If you are like most people, then you are probably thinking that you are fairly intelligent – but do you know how to become a genius? Studies have shown that average Americans see themselves as smart. But when we examine the IQs of people, the majority of us fall into the 80-110 range. These IQ score generally peak when we are either in our late teens or our early 20s, but that is not to say our potential is permanent either.
Many people have asked, “How can I become a genius?” Or maybe even how to be genius in the things we do on a daily basis. The good news is that the IQ test alone does not determine whether you can become a genius.
IQ Scores are not the Whole Story
“The fact is, intelligence can be increased–and quite dramatically,” claims Bryan Roche, who is a behavior-analytic psychologist from the National University of Ireland. “Those who claim that IQ is fixed for life are in fact referring to our IQ test scores, which are relatively stable–not to our intelligence levels, which are constantly increasing.”
So anybody has a possibility for genius or even greatness – so it is not too late to make something of yourself. We have to let go of that myth that tells us that our giftedness is innate. Perhaps the question “can you learn to become a genius?” and learning how to be a genius is not so far-fetched after all.
David Shenk, who is the author of the book The Genius in All of Us, states that it is actually impossible to measure a person’s limitations at virtually any age. Everyone has the ability for greatness and can learn how to become a genius as well.
“A belief in inborn gifts and limits is much gentler on the psyche: The reason you aren’t a great opera singer is that you can’t be one. That’s simply the way you were wired. Thinking of talent as innate makes our world more manageable, more comfortable. It relieves a person of the burden of expectation,” he states in the pages of his book.
So it sounds like becoming a genius is not as daunting or even impossible – as many of us have been led to believe. Perhaps we could learn how to become genius if we truly desired such an outcome.
Increasing intelligence and becoming a genius
So if you are someone who desires to be more intelligent than the average American, it is well within your reach. After all, gaining Intelligence is simply the capability to acquire skills and knowledge. This includes being able to reason, remember information, solve problems and be creative. So let us look at 6 steps on how to become a genius.
1) Boost Your Memory
There is ample data out there that suggests that when we increase our fluid intelligence, which is the general ability to think and reason abstractly, we can solve new problems that are independent of any previous knowledge we may have had. This directly implies that a great way to increase fluid intelligence is by boosting our memory. In order to be a genius, one must learn how to recall vital information.
Whenever we consider memory in terms of learning how to be a genius, two different distinctions are essential to consider. And these often convey the wrong message and assumptions about memory.
Those two distinctions are forgetfulness and recall.
There’s a common stereotype about geniuses and their forgetfulness. We see lots of stories and articles about how forgetful people could actually be very smart. While this may be true, it implies that forgetfulness is an integral part of being a genius. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Forgetfulness either means you didn’t wish to remember something because it wasn’t a priority, or it means that you aren’t capable of remembering something. Only one of these conditions applies to someone who thinks like a genius.
Conversely, a person’s ability to recall data information is paramount in thinking at an intellectual level. While intelligent people may forget things like where they left their keys, they are typically masters at recalling vast information from within their brains.
Thus, in order to become a genius means that you’ll need to have an advanced level ability to recall information.
Memory creation – When memories are created, we must determine their value in terms of future recall. Those who wish to recall information at a super-genius level should use a reliable mnemonic memory system. There are several out there that can be discovered with a bit of research.
High-value information needs to be retained in some fashion – either on paper, spreadsheet, or mentally. It is recommended that you summarize this information somewhere for visual recall, at least when starting out.
Memory consolidation – If the memory we created receives no further action, then most of it will die away quickly. High-value information freshly retained requires consolidation. This should be done at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Always remember that stress will defeat the purpose.
Learning to recall information like a genius takes practice – so don’t sweat it if you don’t grasp things right away. Give yourself some time.
As we learned as students, repetition is a great way to prepare for tests. However, our retention of the information depends on how the repetition was done. If we crammed it into our minds in only a few days, then it was short-lived.
However, if we calmly reviewed the material over a few weeks in a relaxed manner, then chances are we remembered it much longer.
2) Look at New Points of View
One of the quickest ways to increase your level of intelligence is by looking at the other person’s point of view. Listen to the other side of arguments and try to make sense of them.
While looking at different points of view may seem counterintuitive to someone wanting to become a genius level thinker, it actually isn’t.
The good news is that viewing the world from different perspectives is pretty simple – when you are willing. Let us examine some ways we can begin.
Improve your listening skills. Good listening skills are in very high demand these days because very few of us have them. In this information age, there’s enough distraction to go around and then some leftover.
