1. To begin, forget all of the limits
that you or other people have set for your own intelligence. Forget about your
test scores, or the fact that you have not excelled in certain subjects. Being
smart means being confident and not calling something a failure before you even
try.
2. Stop being afraid of “looking
stupid”. If there is a conversation going on around you, get involved,
disregard your inhibitions. The people that speak up are the ones that learn,
they are the ones that will in the long run become far more intelligent than
those who saved themselves the possible slight embarrassment of “looking
stupid” for a brief moment.
3. If you feel that you are
incredibly intellectual, realize that arrogance is just as much a thief of
knowledge as insecurity is. The moment you stop being able to learn from others
is the moment you completely stunt your ability to grow. Listen to others; you
may be immensely surprised by what they have to offer.
4. Talk to your friends and families
about what they know and do. If you are a student, most likely your friends are
learning entirely different knowledge than you are, just ask them about it. If
you are an adult, there are countless careers that your friends and family have
that play completely different roles in society than your career does. Stop
talking about the celebrities and the weather and start talking about the
beautiful and unique knowledge we all have to share.
5. If you are given a chance to try
something new, work in a different environment than you are used to, or travel
anywhere at all, take it. Getting stuck in a pattern of only enjoying the same
experiences will bring you no ability to grow. You need to step outside your
comfort zone to learn.
6. Read more. I am not telling you to
read several books a week, just follow some blogs, search for articles, or
watch videos. Find what interests you and expand your knowledge of it in little
ways every day. The more you know, the more confident you are in sharing that
with others, and the more satisfied you will feel in general.
7. Participate in activities that
inspire you to be creative. Many people feel that you have to be one or the
other, really smart or really creative. Creativity is intelligence. Just
because you are amazing at calculus doesn’t mean that you cannot compose your
own songs on the acoustic guitar. Music, art, crafts, and hobbies of all kinds
inspire thoughts that are different from reading or memorization of facts.
Innovative thinkers are the building blocks of this world, allow yourself to
think outside of the box and be creative.
8. Talk about the things that
everyone seems to be afraid to talk about. No one wants to bring up politics or
religion or any topic that may inspire the least bit of emotion due to the fact
that they fear controversy. Debating is healthy; it doesn’t have to be harmful.
Be respectful and understanding of the beliefs of others, and realize that you
can learn from them even if you do not agree. Start talking about what matters,
you will be surprised by how much more value it will bring than partaking in only
comfortable conversation.
9. Exercise and be healthy. Try to
think more when you exercise. The endorphins released during physical activity
free up your mind of stress and waste. Exercising actually physically clears
your mind and is a wonderful way to start thinking of new ideas or
contemplating different topics you don’t usually have time to think about when
they are mixed with the every day thoughts.
10. Above all, the main way to be
truly brilliant is to never stop appreciating the opportunities you have to
learn. It is realizing that you will and can learn your entire life. Life
doesn’t stop educating you after you leave school or your new job orientation.
The difference now is that the teachers are just a little more disguised, and
often you have to be confident and motivated enough to seek them yourself in
their various forms. Realize the power of your mind and believe in it. Believe
in that, and you will never be anything but brilliant in your own unique and
beautiful way.
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