Do you consider yourself smart? Perhaps you consider yourself slightly smarter than the average person? Perhaps you are way smarter than the rest of us and not quite sure why things are so hard for you?
And now you are probably wondering how being too smart can be hard. Let me explain this in a little more detail because I am sure you might think life would be easier, happier, and infinitely more fulfilling if only you could rack up a few more IQ points, right?
Apparently not.
The smart ones are so clever that they practically have an emotional Ph.D. They can dissect their feelings like a frog in a high school biology class. They're like, "Oh, I'm feeling a mix of frustration and that weird, fuzzy, 'I need chocolate' sensation." But, here's the catch, they never seem to experience that sweet relief when they let it all out.
Sound familiar?
Now, these eloquent folks, they use words like armor. They throw out sentences like they're slinging smoke grenades. And when they're being truthful, their words hit like ninja stars. But the not-so-eloquent ones, well, they take a different route. You know, the physicality route. Shouting, punching, kicking, and screaming. And just for a sprinkle of positivity, they might also throw in a little celebratory jumping and dancing. Yeah, they're a lively bunch!
For the brainiacs, it's all about explanations. They'll explain until they're blue in the face. But even when they've spilled the beans on every last emotion, guess what? It's still all bottled up inside. Only then, after the Grand Explanation Marathon, can they finally slap the "feelings" label on it.
But here's the twist! Did you know there's a difference between cognitive and emotional skills? Some fascinating research suggests that being emotionally intelligent can totally make up for being a bit lacking in the smarts department—at least in the workplace. In simpler terms, super-smart folks might not need to crack open their emotional toolbox to navigate life's hurdles.
“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know” - Ernest Hemingway
So, if you spot a genius with a grin, consider yourself lucky, 'cause they're like a unicorn in the wild!
Ah, the burden of being the genius in the room. When you're super smart, people have these sky-high expectations for you, and they expect nothing less than brilliance, 24/7. It's like they think you're an all-knowing wizard or something. It's a bit of a bummer because you end up feeling like you're in a one-person show about your own strengths, with no co-stars to discuss your weaknesses and insecurities. Loneliness level: Expert.
But here's the catch: when you fall short of those towering expectations, it's like a one-way ticket to Panicville. Population: you. Suddenly, you're in a frantic frenzy, desperately searching for your lost brilliance, wondering if it's on vacation or something.
Now, there's this gem of a book by Eileen Moore called "Smart Parenting for Smart Kids," and it spills the tea on anxious parents. You see, parents tend to go into overdrive when their kids are brainy and acing everything at school. It's like they've got a front-row seat to the Achievement Olympics. But here's the twist: all this pressure can make parents focus more on what their kids do rather than who they are.
So, remember, even if you're the resident genius, it's okay to be human too. And parents, maybe ease up on the academic expectations now and then – your kids are more than just report cards and gold stars!
You know, being the brainiac in the group comes with its own set of challenges. One of the little annoyances is that we just can't help ourselves when it comes to correcting folks during casual chit-chat. It's like a reflex; someone says something completely off base, and suddenly, we're wrestling with an irresistible urge to set the record straight.
The downside? Well, it's not exactly a crowd-pleaser. When you're constantly playing the human fact-checker, folks might start to avoid your company or ration their words when you're around. It's like they've got a "Caution: Teacher on Duty" sign in their heads. So, while knowledge is power, sometimes it's best to let a few things slide for the sake of good company and harmonious conversations!
In 1916, Lewis Terman developed the original notion of IQ and proposed the following scale for classifying IQ scores:
Average IQ scores:
Wondering where you fall into these IQ scores? Do you remember any of these guys? See their scores too.
Albert Einstein – 160 | Stephen Hawking – 160 | Galileo – 185 | Leonardo Da Vince – 205 | Wolfgang von Goethe – 210.
What if the quest for genius is itself, a fool’s errand?
...if you consider that people spend millions on brain training and cognitive enhancers that try to improve those scores all the time.
At the time, as the new-fangled IQ test was gaining traction, after proving itself in World War One recruitment centres, and in 1926, psychologist Lewis Terman decided to use it to identify and study a group of gifted children.
After combing schools for the creme de la creme, Lewis selected 1,500 pupils with an IQ of 140 or more of which 80 of them had IQs above 170. Together, they became known as the “Termites”.
Martin is a digital marketing specialist, a producer and always online. His educational background is Digital Marketing and has given him a broad base from which to approach many topics. His little girl comes first and in his spare time he really enjoys making music and creating content.
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