“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”.
—Albert Einstein.
I’ve been listening and overthinking about the concept of intelligence since I can remember.
What does exactly make you intelligent? Your grades? Your problem-solving abilities? Your math skills? Your ability to memorize lessons?
No.
The truth is, even if it is hard to see it —or believe it— we are all intelligent. Yes, somehow it does depend on each individual, and studies suggest part of it may depend on genetic heritage but, at the end, the intelligence we are all supposed to exploit—is there.
But why, then, is there so much people failing in this life, apparently because of a lack of skills/intelligence? Well, that’s actually very simple: we teach kids—young minds with a fragile self-esteem—to appreciate only a couple of intelligences, while the others remain judged and condemned by society.
What can a human being do if the skills he or she possesses are undervalued and rejected, as if they weren’t abilities as good as any other? What can a senior in high school do—in virtually every place on this world—when the things he or she wants to do —and is good at—apparently are not worthy? Well, I can tell you; they give up. They write on their brains that only math-related intelligence or social-related intelligence —for example— are “the good ones”, and the rest of them are just—useless.
That—is what they teach at schools; they want people to try to be someone they’re not, something “better” than what they already are. they teach them to ignore —or to not appreciate—their natural skills. They teach them to compare themselves to others, to try to be good at what they are good at, and they judge them only by those skills they consider—“the good ones”.
How wrong they are.
If you were (or are) one of these kids, I’m gonna tell you something: There is intelligence in you. But not just any kind of intelligence; one that is only yours, and only you can understand.
This world is made for those prepared enough to take it— and own it. Unfortunately, the same world tries to make you believe you are far away from being one of kind, only because you don’t fit in some useless —and not at all realistic— standards.
Don’t let them underestimate you.
You, as a human being, have talents and skills that not all people have. You, that believe you have no other choice but to follow the path everyone else is taking. You, that lived a life as if it were a script, following steps and accepting everyone else’s definition of yourself.
You—are worth so much more.
You have the power to create, to improve, to be great. You have the power in you. Embrace it. Embrace those parts of your mind, those skills and talents that everyone else seems to be rejecting, that the world has always told you that is not gonna be of any use. Embrace it, because that —Believe it or not—is who you are supposed to be.
We are all different. Don’t expect to find your way in other people’s lives. Don’t compare yourself to others, you don’t have to try to be someone else.
Your life is not something to be tested by others, you were not born to please anyone. You were born to find yourself, to do for this world what you can do best.
But, what do you do best?
That, unfortunately, is a question to which only you know the answer. Look for that answer, and when you find it, don’t wait for the world to accept it; they’ll never do that. They’ll just keep trying to minimize you, to the point where you wouldn’t dare trying one more time. Don’t let them stop you. Be the difference, be yourself.
If you are into music, e-sports, acting, writing, cooking… go get it. Don’t let your dreams intimidate you. Don’t let other people’s expectations discourage you. Step out of the line. Know yourself. Understand your talents. Find out what you are capable of. Test the limits. Take the risk of being who you really are.
Find that thing you enjoy the most. Find that one thing that it just comes out so easy, and embrace it.
Embrace The Intelligence in You, and let it be stronger than your fears.