Intelligence Trap

This week’s golden nugget comes from Edward De Bono’s views on responsibility of being Intelligent.

There are some aspects of a high intelligence that become a sort of trap.

A person with a high intelligence can take a position on a subject and then use their intelligence to defend that position very ably. The better the defense of the position the less does that person see any need to consider alternatives or listen to others. That is not good thinking.

Someone who has grown up with the realization that he or she is more intelligent than most people around wants to get the best reward for being so intelligent. The quickest and best reward is to prove other people wrong. This is a risk-free demonstration of superiority. It is also relatively easy.

An intelligent person takes in information quickly and can reach a conclusion in a short time. A less intelligent person has to wait to take in more information and may, occasionally, reach a better conclusion.

Like the engine of a motor car, intelligence is a potential. There may be a fast car with rather a bad driver. There may be a more humble car with a better driver. Intelligence Trap is like the driver of a fast motor car getting into bad driving habits. We just need to be aware of the trap and ensure that we do not get caught into it. 

Spirit of Learning

This week’s Golden Nugget is inspired by Buddha. Very often we start following routines and form habits. Over a period of time these habits lose meaning behind them yet we keep reacting to the new challenges of life - in the old ways.

Buddha in one of his sermons said, “Do not believe what you have heard; do not believe in doctrines because they have been handed down to you of generations; do not believe in anything because it followed by many and majority; do not believe in the truth to which you have become attached by habit; have deliberations and analyze; and when the result agrees with reason and is conducive to the good of one and all, accept it and live unto it.”

When we hear motivational talks, there is very little that we already didn’t know. What is spoken is universal truth; and what differs is how the information is made relevant to the audience and made sticky so we can remember it when in need. Yet, most of us forget about these collected words of wisdom when we need them the most. This is because we only collect information and seldom deliberate on it or internalize it to make it part of our wisdom pool. The value of knowledge is when it is put to practice for the good of self and humanity.

In summary, Spirit of Learning is in being curious to acquiring new information, deliberating to get relevant wisdom out of it; and utilizing the wisdom by putting it to practice. Let us watch ourselves if we can put this golden nugget to practice J

Wishing you a very happy Vijay Dashami !