It is possible that we have more options of what to do with our time today than at any other time in human history.

In many ways, this is a blessing, but it also makes life complicated. It means we have to make choices all day long, and this can be exhausting.

More than that, the fact is, our choices effect the world around us. They effect the people around us. Often in ways we cannot see.

It is hard to know the right thing to do. So, how do we figure it out?

Most people would say: learn more.

We assume more information will help us make better choices in life.

• Do you want to advance in your career? Subscribe to these YouTube channels about your industry.
• Do you want to be a better parent? Check out this podcast.
• Do you want to have a better marriage? Read this blog.
• Do you want to learn better habits? Read these books. (I saw in an airport bookstore recently that James Clear's Book "Atomic Habits" has sold a baffling 20 Million copies).

Will having more information will make it easier to make hard choices? No. Getting more information makes choosing more challenging.

Theoretical physicist John Archibald Wheeler describes this phenomenon:

So "learning more stuff" isn't the answer. How then, in any given moment, do we identify the right choice to make?

How do we find the wise decision?

Leo Tolstoy saw the difference between "learning more" (aka: knowledge) and "wisdom":

Wisdom is not "knowing more".

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do right now. It lives in this moment. Wisdom allows us to prioritize our knowledge and have clarity on what to do. Wisdom is essential for self-leadership.

In order to be able to make the wise decision, we have to prepare. Wisdom isn't something we can simply "turn on" when we need it.

In order to be wise tomorrow, we must take the steps today to become the kind of person who does the right thing.

Like working out your muscles to play a competitive sport. If we want to be able to make the wise decision when a complicated choice arises, then we must "work out". We have to add "practice" to our study.

If we practice leading ourselves, we will be more likely to have clarity when a choice is thrust upon us.

And if we don't do this? If we don't work to shape ourselves into wise people? Then we end up with much to lose.

When we allow ourselves to run by default, our self-centered drive for happiness will lead us. Then, we will have a hard decision to make and our wisdom muscles will not be strong. We will be more likely to choose self-preservation rather than self-leadership. We will do what makes us most happy rather than what is most good.

Tolstoy talks about this:

Wisdom is when we become less self-serving and more self-leading.

In every choice we have the freedom to choose between wisdom or greed. Self-preservation or self-leadership.

And, as the Avett Brothers' song reminds us

So here is a journal prompt for us:

How do I use my freedom? How do I "exercise" and strengthen leadership over myself so I can choose the wise thing when the time comes?

Thank you for reading this.

-Dave

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