KNOWING, BUT NOT DOING 🤦‍♂️

Knowledge vs Wisdom: Why Do We Keep Making the Wrong Choices?

We all have knowledge. We go to school, read books, watch videos, and learn countless facts. We know what’s right and what’s wrong. But do we always follow what we know? Of course not! That’s where wisdom comes in , where it usually goes missing.

Take food, for example. We know that greens are healthy and fried chicken is not. Greens have vitamins, fiber, and all the good stuff our body needs. Fried chicken, on the other hand, is loaded with unhealthy fats, calories, and the guilt that comes after eating it. But what do we actually eat? The crispy, oily, mouthwatering fried chicken. Because, let’s be honest, who craves a bowl of spinach when there’s a plate of perfectly seasoned, golden-brown chicken right in front of them? That’s knowledge versus wisdom in a nutshell: knowing what’s good for us but doing the opposite anyway.

And food is just the beginning. We know staying up late scrolling through our phones will make us exhausted the next day, but do we put the phone down? Nope. Instead, we convince ourselves that just five more minutes won’t hurt—until it’s 2 AM. We know that saving money is smart and that our future selves will thank us for it, but that doesn’t stop us from splurging on things we don’t need. "Limited-time sale! Buy now or regret later!" And before we know it, we’re broke but at least we have a fancy gadget we’ll use twice before forgetting about it. We know exercise is important, but that couch? It’s comfortable. And those running shoes? Well, they look better sitting in the corner than actually being used.

Wisdom is not just about making smart choices; it’s about self-control. It’s about understanding that our future selves deserve better than the impulsive decisions we make today. But let’s be honest, wisdom is not always fun. Who wants to say no to dessert? Who wants to wake up early to exercise? Who wants to resist the urge to binge-watch an entire series in one night? No one. And yet, wisdom is the very thing that will keep us from regretting those choices later.

The real issue is that wisdom requires effort. It demands thinking long-term instead of making decisions based on what feels good in the moment. It means ignoring the little voice that says, “Just one more episode,” or “You deserve that extra slice of cake.” It’s about making choices that our future selves.

So, the next time we face a decision—whether it’s about food, sleep, money, or anything else—let’s ask ourselves: “Am I being wise, or just giving in to what’s easy?” And maybe, just maybe, we’ll choose the greens over the fried chicken. Or at least eat the greens first. Baby steps. Or, let’s be real, we’ll probably just promise ourselves we’ll make a better choice... starting next Morning.