Wisdom Workout

—Strengthening Minds

It is wise to align your worldview with reality.

Just as you regularly work out at the gym to improve your physical fitness, you can also regularly contemplate the following questions to enhance your mental fitness and live more wisely.

These questions, with links to materials that may be helpful in forming answers, are organized according to the two-dimensional progressive structure of the Infinitive [1] booklet and provide an alternative path through materials drawn from the Applied Wisdom curriculum.

The materials in each cell may be helpful as part of a regular contemplative practice or referred to in the moment as you encounter choicepoints throughout your life. This wisdom workout offers an abundance of information that users can explore in a variety of ways. For example:

  1. As you engage in your daily activities or reflect on your thoughts, you may encounter questions that resonate with your curiosity. These questions, like those discussed here, might hold significance in your ongoing quest for wisdom.
  2. You may wish to take a more structured approach to exploring these topics. For example, you may choose to focus on the question and associated materials in one cell each week or month. This will allow you to explore the entire set in one to four years.
  3. The questions may be suitable topics to explore in a Socratic dialogue, or the Wisdom Playground.

The organization of these workouts supplement the Wise Living Toolkit, The Wise Path, and the Living Wisely paths through the Applied Wisdom curriculum. Choose the path that best suits your present needs.

Part 1:

Ruthless Realism[2]

Part 2:

Analysis of Individual Heuristics[3]

Part 3:

Radical Optimism

Part 4:

Deep Felt Sense of Individual Shape[4]

The Four Agreements
1. Be Impeccable with Your Word

Being impeccable with your word means speaking with integrity, truth, and love.

Is this true? Does it correspond to reality? Am I acting in good faith? Does this provide hope? Is this authentic?
2. Don't Take Anything Personally

This agreement involves understanding that nothing others do is because of you.

Am I responding to reality or to criticism? Am I going along just to get along? Where is there hope? Am I relying on my well-founded self-concept?
3. Don't Make Assumptions

This agreement emphasizes the importance of clear communication and

the courage to ask questions.

What are the assumptions? What biases are influencing my beliefs? What are my limiting assumptions? What limitations am I assuming about myself?
4. Always Do Your Best

This agreement focuses on the effort you put into every action.

Where am I being intellectually lazy? How do I know? What actions can I take for the good? Does this make me proud?
Integration of the Four Agreements When integrated into daily life, these agreements help dismantle self-limiting beliefs and behaviors, paving the way for personal freedom and growth.
The Four Ways of Knowing[5]
1. Propositional Knowing

Propositional knowing is the knowledge of facts and information that can be expressed in declarative sentences or propositions.

Is this real? How have I come to this belief? What else is true? Does this feel true?
2. Procedural Knowing

Procedural knowing is the knowledge of how to do something.

How is my technique? Are my habits serving me? What is my mood? What are my gifts?
3. Perspectival Knowing

Perspectival knowing involves understanding from a particular viewpoint or perspective.

What am I not seeing? What else is true? What biases are influencing my beliefs? What are the possibilities? What are they experiencing?
4. Participatory Knowing

Participatory knowing is about being part of and engaging with the world in a meaningful way.

How did this become my truth? What are your recent experiences? Who is flourishing? Where do I belong?
Integration of the Four Ways of Knowing The Four Ways of Knowing provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and engaging with the world.
The Basic Forms of Fear
1. Fear of Self-Surrender (Fear of Commitment)

The fear of self-surrender, or fear of commitment, involves anxiety about losing oneself in relationships or obligations.

What have I got to lose? Who do I trust? What can become? Who do I love?
2. Fear of Self-Actualization (Fear of Individuality)

The fear of self-actualization, or fear of individuality, involves anxiety about standing out or being different.

What can I do? What am I doing? What are the possibilities? Who am I?
3. Fear of Change (Fear of the New)

The fear of change, or fear of the new, involves anxiety about the unknown and the unpredictable.

What are the inconvenient truths? What fears are inhibiting me? What needs to change? Who do I want to become?
4. Fear of Necessity (Fear of Being)

The fear of necessity, or fear of being, encompasses existential concerns about mortality and the meaning of life.

What ought I do? Am I worthy? How can I help? What will become of me?
Integration of the Basic Forms of Fear Understanding the Basic Forms of Fear helps us recognize the underlying anxieties that can prevent us from achieving deep alignment.

References

  1. ↑ Infinitive, by Thomas Schindler
  2. ↑ The Part 1 and 3 columns are derived from the two poles of the Stockdale Paradox.
  3. ↑ Availability heuristic
  4. ↑ Focusing
  5. ↑ The 4 P’S of Knowing – Per John Vervaeke
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