[One Thousand Characters a Day] The 7 True Conditions of Happiness <4>

Editor's NoteOne of the distinct characteristics of unhappy people is that they are 'not wise and fail to handle stressful situations appropriately.' Many people mistakenly believe that wisdom is an innate ability. However, life is full of difficult problems hidden everywhere. Anyone can develop wisdom through proper training and effort, such as cognitive training to change perspectives or create psychological distance from problems, and mindfulness meditation to cultivate empathy, humility, and calmness. Wisdom is also acquired and learned through various life experiences. Word count: 978 characters.

Throughout life, we make choices every moment. Whether to sleep more when tired, to run for the bus coming over there or not, and whether to spend summer vacation at the beach or in the mountains. We also have to choose our lunch menu daily and even contemplate whether to break up with a long-term partner. Even when buying a bottle of orange juice online, we compare prices for the same volume and read buyers' reviews carefully before clicking the purchase button. If the juice is for a child with severe atopy, we scrutinize the ingredients and choose organic juice even if it is more expensive; but if it is just to have a variety of options for an event targeting an unspecified crowd, we simply pick the cheaper one.

Relatively significant life decisions, such as what to major in at university, what career to pursue, or whom to marry, are also determined by individual choices. As Erikson and Baltes have noted, the choices we must make at each stage of life change somewhat as we age, but in any case, we live constantly making choices. And wisdom is needed at every moment of choice.

Without wisdom, one might be swept away by external circumstances and make decisions that go against living an authentic life. Viewing problems from a short-sighted perspective could even worsen the situation.

In that sense, wisdom is an indispensable element that allows us to make wise choices and move toward a better life. Therefore, wisdom is not a privilege reserved for great thinkers or sages but something necessary for all of us living life.

As a psychiatrist, it may be natural that I have taken an interest in wisdom. Many people fail to make wise choices in moments of anger or emotional turmoil. I am not particularly a wise person myself. However, what I can say clearly is that since I started studying wisdom, I have definitely become wiser than before. The more I learn about wisdom, the wiser I feel I become. Wisdom is the optimal form of behavior that only humans can adopt.

- Chae Jeong-ho, Seven Conditions for True Happiness, Influential, 18,800 KRW

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