Solomon's Paradox is simple, but brutal once you see it: You're wise when judging others... and irrational (not thinking clearly) when judging yourself. Named after King Solomon, the guy famous for wisdom, yet historically terrible at running his own life. When it's someone else's problem, you: - zoom out - consider long-term consequences - see multiple perspectives When it's your problem, you: - get emotionally entangled (caught up inside it) - narrow your thinking - protect your ego instead of truth So your intelligence doesn't drop, your perspective collapses. Bias check (this is where most people fool themselves) Assumption: "I just need to think harder about my problems." That's wrong. Distortion: You're under egocentric bias (seeing everything from your own emotional center), which: - amplifies fear and desire - filters out inconvenient truths - makes bad decisions feel justified Fact: People consistently give better advice to others than to themselves (shown in behavioural psychology studies). Think in two modes: • First-person mode → reactive, emotional, identity-protecting • Third-person mode → strategic, detached, truth-seeking Solomon's Paradox = getting stuck in first-person when it matters most. Don't "try to be wiser." That's vague and useless. Instead, change the frame you think in: 1. Self-distancing, Ask: "If my friend were in this situation, what would I tell them?" 2. Third-person journaling: Write about your situation using your own name, not "I" 3. Time projection: "What will I think about this in 1 year?" 4. Advisory simulation: Imagine you're being paid to advise yourself. What do you say? These hacks work because they force perspective shift, not willpower. Most people know this concept and still ignore it when stakes are high. Why? Because clarity often demands: - admitting you're wrong - giving something up - acting against short-term comfort So the real issue isn't lack of wisdom. It's avoidance disguised as confusion.