10 simple truths smart people forget

I like the last one: You will never feel 100% ready when an opportunity arises.

So many people are afraid to take opportunities, and then regret it for the rest of their lives.

This is such an important one! We always need to own that fear and just do what we need to.

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
#1 – Education and intelligence accomplish nothing without action.
It doesn’t matter if you have a genius IQ and a PhD in Quantum Physics, you can’t change anything or make any sort of real-world progress without taking action. There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action. It’s as simple as that. For some practical guidance on taking action, I highly recommend The Now Habit.

I disagree.

This completely disregards the very important state of "personal satisfaction" and the worthy goals education for its own sake.

As a simple example, there are many many sports fans out there who CANNOT do the sport they love to watch, but do know a lot about it through years of self education. This, whether it be Formula 1 motor racing, bobsledding, or gymnastics, does indeed increase the enjoyment of watching the sport.

The same is true of the arts. The more you educate yourself on these subjects, the more you can enjoy them even if you dont "take action" and do it yourself.

I would also say the same is true of the sciences.
Even though I may not be an astronomer, I do know a lot about the topic, and I never intend to "change anything or make any sort of real-world progress" but nevertheless would not describe this knowledge as "useless" whenever I look up into the sky.

*all the smart asses on ats close web page with grumpy look on their face*

This is totally true, and its so funny to keep seeing these "know-it-all" skeptics, debunkers, smart azzes etc.. camping ats all day every week, every month all year... if you truly think your smarter then everyone else and oyu have all the answers, go invent something or be somebody who is more occupied by things other then a forum site..

~ Love is an art

#9 – Emotional decisions are rarely good decisions.

Decisions driven by heavy emotion are typically misguided reactions rather than educated judgments. These reactions are the byproduct of minimal amounts of conscious thought and primarily based on momentary ‘feelings’ instead of mindful awareness.

The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.

Emotion is good and is a fuel for doing things , emotions from wrong conclusions are bad.

Living like machines will not solve any problem , there should be instructions to guide us to right emotions in the current situation.

Originally posted by LoveisanArt
*all the smart asses on ats close web page with grumpy look on their face*

This is totally true, and its so funny to keep seeing these "know-it-all" skeptics, debunkers, smart azzes etc.. camping ats all day every week, every month all year... if you truly think your smarter then everyone else and oyu have all the answers, go invent something or be somebody who is more occupied by things other then a forum site..

~ Love is an art

star

I always appreciate right slap on my conscious face.

Thank you.

reply to post by XxRagingxPandaxX


Thanks, this is good advice for me to follow during a period of my life where I am struggling to find work, a place to live, good friends, etc.

Originally posted by mideast

Originally posted by LoveisanArt
*all the smart asses on ats close web page with grumpy look on their face*

This is totally true, and its so funny to keep seeing these "know-it-all" skeptics, debunkers, smart azzes etc.. camping ats all day every week, every month all year... if you truly think your smarter then everyone else and oyu have all the answers, go invent something or be somebody who is more occupied by things other then a forum site..

~ Love is an art

star

I always appreciate right slap on my conscious face.

Thank you.

Star

I always appreciate honesty

Your welcome

Some of those come across as ice cream koan material rather than real advice, #8 in particular. If something hurtful was done, it's nonsense for the victim to want to avoid that person in the future? What is the point of even saying that?
Taken to the extreme, this "truth" smacks of victim blaming and an attempt to make people (the writer, probably) feel better about mean things that they did to someone in the past. "That wasn't my real personality. Sucks that people don't seem to realize that."
Here's my own bit of advice to people like that: want people to think you're kind? Act kind.

Mental stimulation is always good for you , even when disagreeing with proposed truisms .
A reading of the proverbs : recommended words for the wise .

One which always stood me in good stead : know the exact definitions of words , thereby there will not be arguments , as you cant argue with the dictionary
A , definition of wisdom then ,

the ability to adapt according to _circumstance .

