Intelligence is a gift in many ways. It helps us to create opportunities, solve problems, and advance our careers. Intelligence is often seen as a marker of success. If you're a quick thinking, high achieving person, you're often several steps ahead in a conversation.
You understand the challenge and are already sifting through various solutions in your mind, weighing up pros and cons, applying your knowledge and judgement. Yet in that time, other people in the room might have just started their thought process.
Another example is where you're making a career decision. You might have a seemingly infinite list of ideas of what that next step could be; from being the next corporate CEO, to quitting your field and setting up a whole new social enterprise.
Maybe you're wondering how either of these scenarios is a problem. Here it is --> Intelligent people can often have very busy minds. It's loud in there. They're thinking about everything all at once. And while that can be very helpful in short, sharp bursts, it isn't helpful over the course of a normal day.
Smart people can end up knackered and/ or overwhelmed if they don't learn how to quiet their minds and stay centered. So a critical skill for intelligent people like you is to learn how to do this and actively practice it.
Here’s a few approaches that I've seen work well:
- Mindfulness practices. For example sitting comfortably, closing your eyes and gently bringing awareness to different senses i.e. your stomach rising and falling with your breath, the feeling of air in your nose as you breathe. A mindful 3 minutes is a great re-set.
- Working with a coach. I find that when I think out loud through conversation, it's easier to get clarity/ organise the many thoughts running through my head.
- Write down any thoughts that are cycling through your mind at the end of the day that you feel you can't risk forgetting. An active download means you can be confident you've got down what you need and can allow your mind to relax.
I hope these ideas help you manage your mind so your genius can continue to shine through. Hit reply and share any other strategies you use that will help others.
P.S. Intelligence is a great attribute, until it overwhelms your mind with complex thought patterns. It's important that you regularly find a way to unwind and empty your mind, to keep it in peak condition.
P.P.S. There's 2 ways you can currently work with me: 1) a 2 hour breakthrough NLP session 2) a 4 session coaching programme over 2 months. All phone based. When you're ready, hit reply and we'll agree which approach best serves your go