Such an environment has wreaked havoc on our collective listening skills as a society. But the good news is that we can easily stand out among the crowd with a bit of effort.
Perhaps at this point, you are wondering what listening skills have to do with how I can become a genius. This is a valid concern – good listening lends itself to a mindset of collecting information and cultivating relationships simultaneously. And both of these traits allow a person to think at a genius level more effortlessly in the long run.
So as you listen to someone, rather than thinking about what you will say next, use that mental energy to focus on what they tell you. When you absorb their story in a sincere way like this, you will respond naturally, putting you in a learning mode rather than dictating back to them.
Replace thoughts of judgment with respect and tolerance. If there’s one thing that is counterintuitive to becoming a genius, it’s thought judgment. Judging closes our minds to new information.
Judgments mostly come from opinions, and facts do not support many opinions. Even when they are fact-based, it doesn’t mean we need to form a personal judgment – rather, it could be a perfect time for tolerance.
Learn to be respectful of things that are different, and do let yourself be threatened by them. This keeps our minds open and keeps our hearts tolerant. Then we can understand and even embrace many different points of view.
Understand the difference between sympathy and empathy. It is pretty common for us to confuse these two terms. So let’s examine them more closely because knowing the difference will do wonders for our understanding of the world around us.
Quite simply, sympathy is when you feel sorry for another person, whereas empathy means that you put yourself in that other person’s world and imagine what they are feeling.
For instance, you may feel sympathy for a homeless person because of their hopeless situation of living on the street. However, you feel empathy for them when you imagine what it is like to sleep on the ground, not have a daily shower, or struggle to find food every day.
When you do this, your mind begins to open up to new trains of thought and there is a bonus to doing this as well – you become wiser and gain some wisdom along the way. Never forget that wisdom is the pinnacle of knowledge – always grab more wisdom at every opportunity.
3) Embrace Motivation
The one constant in our world is this – whenever there is an incredible achievement, there is also motivation. It is almost impossible to see great accomplishments in the absence of motivation. This is why we must always find fresh new sources of motivation – it will help boost the genius inside of us.
As with many things that drive our behavior, our motivation level comes from our mindset. And to get in the proper state of mind, we must understand what that requires. Therefore, embracing motivation is a personal endeavor.
This means whatever motivates me, may not motivate you – and vice versa. So let’s examine how to cultivate a motivated mindset. While we may differ in regards to what motivates each of us, we can find those motivating factors by using the same methods. Those of us who wish to learn how to become a genius needs to start using them.
Discover our unique motivators. In order to find out what sparks us to action, we will need to boost our self-awareness. We will need pay attention to those things that drive us to think more intently and act more intently.
Another thing we can do is remember the times in our lives when we were highly motivated to take action and make critical decisions. Experts claim that motivating behavior often comes in one of two forms – we are either moving toward something positive, or we are moving away from something negative.
For instance, do we want to go on a diet to feel better and look good in our clothes? Or are we motivated more by not wanting to become fat? Most people are motivated more by moving away from bad things.
Hang out with people who inspire you. By far the biggest influence in our lives comes from the people we spend the most time with. Our crowd defines us in every way imaginable. This is why we must exercise caution in who we spend time with.
When we spend time with people that encourage us to be at our best, then we will. More importantly, they provide an environment in which we will thrive and flourish.
4) Engage in Cardio Exercise
Lots of data out there supports the notion that cardiovascular fitness has been known to help your intellect in countless ways. It will boost your long-term memory (item #1), and it can increase your verbal intelligence too. And many people claim that their best ideas occur during their most intense workouts.
Many of us are not aware that we’re enhancing our cognitive fitness with each step we take or every lap we swim. There are many studies out there that support the notion that physical activities also improve our brain functions.
Here are a few of the significant ways that our mental outlook benefits from physical activity:
- Promotion of overall cardiovascular health
- Improves blood flow to our brain.
- Reduces inflammation
- Lowers stress levels significantly
So if we wish to preserve our cognitive health, we will need to look at ways to begin increasing our physical activity level. Experts suggest getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week.
Putting together a plan that is pleasant for you is the most critical consideration. Since our fundamental objective is to learn how to become a genius level thinker, we need an exercise regimen that is reliable and sustainable for our lifestyle and mindset.
Here are a few things that will help:
Schedule your activities at times when your physical energy is highest. When you begin your physical activity routine, the experience must be a good one for you. The best way to accomplish this is what you are physically at your best.
