Being proficient in math or science doesn’t automatically imply being intelligent.
In actuality, some of the sharpest individuals are those that think independently, question conventional wisdom, and aren’t readily swayed by what other people believe.
This essay is for you if you value independent thought and the capacity for critical thought.
Let’s go through the top ten indicators that you are a clever individual who thinks for oneself.
1. You’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” – Stephen Hawking
The capacity to go against the grain and cast doubt on conventional knowledge is one of the first indications that someone is intelligent and independent-thinking.
It’s simpler than ever to follow trends and embrace ideas and methods of doing things, thanks to contemporary technology and well constructed filter bubbles.
But conformity prevents you from realizing your full potential and may even work against you.
That’s why you’re prepared to inquire “Why is our workflow and method this way? in professional situations.
Couldn’t we provide our goods for less money?
You won’t take “Because that’s how it’s always been” as an answer.
Even if they defy accepted wisdom, you aren’t scared to aggressively seek out novel insights and viewpoints.
Additionally, it implies that you are open-minded, responsive to new knowledge, and unafraid to alter your opinion if evidence emerges that contradicts your earlier convictions.
2. You’re objective and fair-minded
“Objectivity is the cornerstone of a good judgment.” – Learned Hand
The facts, or what they can see and learn, are always what really intelligent people are concerned with.
If you can put your feelings aside, stand back, and consider the problem logically in tense social settings, such in an argument, then you’re a clever person.
You are also aware of the impossibility of real objectivity. Every person has a pre-existing, individual prejudice.
You are aware that your best course of action is to collect as much raw facts and evidence as you can in order to make the most logical choice possible under the circumstances.
Instead of just accepting other people’s beliefs, you may use this to make educated judgments and build your own opinions based on facts and logic.
3. You have a curious mind and you’re always asking questions
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein
Smart folks tend to be the inquisitive sorts. They take their time drawing any judgments.
Gathering as much information as they can takes time.
You do this by asking questions and raising your hand, which is a tried-and-true strategy.
There will always be important facts concealed under enticing inquiries.
It may make project briefs clearer, bolster arguments, or even debunk certain misconceptions to convince others that there might be a better way to solve their issues.
Asking questions enables you to acquire a more complex and well-rounded viewpoint as well as to explain your own views and opinions.
This is all possible thanks to a few queries.
4. You have a rich imagination
“The imagination is the golden pathway to everywhere.” – Terence McKenna
The ability to recall information and to follow directions is just one aspect of intelligence.
If someone exercises their memory sufficiently, they can very much accomplish that.
If someone is genuinely clever, they can think for themselves and don’t need rules as crutches.
You may count on their own abilities to elevate commonplace items to absolutely outstanding status.
You have the intrinsic capacity to approach a problem with interest and to look at it.
You flip things around and think about what else may be going on instead of taking things at face value.
You may come up with fresh ideas and see the world from a different perspective because to this capacity for imagination.
It also enables you to comprehend other viewpoints and sympathize with others.
This brings up the following point.
5. You’re able to empathize with others
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” – Benjamin Disraeli
When people open up to you about their problems with relationships or with finding the right job for them, you can easily see yourself in their shoes — even though you’ve never had a similar experience.
Your ability to empathize with others comes from the fact that you can not only actively listen to what they’re saying, but you can also tell from their body language that it’s been hard on them.
They seem to deflate and shrink, expressing how small and sad they’ve felt after their partner left or when they lost their job.
You can read from the hesitation and softness in their voice that this isn’t something that they usually talk about — meaning that they trust you enough to know about this side of them.
People aren’t often upfront about what they’re feeling, so it takes a keen eye to respond to them in the way that they want to be responded to.
This is how you’ve built lasting relationships over time. You can read between the lines and through their actions and tones.
This also means you’re open-minded to other people’s experiences and ideas, which is important in developing your views.
Furthermore:
Empathizing with others helps you avoid confirmation bias because you consider multiple perspectives rather than just your own.
6. You can agree to disagree and respect others’ opinions
“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
Arguments may be constructive. You have the opportunity to put your views to the test and see if they make sense to you, if not to others.
Debates make it clear if you really believe in your position or are just repeating what others have said because they think it to be true.
It’s a good sign of intelligence when someone can participate in a discussion without leaving feeling angry at the other person.
They politely disagree. Everybody has their own unique viewpoints. They can’t compel you to agree with them, and you can’t compel them to agree with you.
best part?
You may converse with people in an amicable and courteous manner as a result.
Since you foster a more inclusive and courteous discussion when you recognize that it’s appropriate for individuals to have beliefs that vary from your own, you may avoid misunderstandings and tense disagreements.
7. You’re a skilled problem-solver and decision-maker
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” – Stephen Hawking
Because they don’t follow rules and regulations, those who are really intelligent often make excellent problem solvers.
You don’t approach situations with a predetermined notion of what the answer ought to be.
A issue is approached from a variety of angles when you handle it.
More significantly, you probably invite others to look at the issue with you and don’t just assume that you’re correct.
You generally act as a bridge between the issue and the solution, not assuming that you are the smartest person in the room.
You cooperate rather than rule, you listen more than you speak, and you think before you act.
This enables you to overcome difficulties and roadblocks in a proactive and efficient way.
8. You’re open-minded and willing to change your mind
“An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.” – Jef Mallett
Too many individuals never have second thoughts.
People start to take pleasure in their beliefs and start connecting their sense of self to their fixed and unchanging beliefs.
How many times have you seen someone fight vehemently for a viewpoint that everyone else agrees is incorrect?
In contrast, you don’t link your ego to your viewpoint, which explains how simple it is for you to admit when you’re mistaken.
Because you now have additional information or proof, you aren’t frightened to say that what you earlier believed in is truly false and that you now have a different belief.
Furthermore:
When you accept that you were mistaken, you are admitting that you are fallible and that you are not flawless.
You are able to learn from your errors and avert repeating them in the future thanks to your humility and self-awareness.
9. You’re introspective and self-aware
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
It’s simple to put your thoughts on autopilot and follow the lead of the mass media.
But intelligent individuals avoid doing it. They focus inward. They consider their own thoughts.
Analyzing your thoughts, emotions, ideas, and even responses may help you understand more about yourself and think critically. This is connected to the capacity for self-reflection.
10. You’re a lifelong learner and love reading books
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
A clever person’s preferred past time is reading.
It’s difficult to determine if reading makes individuals smarter or whether brilliant people just naturally like reading, but either way, they have always had a close connection with literature.
Even if you may not read as much as you used to as an adult despite having read a lot as a child, you still read more than most others in your vicinity.
You may lose yourself in a different universe without giving a thought to others around you when engaging in this activity, which is the ideal pastime for you.
No matter how long it has been since you finished reading your last book, you know that you will always have a connection with books—not just a surface connection where you take pictures of book covers to post on Instagram, but a genuine connection that will always make you want to visit your favorite bookstore.