Have you come to this realisation? I have looked back on my life and come to the conclusion that i was never intelligent, and I certainly am not now, if I ever was.

The only proof I have that i wasn't completely stupid is that I did OK at some tests at school.

[Mike_J]

I think you are being way too hard on yourself.

[gma45]

Remember to stay in the moment. That is in the past! I have come to that realization myself tho, Maybe not that I am stupid but that I made some pretty dumb decisions in my life. And like Mike said....Don't be too hard on yourself.

[Ripose]

Every person alive is intelligent although not in the same areas. Just because you do poorly in school proves nothing neither does doing well. Standardized testing (including IQ tests) is the most ridiculous form of gauging intelligence that has ever been used.

You can score 80 on an IQ test and still be one of the of most intelligent people when it comes to life skills, inventing, interpreting politics, etc.

We are taught standardized material in school, we are not taught to work on our strengths or interests. If we were, people would be much happier and society would be far more decent.

[Frankbtl]

Hi Illegal
All sorts of different "smarts" you know, so if you don't know the capital of Russia, if you don't know the square root of..........., if you don't know much about politics............so what!!!! I'm sure you're smart in other areas.
And don't ever base your worth on "intelligence", hey??
There is going to be so much more to you than how intelligent you are, and as far as I'm concerned there are much more important things about someone than where they are on the IQ scale.
IMO, I'd have much more respect for someone who's caring, or honest, or genuine, or open, or sincere, or.................than for someone who's less of those things but could e.g. tell me all about the news for today.
So seriously don't sweat it, it's who you are that should count much more. And from what I've seen you've got no worries on that score
Alison

[brackenbeard]

I think you're missing the part that while some people are naturally geniuses, and seem to have been born smart, people can develop into better thinkers, and become more intelligent people by simply learning.

Also, there might be an Ivy league Business Major at the top of his class, and bound for success, but he may have developed almost no spiritual basis to live his life on. While he may make money, another person may have devoted some time to thinking about spiritual matters. Who is smarter then Magna Cum Laude with all the money, or the person who is happy?

[Yoda]

(((((Illegal Toilet)))))

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

People with a very few exceptions are not that different, and people who think they are clever are often nowhere near as clever as they think they are, and those you think themselves not clever are usually pretty much the same as everybody else. The important thing is to know yourself - these forums can be a useful tool in this.

[RRex]

Illegal

I feel this way about myself. It was a hard knockdown when the realization hit me, but I'm used to it now.

BUT, you love cats, so that makes up for it, yes?

I think you're pretty sharp though.

[hvert]

You seem smart to me. I think we all have strengths and weaknesses. Everyone is smart about something.

[ToeJam]

I long ago stopped comparing myself to others as, like others have mentioned, there are always going to be different ways of expressing 'intelligence' (if it can be quantified as such)... though I'd just put it as ability. Abilities are your strengths and weaknesses... and as there is an ocean full of different abilities that people have, to judge yourself against someone who is good at x, q and r... when you're good at d, b and z is a futile endeavour.

A great poem that sums this all up is Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, "Desiderata".

[Slamjammer]

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

Have you come to this realisation? I have looked back on my life and come to the conclusion that i was never intelligent, and I certainly am not now, if I ever was.

The only proof I have that i wasn't completely stupid is that I did OK at some tests at school.

Neither was Forrest Gump, yet he is a character that is universally loved and admired. If only we could all be as smart as Forrest!

His secret was simply having some ironclad basic principles, and a love of his fellow man. It's something we can all accomplish if we choose to...and we don't need to be a genius.

[cool09]

Everyone basically has the same intelligence. I mean yes, there are people who don't understand traffic patterns or have trouble operating an ATM machine or don't understand how to use a voting machine (or register). There are exceptions who have keen concentration and have kept their nose in books most of their life and have excellent memory recall. But we're pretty much the same, each of us with certain talents/skills.

I long ago stopped comparing myself to others as,

It's think it's very difficult to do because the workplace usually promotes comparing yourself to others and lots of workplaces believe in the concept of competition whether they admit it or not. I always thought competition was for adolescents and athletes not adults. Grown adults who compete with one another just doesn't make sense to me. And peer pressure as an adult is just as intense as peer pressure among adolescents, imo. But competition is what drives Capitalistic societies.

[SeekerOfLife]

Amazing thread! Thanks to all.

[ifst5]

I'd take common decency and a strong set of values over smarts any day of the week.

It's bizarre what we place above morality...beauty, wealth, intellect.

Sometimes just being a kind and decent person is enough.

[Lemongrab]

You can be smart but a horrible and cruel person.
You can be smart but terribly gullible.
You can be smart and make bad decisions.
You can be smart and be arrogant and manipulative.
So being smart doesn't necessarily make you better than the next person!

[kindheartedxo]

I think your under estimating yourself without giving it a real big chance I thought I was not smart for many reasons and choices I've made in life but then I realized you can do anything if you try don't give up on yourself