Having wisdom isn’t about being the loudest in the room, or the one who has the most to say.

Usually, wise people are those that don’t talk much at all.

It’s through the way they see and interpret the world that they express their wisdom.

It’s through the way they interact with others and navigate situations with poise, ease and a sense of confidence.

If you want to learn how these people manage to express wisdom without saying a word, here are 5 ways they do so, according to psychology.

1) Active listening

Active listening is not just about sitting next to someone as they talk.

This is passive listening, and anyone can do that.

But active listening means being involved in the conversation, even though you may say minimal things.

It’s about actively absorbing the information given, processing this, and eliciting appropriate responses.

Some examples of active listening include:

• Nodding at the person in understanding
• Paraphrasing what they say to clarify or show that you’re following the conversation
• Verbalizing your emotions
• Giving encouragement 

According to psychology, active listening is about acknowledging the speaker’s internal frame and reflecting their emotions.

By doing so, the speaker will feel that their emotions and opinions are validated.

Active listening is regarded as an expression of wisdom because it takes a level of understanding to be involved in conversations while exercising restraint and being open-minded to receive and process opinions that may be wholly different from yours.

If you want to be someone wise without saying a word, practice active listening.

Another way you can achieve this is…

2) Use appropriate body language when interacting with others

Research states that about 80% of communication is non-verbal, from our body language, and our facial expressions, to even the way we dress and present ourselves.

Therefore when we want to express wisdom, it’s important to exude confidence in the way we carry ourselves.

Instead of walking with a hunched posture, try walking with an upright posture, with your head held high.

When you speak, enunciate your words, rather than mumble through them quickly.

This allows people to sense that you know what you’re talking about.

And when you interact with people, ensure your handshakes are firm – there’s a lot that can be communicated through just one handshake.

When you’re speaking to others, it’s also important to be aware of what you’re communicating.

Are your arms folded?

This could show that you’re uninterested or closed off to what the other person has to say.

Are you fidgeting? This could show that you’re bored and want to leave.

Rather, show that you’re involved and want to know more by leaning in, maintaining eye contact, and remaining still.

Show that you’re open to the conversation and that you have a willingness to understand.

Being aware of your body language goes a long way in expressing your confidence in various situations, which tells people that you’re someone who’s in the know.

3) Exercising restraint before saying the first thing that comes to mind

This may be challenging to do because we all have preconceived notions and biases on certain topics and people due to our past experiences and upbringing.

But wise people know how to exercise restraint when speaking to others and allow the person to express themselves before saying a word.

When I first meet a new group of people, I often have to exercise restraint in not only expressing myself verbally but non-verbally as well.

If they say something that I don’t entirely agree with, I’ll stop myself from frowning or shaking my head – which are reflex responses to contrasting opinions.

This is different from being someone who accepts everyone’s opinions because there are situations when it’s important for you to speak up and stand your ground.

But exercising restraint is important because it shows that you’re someone who weighs different perspectives before making a judgment, rather than shutting down the opinions of others just because they differ from yours.

It also helps you avoid having a narrow mindset on things, which can lead to a very closed-off view of the world.

Notably, this is also a sign that you’re someone who will…

4) Be open to learning

Being open to learning is important if you want to show that you’re a wise person.

Wise people are always seeking different perspectives and experiences. They want to enrich their worldview by traveling to different places and meeting new people.

And when they do, they will keep an open mind, rather than enforce their opinions on things, which limits their ability to expand their worldview. 

According to psychology, people who are wise appreciate diverse ideas and promote a broad understanding of the world, which makes it easier for them to improve because they are constantly altering their perspective. 

Moreover, instead of waiting for information to come to them, they take the initiative to seek out knowledge by reading, traveling, and researching new experiences. 

They also understand that there’s no clear distinction between black and white when it comes to any given situation.

Instead, they appreciate the big picture and the nuances in between.

5) Acknowledging your mistakes

Another key sign that you’re a wise person is that you acknowledge your mistakes.

By doing so, you admit that you don’t know everything and are open to correction.

It shows that no matter what age or stage of life you’re at, you remain humble enough to listen to what others have to say.

As one grows older, it’s easy to think that we have all the answers, especially when we speak to people younger than us, who haven’t experienced as much as us.

But the truth is, learning can take place at any time and you can learn from anyone, regardless of age or life stage.

An older person may have the benefit of experience, but the younger person brings a fresh, newer perspective on situations that could complement the views of the older person.

Therefore, being humble enough to understand that one doesn’t have all the answers, is a clear way that they’re wise – without having to say a word.

Final thoughts

We never stop learning. No matter how old we are, there is always something new to experience and learn.

Wisdom is the embodiment of patience, humility, and navigating situations and people around us with intelligence.

Rather than telling the world how smart you are, pursuing wisdom can be done in a quiet manner.

People don’t need to be told you’re wise, it’s something they can sense when you walk into the room.

It’s about how you carry yourself and present yourself in conversations that make all the difference.