I grew up thinking that I was not quite of first rate intelligence. Luckily for me, I was never at the bottom of any of my classes either. In fact I was always in the top quarter. I mixed and mingled with the so-called very best in my classes but never really believed that I was one of them. It was the single most destructive belief I ever adopted. In fact, when looked at properly, it can be seen to be the reason why I never made it to the very top. Well, up until now. I cannot remember who said it but I feel the same and quote him here that… “Only death will prevent that from happening”. That is why I do what I do now. I am a private A Level Mathematics tutor and a student coach simply and squarely because I see far too many students wander into college and university – just as I did – not really believing they have what it takes to make profound discoveries or difference in the world. It is now my job to destroy such limiting-beliefs in the average student before they destroy the average student.
Such limiting-beliefs about intelligence are not only extremely dangerous and destructive but simply just wrong. However, no student should be blamed for adopting such beliefs. Almost all societies are designed based on such beliefs. As far back as I can go in my formative years, it was drilled into my psyche that some people naturally had what it took to succeed, while others, just as naturally, did not. As I said before, such beliefs are as dangerous as they are destructive. If you are already considered or looked upon as academically superior then you should - without guilt - enjoy all that goes with it. I wish you go on to achieve and attain the majestic and dizzy heights of success in any profession or field of your choosing. If on the other hand you are seen as merely average then you need to work on yourself rather than believe in and accept your assigned place. In today’s world, being average is a deficiency and by believing in such, you are preventing yourself from actually doing what it takes to rise to the top. You need help. Get in touch.
To start with, for one to actually lack intelligence, one would have to be walking into lampposts, walking into traffic, putting their hands in fire and poking their eyes out with sharp objects. The fact that one does not do such implies that one is intelligent. Having shown that one is intelligent, there is simply no reason why one should not ascend to the dizzy heights of academic and professional success.
Academic intelligence is always the result of some sort of effort. Why then do some exert more effort than others? That is the question. The answer is much simpler than it seems. That unquestionable and undeniable exertion of effort in order to acquire intelligence comes from a “deliberate intent” or an “accidental emotional need”. Deliberate intention is when one works hard solely to do well in an academic exercise like an examination. Most intelligent people fall under this category of hard workers. To be seen as intelligent is very rewarding and most intelligent people are used to being seen this way and just cannot bear to be seen otherwise so stay up all night if they have to just to maintain their standard or live up to expectation. It becomes an accidental emotional need when the subject of one’s study excites some pleasure or is soothing or satisfying in some emotional context. As a result, the subject of study is not as boring and tedious as normal subjects seem to be sometimes. I remember feeling some sort of pleasure while doing mathematics especially algebra during my A levels. As a result, I like mathematics more than I will ever like say biology. Biology never gave me pleasure so reading or studying it was always a chore. When there is this type of emotional connection with study, the act of studying can be intensive and result in one being able to either take in a lot at one sitting or frequently indulge in the study of the subject without getting bred or tired of it. In this category you see exceptional displays of academic brilliance. People that fall under this group dazzle with their intelligence because acquiring knowledge to them is not hard work but pleasurable.
Those who do not have any emotional connection with or satisfaction from study and no discipline to stick to a regular study pattern are unfortunate. Studying has to be a boring, tedious, emotionless and demanding deliberate intention. Not as pleasurable or as easy as in the first case but not impossible none the less. This is where training and conditioning comes in. intelligence has never been about any natural ability. If you are lucky enough to be excited about the subject, then you will always be better at the subject than those for which it is a boring chore. If not excited about the subject then you remind yourself on a regular basis why you are studying in the first place. With proper reminding or motivation, huge academic feats can be achieved.
The idea that intelligence is based on natural ability is nothing but a myth.
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