Not only this, with more energy, you’ll be able to perform at a higher level which means more benefits for your mind and body.
Even you plan to just do a 15-minute walk at first, this is okay. The important thing is to get started, followed by working your way up to 150 minutes of activity per week.
Perform physical activities that you enjoy. In keeping with the idea of making your workouts more pleasurable, focusing on activities that you like best is paramount. It just doesn’t make sense to do anything else.
However, do not discount the possibility that there make be some activities you haven’t tried yet that you’ll love even more than others. So do not hesitate to try something new and exciting on occasion.
Be as comfortable as possible. This means you need to wear the proper clothing and use footwear that is appropriate for the activity. Poor-fitting clothes and blisters on your feet will not help you reach your activity goals.
If you wondered how to become a genius, chances are you didn’t imagine going to a gym would help.
5) Playing Video or Computer Games
Many people think that video games are a big waste of time and only losers play them, but actually, they are quite helpful if you want to learn how to become a genius. Playing these games will stimulate neuron growth and encourage connectivity in the brain regions that are responsible for spatial orientation, strategic planning, and memory formation.
In a recent study performed at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and also the Charité University Medicine in Berlin, scientists discovered that video games like Super Mario actually helps the brain by improving perceptual, sensory, and attentional tasks.
Video games have also been known to help reverse negative effects on the brain that are associated with aging as well. Studies conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, revealed that video games increased mental skills such as focusing and multitasking in older adults. Gaming also improves short-term memory and cognitive abilities in the elderly.
Also, consider these benefits that both children and adults get from playing their favorite computer and video games:
Computer games and video games improve manual dexterity. Using controllers or a mouse for gaming is a good thing for your hands and your manual dexterity. Scientists have discovered that gamers, in general, are better suited for performing advanced procedures such as surgery.
Computer games and video games boost the gray matter in our brains. While these games come in various difficulty levels, most of them are excellent mental workouts. As our brain connectivity is boosted when playing them, our gray matter is increased as well.
Computer games and video games teach us to be better problem solvers. Today, gamers face many challenging missions in many different scenarios – all of which present problems to be solved. Therefore, the computer gaming format teaches us to think on our feet and respond quickly to issues that affect our mission. Studies have even shown that children who play strategy-based games get better grades overall in school. This is a significant reason why gaming will help us in becoming a genius.
Computer games and video games can enhance your vision. Now, this might surprise a few people. The only caveat here is that we don’t stare into a screen for ten straight hours – or sit a few feet away. In lieu of these two conditions, gamers have demonstrated better spatial resolution than non-gamers because that’s important in the gaming environment.
Computer games and video games have other mental health benefits too. Since gaming is an activity that is enjoyed, it comes with the same cognitive benefits as other hobbies. It can boost our overall mood and relieve stress. This notion is not lost on psychological professionals – they’ve been using video games in therapy for more than a decade.
Computer games and video games inspire us to be more persistent. To excel at gaming, you must come back and play again many times to achieve the game’s missions. Thus, we learn to be more persistent as we keep trying until we succeed. Perseverance is one of life’s most critical lessons.
Learning to become a genius requires mind engagement and sharpening your logic train – what better way to do this than with computer games?
6) Meditate
Daily meditation has been discovered to boost the neuroplasticity of the brain, according to recent studies. Scientists noted significant improvements in attentiveness and the fluid intelligence of those who meditate regularly.
Meditation is a process we use to train our minds to focus and to redirect our thoughts. Since there are so many health benefits associated with meditation, its popularity has soared over the past few decades.
Since we are looking for ways to become a genius-level thinker, let us focus on the benefits that can significantly enhance our cognitive ability:
Enhances our self-awareness. Overall, meditation can help us better understand who we are and guide us into becoming the best version of ourselves. From this point, we get a firm idea of how we relate to the world around us.
This is the essence of self-awareness. And it begins with our thoughts and how well they support the harmony of our world. More importantly, we can identify thoughts that oppose this harmony before they become actions.
Lengthens our attention span. The focus required for effective meditation is often described as mental weight lifting for our attention span. The more we do it, the longer our attention span becomes.
Improves our sleep. Unfortunately, about half of the population today struggles with a form of insomnia at some point. Thus, a good night’s sleep has become a valuable commodity in our society.
The good news is that meditation can be beneficial in achieving proper sleep. There are two reasons for this. The first is that those who meditate focus on proper breathing, so their oxygen intake is healthier. More oxygen helps with sleep.
Secondly, the discipline of mindfulness from meditation programs helps calm busy minds afflicted with racing thoughts – which are common with insomnia patients.
