The Value of Intelligence

For the handful of you that follow my blog, you know that I am fed up with stupidity, rudeness and laziness.  Perhaps, I should take another approach and state why it is so important to be intelligent about something.  There are several types of intelligence. Each requires some degree of mastering something. It allows you as well as others to know that you are a person capable of thinking.

When you present yourself as a person of limited intelligence what you are really saying is I am incapable of thinking and functioning as an adult. If you often wonder why people treat you or speak to your like a child, you probably act like one.  When you're a limited thinker, you repeat patterns of behavior.  You make bad decisions.  You keep getting the same results, but somehow expect things to get better without putting forth the effort to make it better.  You want to be promoted but won't expand your education. You want a new job or career but aren't interested in learning a new skill.  You want to make more money but don't want any additional responsibility.  You feel your seniority should be enough to take you through the ranks.  You certainly don't have to be a bookworm, straight A student to be intelligent. You can get by without academic intelligence, millions of people do everyday.  The ones who experience success anyway are likely displaying a different type of intelligence.  If you want to be treated differently, then act differently.

If the way you choose to express yourself is to curse people out and threaten them, you have issues with effective communication.  Your response to being  confronted or challenged is to act like a bully and  intimidate others.  You strike out at people when you're frustrated, which is pretty regularly.  You walk around  in a state of rage and the least little thing sets you off.  You are unhappy with  your choices but refuse to accept responsibility for them because every failure in your life is not your fault. You are unable to relate and understand. You cannot engage people in any meaningful way.   You lack emotional intelligence.  Most experts agree that emotional intelligence is actually more important in life than IQ or academic intelligence.  Emotionally intelligent people are able to engage others in a positive manner.  You are not likely to experience the degree of success you could in your life without being emotional intelligent. If you want people to smile when they see you and be happy in your presence, then behave like it.

What do you do to improve yourself?  Lots of things, however what is best for you is for you to decide.  These are tough times so there isn't a ton of money around to spend on self improvement so start with inexpensive ways to gain knowledge.  The library is full of books chocked full of information that can change lives and its FREE!!!  The library also holds many free events that can broaden your horizons or your child's horizons.  Many colleges and universities are in partnership with the communities they operate in and offer some type of free or low cost  skill based programs on their campus. Churches, non-profit organizations, schools and many corporations offer free or low cost services to the community,  It is a good way to get expert advice for free.  These experts usually charge clients large sums of money for their advice.  Instead of spending your time surfing the web or on your Facebook page, you can search for free or low cost services in your community.  Believe me, there are people who will help you, especially if they see you putting forth an effort. No one becomes successful alone!!! For a insightful look at how success doesn't just happen but requires a helping hand read "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell.

If you can afford it, get yourself a good coach who will hold you accountable for your behavior and motivate you to aspire to a higher level.  Join an organization or club, go to a seminar or attend a convention on a topic of interest. Shake things up and get out of your comfort zone.  You will grow as a person.

The best advice I can give you is to PRAY!!! Yes pray.  I realize that not everyone is into praying and asking God for help, but I am.  I am a christian and I believe that there is no greater source of power, redemption, forgiveness, love and rebirth.  The power of prayer is the biggest life changer there is.  Sit still and have a conversation with God and seek his help to heal your life.  He's waiting to hear from you!!!!!!!!!!!

Starting Over

Happy New Year!!!! The new year always signals a new beginning.  People make resolutions they won't keep, promise to make lifestyle changes they won't and begin a new hobby they won't stick to.  I'm going to lose weight, eat better, exercise, volunteer, be nicer, be more available, open myself up to new experiences, do things differently are all some of the things that are uttered by folks every year with respect to the changes we're going to make.  Well this blog is not about that.  This blog is about people who really had or have no choice but to start over!!  Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in the midst of circumstances that force us to re-evaluate our lives and assess what we must do to survive.  There is a multitude of reasons why this happens, including death, divorce, loss of job, income or support, just to name a few.  Sometimes these reasons are our own fault.  Due to decisions and choices we've made, we find ourselves in a mess!!! I wanted to write this blog to encourage all the people who find themselves in this situation to hang in there, keep your head up, don't look back and keep moving forward!!!!!

I am not going to tell you that things are going to be easy, but I am going to say that it will be worth it.  The changes that we need to make sometimes are forced upon us due to our circumstances.  We probably needed to make these changes all along but didn't, wouldn't or couldn't.  Now we have no choice but to re-assess, re-evaluate and re-define who we are, what we want, what we need and how we can get there.   There is nothing so scary as having to start over and begin again, especially if you're of a certain age.  It is also nothing so rewarding, if you get the lesson and carry it with you into your future.  YES you do have a future, a very bright and promising future if you are willing to embrace the changes coming and make the best of them.  If you are willing to let God guide you and lead you to his plan for your life, you will never be happier.