_each of these words should carry an underscore

Originally posted by ZIPMATT
One which always stood me in good stead : know the exact definitions of words , thereby there will not be arguments, as you cant argue with the dictionary

Only mostly true because dictionaries are descriptive, describing language as it exists at that time.
If the meaning of a word changes, or gets a new meaning and becomes popular, it may still take a few years to get into the dictionaries.
During that time, the dictionary is WRONG.

reply to post by RealSpoke


I used to do think the same thing until I stopped. I know sounds too simple, and it is. I stopped working for "the man" I stopped being grateful I just had a job, and I explored all the options my profession granted me. I now work contract for more than twice what the poor "company men" slave away for. Also if a contractor pisses me off I can tell him to stick it where the sun never shines, and take a different contract.

The trade off? I had to pay my dues, and get a decade of experience in my profession, and be good at it, and I have to travel to the assignment. The assignments are harder becasue they are short staffed, and usually have treated their employees like crap to get in the position they are in. Yet somehow they get it that if they treat me the same way I won't stick around so I get my arse kissed a lot.

I learned to leverage my position, and not be content with believing the boss when he/she says "You should just be happy you have a job." That's hogwash. Find out what you are worth, and demand you be paid that much, if not a little more. If you aren't worth that much with your current skills, acquire new skills. No it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Don't be afraid to tell a stingy employer to stick it, and seek a better job. Of course use your head, and don't quit until you can make ends meet, but don't settle for routine, and security. Challenge yourself, and grow for it!

I like #9....

#9 – Emotional decisions are rarely good decisions. Decisions driven by heavy emotion are typically misguided reactions rather than educated judgments. These reactions are the byproduct of minimal amounts of conscious thought and primarily based on momentary ‘feelings’ instead of mindful awareness. The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.

Every Liberal/Progressive/Socialist could learn from this rule

reply to post by Taupin Desciple


I disagree with what you said about #9 and have to counter it in a reverse perspective. If you only have logic with little to no emotions then you don't understand why things need to be done a certain way. Not everything should be done because mathematically it is correct. This is why companies like EA and SONY fail at making creative games, because they buy-out smaller companies, and make it mathematical to improve profit-margins. While it's always important to be growing as a business, there comes a point where you have to ask yourself, how do others feel? Why do they feel this way? How can I place myself in their shoes to get a better perspective?

People that have a lot of emotions all the time cannot make rational decisions which is important in say, business or in a life-threatening scenario. There needs to be a rational balance between the two.

As the old saying goes "god gave man the ability to reason", so use your brain wisely to decide if your emotions are too strong or if your logic is emotionless. That's my 2cents

happiness is a choice as well as a state of mind. You can chose whenever u want to enter that state by simply letting go of your fears and just 'being'

reply to post by XxRagingxPandaxX


I think another good one is when "smart" people mistakenly think they know "it all" about certain topics.

I cant tell you how many super intellectuals I've tried to have a lively debate with and fallen on dead ears because their minds were made up. The decades later their theories were refuted.

When I was 16 I thought I knew everything.

Then when I was 30 I thought back and laughed at how ignorant I was.

I turned 50 and realized at 30 I still knew nothing.

Now I'm close to the end, and I will admit I'm still learning every day.

Originally posted by Taupin Desciple
reply to post by XxRagingxPandaxX

 

#8 – The problems we have with others are typically more about us.

#8 I don't buy at all. That's for the weak. I have problems like everyone else, but you're not going to see me project them onto other people. That I can guarantee. And the people who try to project their issues onto me I have very little patience for. Their reasons are paper thin, they annoy me and I like to screw with them in return. Maybe that's childish, I don't know, but that's how I deal with them. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are and I know how to deal with them effectively. If I see someone who's lazy and I have a problem with them, it's not because I'm "secretly" lazy and won't admit it to myself. I'll have a problem with them because I'm not lazy and I see them as a waste of breathing space.

I think you have no idea what that statement (# 8) actually means. In fact, your post here is a perfect example of you having a problem with someone else's behavior and that problem revealing a lot more about you than it does about them. That's some ironic sh*t right there. You must be a real joy to work with.