Being smart combines wisdom, emotional intelligence, and high IQ. While not all people are blessed with this gift, the rest of us can and should be learning from smart folks to enrich our lives financially or socially. Here are some prime examples of what smart people don’t do and what they do instead.
Smart people don’t think they are the most competent person in the room
People with high IQ and EQ don’t go around spreading their shrewdness because their curious nature always makes them pause, which makes their thirst for knowledge endless. Instead of being stuck in their ways, these people are more likely to open up their minds and admit they were wrong or at least modify their beliefs.
Lesson learned
Accept your limitations and keep educating yourself. It will improve your social connections and work relationships. With knowledge comes power, so you are expanding your horizons by questioning your beliefs. It will also help you find your passions and give you better insight into yourself and those around you.
Smart people don’t allow the past to dictate their present
Smart people cope with past experiences differently. If things get too hard, they know how to ask for help. No one’s life is perfect, and some of the sharpest minds suffered significant losses but still pulled through. Knowing that you can’t change the past and accepting it is what differentiates those with high EQ from the rest of us.
Lesson learned
Letting go is lengthy, but the alternative can have lifelong consequences. Life happens in the present moment, and if you are stuck, there are things you can do, from talking to your friends or a therapist to journaling and practicing mindfulness. If an event is haunting you, and you avoid dealing with it, it will put a strain on your life and turn you into a resentful and even depressed person.
Smart people aren’t afraid to make mistakes
Many people think that mistakes will make them look foolish or unintelligent. But there is no growth without errors, especially since many things are out of our control. Smart people know mistakes happen, so there is no reason to push themselves to be perfect because that wastes time.
Lesson learned
Acknowledging that mistakes can happen to anyone, including you, gives you the power to see them as teachable moments. Admitting a mistake and improving yourself will make you a better partner and more reliable worker. But, more importantly, it will give you a sense of relief because you are one step closer to genuinely accepting yourself.
Smart people aren’t afraid to appear stingy
Most people work hard to live decent lives, but only some are financially aware. Smart people may appear stingy, but most know that saving for rainy days is more important than other people’s opinions. It can also be a way to save for something that can improve your life or even buy something you have always dreamed of having.
Lesson learned
Financial literacy is the basis of knowing when to save and when to splurge. Using coupons or apps and putting 10 percent into a savings account can be beneficial not only for you but also for your loved ones. Money is not a tool to impress others but a necessity. Being smart with your money will make you appreciate yourself more, so learning to manage it is 100 percent worth your time.
Smart people don’t dismiss their responsibilities
Many young adults shy away from responsibilities because they fear becoming boring. People even make fun of those who take their responsibilities seriously, but smart folks know there is no way to escape them. Even intelligent people struggle with organization, but they are willing to learn.
Lesson learned
Knowing when to work and when to play will secure your better future. Organizing your time might not be your favorite activity, but it will ensure you make the most of your day, honor your commitments, and have fun. It is never too late to develop habits that will make you more efficient and content.
Smart people don’t think of good luck
Good luck won’t save your grade or get you a promotion. It might help, but the real work is up to you. Smart people know that relying on luck is a slippery slope because they will not put in their best efforts, or, even worse, they might become lazy. That’s why they are prepared for the best and worst-case scenarios.
Lesson learned
The more you invest in yourself and your work, the more confident you will become, and you won’t think about good or bad luck. There will always be things out of our control, but results will come when you do your best. Perhaps not today or in a year, but knowing that you are doing your part will get you closer to your goals.
Smart people do not make unnecessary enemies
Say you’re a new entrepreneur in a highly competitive field. Others will likely perceive you as a threat since you’re a competition. A smart person will try not to respond maliciously. There’s no need to make enemies at every step of your journey since it can backfire and reflect poorly on you and your business.
Lesson learned
People with high EQ know how not to react, which gives them an advantage in business and relationships. With that in mind, try not to respond and instead focus on what you must do to improve your skills. People will respect those who take the high road in the long run, and if you’re not giving ammunition to malicious remarks, you are keeping control, which will provide you with leverage in the future.
Smart people do not let their pride take them down
Pride can slow your growth and negatively impact your relationships and business connections, and smart people know it. Your pride wants to be worshiped, talked about, and praised, so it can quickly become all-consuming. There is a thin line between being proud of your achievements and letting pride be a driving force in your life.
Lesson learned
Being humble will allow you to hear and revise other people’s ideas. It will also make you more approachable and, therefore, more appreciated in the workplace and your relationships. Unhealthy pride will always get in your way and keep you from listening or being open-minded, so you should refrain from feeding it.
Smart people don’t think everything must go smoothly
Accepting that things might go wrong is not a pessimistic but a realistic view. Smart people know they can’t have a life without obstacles, but because of their realistic approach, they focus more on solutions and picking themselves up instead of dwelling over spilled milk.
Lesson learned
Instead of going through life thinking it will be smooth sailing and tripping on each obstacle, see it as an opportunity to do better the next time. This is especially visible among business owners, and being prepared for worst-case scenarios often separates success from failure.
Smart people do not let others limit their joy
A smart person is aware of their best qualities and shortcomings. They are not trying to be perfect but to improve themselves and are only competing with their past self. However, many people think that outachieving one person will improve their lives, only to realize there will always be someone better, prettier, more intelligent, or more creative.
Lesson learned
Instead of comparing yourself to others, which is an ungrateful, endless job, focus on becoming the master of your happiness. Your self-worth and self-respect do not need outside validation, and what truly matters is how you feel in your own skin. You have to live with yourself 24/7, and to make it more comfortable, you have to give yourself more self-love and self-care and spark your curiosity.
Smart people aren’t relying on one thing only
This vital business advice can make or break your bank account and even your livelihood. Smart folks know this is a crucial investment rule that easily translates into a business area. The message is always to have a backup plan because you never know when you need it.
Lesson learned
Even the best-laid-out plans come with uncertainty, and it can be a small, easily manageable mistake or something that will make you go back to the drawing board. Regardless of the current outcome, it should not discourage you from trying to make something out of yourself, but when you have a plan B, it is much easier and more comfortable to get into that growth mindset.
Smart people don’t hold grudges
Emotionally intelligent people know that holding grudges brings more negativity into their lives. Holding onto resentment or similar negative emotions or hanging around negative people can adversely impact your health, so setting beneficial boundaries and healthily processing emotions is essential for your well-being.
Lesson learned
Holding grudges is an ego manifestation that translates into holding onto stress. You should release these emotions if you genuinely want to excel at relationships and business. Additionally, surrounding yourself with the glass-half-full kind of people can be beneficial, even if you are a pessimist by nature.
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Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.