Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we will learn about twelve signs you’re way more
intelligent than you realize. Now, let’s begin.
Have you ever wondered how smart you really are? Intelligence is a very complicated thing
to quantify. Intelligence is your ability to learn from your experiences and use
those experiences to shape or understand your environment. There are, however, a wide variety
of intelligence types out there, like spatial, linguistic, or emotional intelligence. Because
intelligence is diverse and complex, judging how smart you are isn’t always an easy task.
Intelligence tests are one common way for people to measure how they stack up against the rest
of the population. But most intelligence tests don’t account for all the different
kinds of intelligence out there. Intelligence Quotient, or IQ, tests, for example, rarely
pose questions related to creative or artistic intelligence. If you’re a highly creative person,
you may score below average on an IQ test, but that doesn’t mean you’re not smarter than most.
If you’ve never taken an IQ test or don’t excel on tests in general, there are other strategies
you can use to judge your intellectual talents. Your brainpower naturally influences your habits,
decisions, and preferences, so you can sometimes measure intelligence by analyzing the things you
say and do every day. Over the years, experts have discovered several ways intelligent people talk,
think, and live a little differently from everyone else. Geniuses, for example,
tend to maintain more radical schedules, enjoy certain hobbies and passions, and engage in rich
creative activities that explore and expand their minds. If you are a highly intelligent person,
you may live your life in a similar way. Even if you don’t think there’s anything
special about you, you may discover telltale signs of intelligence in your everyday behavior. Things
that seem entirely normal may actually be tried and true signs of an active and intelligent mind.
That’s why, in this video, we’re going to look closely at twelve signs that you are smarter than
you realize. Before we get started, let’s make one thing clear. This isn’t an intelligence test.
You won’t walk away from this video with a score that you can compare to other people you know.
But if these twelve habits, talents, and tendencies sound familiar, the simple truth may be
that you are way more intelligent than you think. 1. The Generation of Genius
There’s a common misconception that intelligent people are constantly brimming with good ideas.
We can thank many geniuses throughout history for their profound discoveries, but their one or
two great ideas were preceded by many, many bad ones. In other words, highly intelligent people
don’t always have brilliant ideas. Instead, they work hard and generate a large number of ideas,
some of which end up changing the world. This skill, called “idea generation,” sets
many smart people apart from the crowd. Creating new ideas at the drop of a hat is difficult,
but the most intelligent people make it look easy. Every one of your ideas may not be brilliant
or profound, but if you generate lots of them, you’re likely a creative and inspired individual.
2. A Dark Sense of Humor Intelligent people have a sense of humor that can
be difficult to pin down. You may find yourself laughing at things that no one else thinks are
funny or cracking up over a reference other people don’t get. Your jokes may not always be
sophisticated, but if you have a unique sense of humor, you’re probably brighter than average too.
Why? Because intellectual people make connections and recognize layers of irony
that others don’t notice. Your sense of humor may be subtle and nuanced,
or you may laugh at darker subjects that others don’t enjoy. In either case, you have a hard
time finding an audience for your jokes because your brain works a little differently than most.
3. Uncanny Memory Recall
The most intelligent people have an uncanny ability to remember things that
others don’t. They process and recall ideas with incredible depth, often latching onto
tiny details and nuanced ideas. But where does their superpowered memory come from?
Memory isn’t all raw intelligence. Instead, it comes from a blend of experience and ability.
Smarter people recall ideas more precisely than most because they spend a lot of time exercising
their memories. Almost every day, they challenge themselves to remember niche knowledge or retain
large stores of information. As a result, their memory becomes stronger and sharper every day.
Among your friends, you might be known for your elephant-like memory. Maybe you surprise people
with how much you can recall about things that happened years ago. In either case,
you have a strong memory, probably because you’re smarter than you know.
4. The Power of Daydreaming Do you like daydreaming? Highly
intelligent people tend to be avid daydreamers. You have an active and powerful imagination,
so when something doesn’t is boring, you may retreat into a world inside your head.