Promotes our emotional health. Many forms of meditation have resulted in an improved self-image and a more positive mindset. People also report feeling more centered, less stressed, and much more relaxed about their lives in general.
So mediation is another unexpected path of how to become an intelligent genius.
Common questions about becoming a genius
Increasing your intelligence is not the only way to become a genius. It is more than just being smart or knowing a lot, it is a level above that. People who are called geniuses have either a skill level that seems almost magical, or they have a unique ability to make connections between ideas that have escaped everybody else. Geniuses are often referred to as having a spark.
Is it possible to become a genius?
Exceptional minds are intensely curious, capable of sustaining concentration and focusing on problems, and they are determined not to lose. They are usually self-assured and invariably inventive.
Unlike innate qualities, geniuses acquire qualities. Genius cannot be created by a combination of genes. Genius develops through hard work, persistent effort, and personal experience largely on their own. It is not proven that geniuses are born with special abilities.
What are signs of genius?
Talking to yourself is a habit
Consider the cause before assuming those who talk to themselves have lost their marbles. The act of talking to oneself is a trait common to geniuses. Talking out loud represents a creative mind, one that is trying to sort through all the innovative ideas, creative suggestions, and creative strategies to inspire creation and design. Don’t be afraid to be yourself: your thoughts will lead you to greater heights and high-powered thinking.
You Have Social Anxiety
Despite the chaos of the average workweek, it’s hard to find isolation and silence in today’s society. There is limited time to think and be creative when social commitments are involved. Due to social anxiety and an excessive need for “me” time, it is common for people with genius qualities to seek isolation at times.
You’re a chronic worry-wart
Though many of the endeavors of geniuses lead to remarkable results, they do not always come without worry. Overthinking and worrying are common traits of geniuses. In the course of a creation process, you might find yourself second-guessing yourself, perhaps going back and forth between different ideas and strategies. You might be experiencing a common obstacle experienced by those with higher intelligence.
Geniuses easily switch between multiple concepts and projects because their attention span is shorter. In their genius thinking, they often cover a wide range of topics rather than focusing on one specific one.
You Stay Up Late & Get Little Sleep
You might be a genius if your body is too energetic to sleep at night, and it’s not due to a nightly espresso. It’s common for geniuses to feel most creative at night and are too wired to shut their brains off. In addition to being able to run on barely any sleep, they can channel their creativity and ideas during the day as well.
Daydreaming is important to you
The ability to daydream or use higher observational skills to decode your dreams is a quality all geniuses possess. This dream often unlocks secret information, inspires thoughts, and inspires intuition. You might be a creative genius if you find yourself searching for deeper meaning in your dreams.
Are geniuses born or made?
As of present, scientific evidence for the belief that geniuses are born, not made, or that creativity is inherited is very scanty, in fact it is virtually non-existent. Additionally to the famous but unreliable study of the father-to-son transmission of genius by Francis Galton, studies done since then based on occupational inheritance and temporal and national distribution have produced very variable and essentially negative results.
I believe one reason for the persistence of the idea is to give geniuses their due credit. Despite being increasingly understood and clarified today, the relationship between genetic transmission and the environment remains somewhat mysterious in some cases. “Genius” is an honorific based partly on this mystery. If someone of very high accomplishment, or even potentially high accomplishment, is “born that way”, they possess an inviolate ability.
Other than indirect genetic influence from the parents, nobody else has the power to influence or reduce the abilities, including poor health or injury. An individual of exceptional ability merits high accolades and is completely exceptional. However, on the negative side, individuals who believe they are not gifted can feel reassured by holding the absolute genetic conviction.
They did not know about the mysterious stroke of luck and, furthermore, there was no need for them to work for it. They conclude that geniuses don’t necessarily deserve much credit for their extraordinary capacities and successes; these were thrust upon them by birth.
Becoming more intelligent
It is amazing how these 6 steps will show those who are interested in how to become a genius.
As you can see, such an endeavor requires a balanced approach. There are many facets to knowledge and intelligence. A smart mind needs to be a strong one, and that requires openness, resilience, endurance, awareness, and humility.
While no one can promise you a path to reach a genius-level IQ, there are certain paths that can greatly enhance our cognitive abilities and our ability to think critically. And when we have the ability to think on our feet and solve problems, we become more valuable in the eyes of those around us. This will always be true.
With just a little bit of persistence and dedication, you should see some remarkable results in a short time.
So can you become a genius? It really depends on how dedicated you are to such a goal.
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