone or something. It's a universal human trait, yet recognized by very few. Whatever we permit to grab and lock our focus gets our "worship". This is a great key and secret.
Some struggle is generally required to get to where you really want to be. Fight to focus on what is really worthy of your focus. Said another way: Endeavor to worship that which is truly worthy of your worship. ( Spoiler: it's God )
Let worship ( of God ) be your first step in warring with an enemy. Praise and worship have power to put an enemy at bay, and win battles. I don't understand how it works, it just does. You can feel it working. You can put it to scientific test.
Karma ( the law of cause and effect; of sowing and reaping ) is 100% real. What you give out comes back to you. Maybe not instantly or soon, but surely. People who fear/sense that they will reap some horrible results from their past deeds are usually the biggest karma-deniers. It's obviously good to avoid such folks.
Perhaps we are all only one person operating through many bodies, hands, eyes, and feet? Maybe this is the lesson of Karma? "You reap as you sow" reminds us that we should be cautious about what we do to others, because the same will be done to us. Think of it! It's like whatever you do to someone, you do to yourself ( although having some delayed response ). And maybe that's because we really are only doing things to our Self? Isn't this profound? Is there perhaps only one Great Self within us all -working through all these bodies that we call "people"? I don't know, but it's something to think about. It's kind of Zen.
Aiming high creates an expansion of view that words cannot fully describe. Consciousness follows focus. Looking up helps take you up. Then, from the higher place, what once seemed long is now short. Things that were big are now small. It's a much different view from the top of the mountain.
If you aim/shoot high--really high--and fall a little short, you'll usually land on something a lot better than if you hadn't aimed at all.
Dreams and Goals: One can achieve small dreams and goals while remaining close to home. But the attainment of bigger dreams and goals often requires journeys to far-away places. Sometimes, it's a place far within...as in mind or spirit; other times, it's in the physical world. People who won't venture far in any of those realms usually succeed only a little. Investigate this principle. Are there any exceptions?
Try not to break too many hearts along your path. Of course, it's unavoidable at times I suppose, but at least don't make a sport of it. If you're fortunate enough to live long, there will likely eventually come a time you'll feel regret for each heart you broke. If you broke many hearts for sport, your regret may be unbearable.
Sexual purity: Should we be celibate until married? I've come to regret pretty much all of the sexual intimacy I had before marriage. It's as if it steals little bits of your soul or energy; it seems to leave a bad residue that doesn't easily scrape off; sex creates and cements attachments that last unexpectedly longer than they should. Perhaps it's old-fashioned to encourage sexual purity until marriage, yes. But I get the wisdom of it now.
Women are very wonderful and should be valued, loved, protected.
A good wife is a blessing to her whole family; an ornery one is a curse to the whole neighborhood.
Love is most excellent, but a spouse who is also a good friend/companion/partner is a blessing and is crucial. That marriage can last.
Never be alone with another person's spouse or children.
There is a child in everyone, but it is often disdained and ridiculed. The wise will recognize, nurture, and love that child in people, and make exceptions and allowances for the same. This isn't just wisdom; it's love.
Women and men sometimes compete with each other... it's important to let the other side win sometimes. There is no wisdom in winning every battle with your mate; there is no wisdom in allowing your mate to always win, either.
Why do we put off the search for God until the latter part/end of our lives...especially when we have no idea how long we'll live? I don't get it. Life is extremely short. Live each day/week/month like it's your last because it might be.
Don't judge; don't ever think you are above or better than anybody. Beware the voice of the ego that separates us. Welcome the spiritual love that unites.
Listen ( a lot ) more than you speak. When someone speaks, give them your full attention. People love someone who is a good listener; they need someone who is a good listener. A great friend is a great listener. It's really important. Be a good listener--it could even make you rich. It will certainly make you a real friend-winner. ( Don't just wait to speak...which we all do sometimes )
There is something about Jesus that does seem to unlock God's mercy. Other religions without Jesus seem to also get God's mercy. But those with Jesus may enjoy a lot more of it. I've studied it a lifetime and still don't understand all of it. But the transformation of lives by an encounter with Jesus is indisputable, such as mine.
I invited God into my life at a very young age. Consequently God has blessed me and my entire family many times over.
Avoid evil people. This is simple common sense, ya? But how will you know them ( evil people )? You'll know them by what they do. They love gossip, setting traps, cutting down (by words and actions), destruction, stealing, fornication, and all kinds of weirdness too long to list. And if someone gives you a bad vibe/feeling you might trust that. Evil people are headed down, down, down and will take you with them if possible.
Bad company is worse than no company. It's OK to be alone. If this policy leaves you without a friend sometimes, endure it. Lonely is better than living with inmates in a cell.
Sex is just the icing on the cake; if it is primary to a relationship, that relationship is doomed.
Never let your first meeting with a neighbor be a complaint session; I mean at least don't be the one who starts it.
"Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor." –-Egyptian pyramid inscription.
Take time to figure out what you really want. It sounds trivial, but what you really want might be buried kind of deep within you; it could take some digging. It starts with finding a quiet place and asking yourself the question: "What do I want...really, really want?"
Read books about great people that inspire you; borrow life habits from them.
Find someone that is doing worse than you are and help them out. This is one of the best ways to help yourself out of a rut, in fact; not just karmically but instantly.
Before speaking ask yourself: is it kind? is it true? is it necessary? If not, maybe don't say it.
Hard work has its reward and laziness has its own reward too. Everyone in this world is engaged in the endless process of sowing and reaping whether they realize it or not.
Fear is a coward. Look directly at fear and it will flee; will no longer be an issue.
No one can say what another deserves. Most of us don't even know what we ourselves deserve. We all like to think that we ( or a loved one ) deserve "the very best." It's a sweet and proper attitude, sure, but there is no immediate way for humans to discern what is actually deserved. What we deserve relates to what we've earned; we've all earned very different rewards, and we've forgotten a lot of what we've done.
"Ask and you will receive." You can experience this directly in meditation; you can sense an immediate response. Meditation isn't necessarily a religion or an instrument that will save you. Rather, it is an instrument for realizing things about you and God, such as God's loving/giving nature; God Realization.
Note the tangible characteristics of wise people: • They are slow to talk. • They are quick to listen. • They are always thinking. • They evaluate every message. • Their response is measured and thoughtful. • They are wordsmiths; they do not waste words. • They do not talk to be heard. • They do not speak to impress. • They use words when absolutely necessary. • They use words to reveal knowledge. • They use words to elevate understanding. • Their primary goal is to be understood. • Their secondary goal is to share information. ― Rick Rigsby
Never make fun of anyone for some fault/issue, because if you do, you will probably have to live through it too, and you don't want that. Once you succeed at verbally breaking the practice, you can then work on breaking the mental practice of it. The meanness and violence within us is shocking upon first discovery. Not to worry, there is a cure.
Meditation is important because you set aside a time for God to pour Himself into you--washing away the dirt and then healing everything. Try to give the first 15 minutes to God every morning. If you have found another way to do this and you don't call it meditation--but it does the same thing--great!
Your future is decided by who you choose to believe. --Mike Murdock
You will never grow out of your dependency on God. It is only a trick of Maya that makes you think otherwise.
Dare to explore the worlds within you.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. --Proverbs 1:7
The Great Healer is the greatest treasure--the Unstoppable. The Lord is the Great Physician and The Remedy too.
You'll never successfully be someone else, so just be yourself.
Ignorance is really expensive.
Wisdom is better than money.