Common Wisdom: The Science of a Meaningful Life with Dr. Laura Gabayan

Common Wisdom: The Science of a Meaningful Life with Dr. Laura Gabayan – Physician, Researcher, and Author

🧠 Want to know your Wisdom IQ?

Take Dr. Gabayan’s free quiz on her website: https://lauragabayan.com

🎧 Episode Summary:
What is wisdom—and can it be measured, studied, and strengthened like any other skill? In this enlightening episode of Linda’s Corner, Dr. Laura Gabayan, a world-renowned physician and expert researcher, shares groundbreaking insights from her Wisdom Research Project, which set out to scientifically define wisdom and discover how we can develop it in our own lives.

After facing a personal health crisis in 2013 that left her with unexplained symptoms and no clear answers from the medical community, Dr. Gabayan asked herself a powerful question:
“What would a wise person do?”

Unsatisfied with subjective, anecdotal answers, she turned her expertise as a researcher toward the question and launched a study of 60 individuals considered to be exceptionally wise. The results became the foundation of her new book, Common Wisdom: 8 Scientific Elements of a Meaningful Life.

Dr. Gabayan discovered that wisdom is not a mystery—it’s made up of eight key life skills that anyone can learn and strengthen:

1. Resilience
2. Kindness
3. Positivity
4. Spirituality
5. Humility
6. Tolerance
7. Creativity
8. Curiosity

In this episode, we explore:
🧠 How wisdom is defined and measured
💡 The life-altering power of perspective
🛠️ How to cultivate the 8 elements of wisdom in daily life
🧬 How trauma, illness, and adversity can be transformed into growth
📊 What her research revealed about living a meaningful life

Dr. Gabayan’s work reminds us that wisdom is not just for philosophers or gurus—it’s something we can all build, and it just might be the key to navigating life’s greatest challenges with grace and clarity.

🌟 Key Quote:
"Our hardest experiences are often our greatest teachers. Wisdom isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about how we grow through it.”

📘 Learn more:

• Book: Common Wisdom: 8 Scientific Elements of a Meaningful Life
• Research Project: The Wisdom Research Project by Dr. Laura Gabayan