Choices we made when we were small.

Why do some people seem less intelligent? This question opens up a fascinating exploration into human behavior and development.

In conversations with family members, topics like parenting effectiveness, nutritional adequacy during childhood, and the impact of traumatic births often come up. These factors can influence a person’s development but don’t necessarily determine their ability to succeed.

So, why do we often struggle with people who don’t grasp basic logic? A common issue is the mindset of ‘I do not need to know this.’ This attitude can lead to misunderstandings and decisions that leave everyone dissatisfied, especially when people defer decisions to a leader without providing their input, only to discover that the leader was equally uninformed.

This scenario sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

The difference between someone perceived as ‘dumb’ and someone considered knowledgeable often boils down to the number of questions they ask and their willingness to understand the information or facts presented.

What ties these observations together?

The choices we made in childhood. These early decisions can develop into habits that define our character, particularly our ability to engage with complex information. Often, those labeled as less intelligent might say:

• “Another thing I don’t understand.”
• “A problem for another day.”
• “This too shall pass.”

Such statements reinforce the belief that they cannot improve and that complex matters are not worth their time, perpetuating the question, “When will I ever use this in real life?”

Everyone is guilty of this reasoning to some extent. However, some people challenge authority from a young age and strive to ‘figure things out for themselves.’ These individuals might grow up to become professionals like doctors, who can save lives through their acquired knowledge.

The foundation for this intellectual curiosity is often laid in childhood. A supportive parent who answers as many questions as possible can help nurture a child into becoming an exceptional individual.

We all suffer from our collective bias of questioning the relevance of information, a burden we all share.

The good news is that this way of thinking can be changed!

It requires challenging one’s beliefs and engaging with others who may be resistant to change. While change is difficult for many, remember that children make these choices daily. With love and care, children have an incredible capacity to learn and improve.

The choices you made in the past may be set in stone, but your future choices depend significantly on your willingness to ask questions and seek answers.

So, let’s start asking more questions!