I'm a glutton for information
How to discern between wisdom and knowledge
“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” – Lao Tzu
If you are anything like me, living in the information age is evidenced by information overload and fatigue on a daily basis. The internet. Social media. Broadcast. Digital news. Books. Podcasts. Streaming. In 2023 alone, the amount of digital information created equaled 120 zettabytes. For context, just 1 zettabyte is equivalent to 5x the amount of grains of sand on Earth—an estimate beyond human comprehension, yet a growing staple of our environment and diet.
Everything around us is primed to penetrate our minds with information. And while there is great utility and privilege in the infinite access that technology has provided, I often wonder, to what end?
A few months ago I took interest in the cardinal sins for shadow self-exploration. If you are unfamiliar, according to Catholic tradition, the seven deadly sins are: pride, greed, wrath, lust, envy, gluttony, and sloth. I focused in on gluttony, as it reactively felt the least applicable to me from a literal/physical interpretation. After all, sin adapts to modern times. As I sat with the definition of gluttony as an overindulgence to the point of waste, I immediately saw how my ravenous appetite to “know” was not exempt.
My propensity for gluttony is powered by a Gemini sun in the 9th house. I love learning and as a result find myself addicted to the consumption of information. I’ve recognized this addiction for years, which is why I delete social media apps almost every other week, to the great annoyance of my closest, meme-sharing friends and family.
I recently came across the Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom pyramid, a framework that illustrates the progression of data to wisdom. This framework quickly showed me how our digital world is a grand buffet for my appetite and ultimately a hindrance to my spiritual growth.
Data refers to the raw, unprocessed facts and figures that hold little to no significance without additional context. Once data is given context, one is able to organize it to ask questions and provide informative “who/what/where/when” answers. Using this information, analysis and interpretation is possible, which can provide answers to deeper “why/how” questions. This gives information a sense of meaning that can be transformed into knowledge that identifies patterns and the relationship between things. The last stage is marked by insight, using newfound knowledge to solve problems and make wise, well-informed decisions that are in one’s best interest or that of the whole. In short: Wisdom is the embodiment of knowledge, not the hoarding of it.
When I reflect on the infinite scope of information I have at my fingertips and the myriad rabbit holes I tumble into, it’s imperative I ask myself, “Are the countless bytes of information I consume nourishing me?”
Sitting with this question long enough, I realized the unintended consequence of this type of gluttony. Overconsumption inhibits creative output. This is the waste that I understand as sinful.
The agenda of distraction is weighty and highly effective at keeping destiny at bay. Today is a good day to examine your habit of consumption. You are what you eat.
A loving reminder to myself: Be mindful of what and how much you are consuming. You are the only one who can discern when you are no longer being nourished. Junk food is still edible. When your needs shift, act accordingly. Being knowledgeable, yet disconnected from your Self is not a virtue. Wisdom comes from within. Trust your Spirit, listen to your body, and put your mind in its place.
To my fellow artists:
This is precisely the time when artists go to work—not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. That’s our job!
- Toni Morrison
We are creators. When one spends an inordinate amount of their time consuming, a lack of creation causes a natural sense of spiritual constipation. Clear the distractions that do not move you forward in the direction Life is beckoning you. It will strengthen the sensitivity and discernment required to assimilate and act on the wisdom that comes from your own lived experience. Your creative authenticity is what the world is desperately waiting for...
Stop consuming, start creating.
Get Curious About Yourself | Journal Prompts
What is your relationship to the consumption of information? How does this affect your mental, physical, spiritual health?
How have you experienced the difference between knowledge and knowing?
Choose one of the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, wrath, lust, envy, gluttony, and sloth) and with compassion, reflect on how it manifests for you in modern life.
If you see me, I see you
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