Studies have shown that daydreaming is correlated with higher levels of mental
activity and cognitive performance. So, if you like drifting off in the middle of the day,
don’t sell yourself short. You’re likely more intelligent than you realize.
5. Emotional Attunement Many people think cognition and emotion
are separate skills, but these two categories of intelligence are intricately intertwined. In other
words, people who excel at cognitive exercises like problem-solving also demonstrate a fuller
understanding of their feelings. Why? Because smarter people spend more time reflecting on their
emotions and dissecting what they’re feeling in certain situations. If you’re a highly intelligent
person, you’re likely familiar with the depth of your feelings and able to express them in
a constructive way. That alone is a telltale sign that you’re smarter and more thoughtful than most.
6. Craving Total Solitude
Most highly intelligent people value their solitude. In other words,
they enjoy spending time alone. Smart people appreciate moments of peace and solitude
as many of their favorite activities, like reading and writing, are best performed alone.
To highly intelligent people, solitude isn’t punishing or tedious; it’s an opportunity to
dive deep into the subjects that fascinate them without anyone else getting in the way.
If this sounds familiar, you’re probably more intelligent, and more introverted, than you think.
7. Raw Musical Talent
Sometimes intelligent people easily master things that others struggle to learn. For example,
intelligent people learn how to play instruments relatively quickly because they have a natural
ability to understand basic rhythms. Highly intelligent people can also keep time better than
most, even if they have zero musical experience. In general, highly intelligent people are quick
to understand and replicate musical patterns. They not only perform music well but they’re drawn to
diverse musical genres and often get lost in pieces that are complex and moving. Whether
you’re a musician or a music aficionado, your ear for music may signal how smart you really are.
8. Understanding Ambiguity Most people have a hard time coping with
uncertainty, but highly intelligent people aren’t bothered in the same way. Why? Because sometimes,
ambiguity is the only possible answer. The more complex something becomes, the less likely you
are to find a clean and simple solution. You may notice confusing contradictions and discover gaps
in your knowledge, but that’s okay. Your problems don’t have to be solved right away. If you can
be patient and calm in the midst of confusion, you may be one of the smartest people you know.
9. Imagination Overdrive
Anxiety is prevalent among highly intelligent people. They have strong imaginations that produce
all kinds of spiraling thoughts and negative patterns. As a smart person, you may also spend
time thinking about ways your life may fall apart. In either case, these worrisome thoughts can
manifest as anxiety and self-doubt. If this sounds familiar, your brain may be working on overdrive.
It’s not always fun or happy, but your anxiety is just another sign that you’re brighter than most.
10. Sources of Inspiration
Studies have shown that highly intelligent people enjoy working in less organized
environments. That doesn’t mean intelligent people are dirty or unhygienic. Rather,
many smart people work well in cluttered spaces surrounded by sources of inspiration.
For example, you might have books across your desk or papers taped to the wall. You may work
in a studio surrounded by crafts or a garage with every tool you can imagine spread onto the floor.
Wherever you like to work, a cluttered space may be the perfect environment
for your mind to work and create. 11. The Benefits of Doing Nothing
If you’re a highly intelligent person, you might spend part of your day doing what seems like
absolutely nothing. On the outside, anyone who sees you might think you’re staring into space,
but you’re probably doing something smart people love to do... setting aside time to think.
You might close your eyes and sit, pace around the room, or talk to yourself out loud.
All of these are ways intelligent people maintain a dialogue with their own brains, allowing them to
generate ideas and solve complicated problems. Thinking is an activity all its own. If you’re
a highly intelligent person, thinking may be one of your favorite ways to spend the day.
12. Absolute Concentration Do you have a hard time staying
focused? Concentration is a skill many highly intelligent people have in spades.
Even if they’re surrounded by people, they can shut off their senses and fully concentrate on
something they’re passionate about. When that happens, there’s no breaking their concentration.
They work in a fervor until they’ve brought their ideas to life.
If you’re a smart person, you may have experienced something like this before. You get a great idea,
and you run to your desk to get that idea out of your head. When you’re inspired enough,
you can focus just about anywhere because you are way more intelligent than you realize.
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