Contrary to what you think and what collective belief suggests, intelligence is not a gift from heaven that you are given in large or small quantities at birth, and with which you will have to make do throughout your life. your existence.
What scientific studies reveal is that our level of intelligence is not fixed at birth and that it can evolve depending on the choices we make in our lives.
Even more surprising, according to a scientific study from Stanford University, people who believe they have potential and that they can improve with work and learning are those who have the most success in life. life and therefore become more intelligent.
Now that you have realized that your abilities are not fixed at birth, it is time to put it into practice and see what you can do concretely to give your brain a good boost and sharpen your intelligence:
1. Read a lot
And preferably every day, become a reading addict, a learning machine. Reading is essential, it confronts you with new ideas and opens the doors to the knowledge of humanity. Prefer books that provide you with useful and practical knowledge over novels and fiction.
2. Don’t waste your time
It’s easy to come home, sit on the couch and watch TV until it’s time to go to bed. But it won’t make you smarter. Make the most of your time and make sure you go to bed each day smarter than you were when you woke up in the morning. To do this, spend an hour or two a day reading and trying to learn something new.
3. Take notes
Reflect on what you have learned and write down your knowledge. You don’t need to write big blocks. A few notes each day will be enough to strengthen your brain and help you better assimilate the information you have encountered.
4. Surround yourself with people smarter than you
“Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” Be humble and recognize that other people are smarter than you. Spend a lot of time with these people who have things to teach you and who push you upwards.
A good way to validate your knowledge is to compare it, share it and explain it to others. If you cannot convey your ideas to others, it is probably because you do not completely master the subject.
6. Live new experiences
Get out of your comfort zone to do things you’ve never done before, meet new people and explore new horizons. Create a break from your daily routine to find sources of inspiration and new ideas that will fuel your creativity and intelligence.
7. Learn to control your emotions
If you don’t control your emotions, they will end up controlling you and will have a negative impact on your brain and your way of thinking. Simply being in a good mood has been scientifically shown to significantly improve a person’s creativity. Conversely, being anxious and stressed drains energy from your brain, negatively affecting your memory and intelligence. It is therefore essential to keep calm and control your emotions in all circumstances.
8. Be disciplined
Discipline is an essential quality that everyone should cultivate. Discipline is not about being harder on yourself and putting yourself through all kinds of constraints. It is knowing how to make decisions and sticking to them, setting goals, persevering and not deviating until they are reached, resisting and not giving in to distractions and temptations. Without discipline, the intelligence deployed is unlikely to bear fruit.
9. Exercise
A Swedish scientific study reveals that People who exercise regularly have higher scores on IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tests. The explanation lies in the fact that being in good physical condition allows a better supply of oxygen to the brain. Other scientific studies have also shown that small sessions of sport are effective against brain aging and protect long-term memory in older people.
10. Remember to rest and sleep well
The brain needs periods of rest to organize the information learned and better assimilate it. Make sure you get a good, restorative night’s sleep so you wake up each morning with your brain at its best.