What do you think of when you hear that someone is "smart?" You probably conjure up an image of an intelligent person. But being "smart" is so much more than being able to answer trivia questions and scoring highly on tests. Smart people are also compassionate, imaginative, humble, and appreciative. They view themselves as a small piece of a vast world, and they know that they have the ability to do great things.
And smart people definitely do not do these 10 things.
They don't let past stumbles dictate their present state.
Smart people know that failure is an essential part of growth. Too many people allow past events to stop them from achieving greatness, but not smart people. They put the past behind them, because they know what's done is done. They look at stumbles as opportunities to grow and get better.
They don't focus on the negative.
Smart people know that they are in control of their thoughts. And they choose to focus those thoughts on the positive. Smart people believe wholeheartedly that what the mind can conceive, it can also achieve. They know that life becomes easier and more enjoyable when they harness their ability to dream, wonder, create, build, transform, and love.
They don't run from their problems.
We all have problems (even Jay-Z has 99 of them). Whether it's our jobs, money, family, health, etc., smart people face these problems head-on. They search for creative solutions to their issues. And when smart people stumble, they get up and keep right on walking. They have the courage to face their fears, and treat every problem as an opportunity to improve.
They don't worry about what other people think about them.
Smart people don't let the negative opinions of others deter them from living a life filled with happiness and purpose. The world has no shortage of doubters, haters, and cynics. But smart people brush the naysayers aside. They surround themselves with other smart people who share their values and passions.
They don't waste time.
Author Doug Larsen had this to say about time: "For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work." Smart people make the most of their time. They form productive habits that allow them to work smarter, not harder. They don't waste their time on meaningless tasks. And they also recognize the need to balance purposeful work with mental decompression.
They don't expect instant gratification.
Smart people understand that good things come to those who wait. We live in a society of instant gratification. In other words, we expect everything to happen quickly and easily. Most people aren't willing to bust their tail and put in some good old fashioned hard work. Smart people, on the other hand, don't forget that there is something greater than getting things handed to them on a silver platter—the satisfaction that comes from the every day journey of working toward something they care about.
They don't focus on things that are out of their control.
We encounter things on a daily basis that we can't control. Traffic, rude people, bad breaks, and dismay. But smart people take these things in stride. They focus on what they can control, which is how they respond to unfortunate circumstances. They know that calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom, and they make the most of that gift.
They don't spend time with people who bring them down.
Smart people surround themselves with other smart people. They make time for family, friends, and acquaintances who share their values and appreciation for life. But they also recognize that they need to limit the time they spend with negative people. So they choose to spend most of their time with positive, intelligent, uplifting people.
They don't display arrogance.
You'll never hear a smart person tell you they're smart. That's because smart people are also humble. They take pride in their humility. They don't boast about themselves and their accolades.
They don't go a day without giving thanks.
This is perhaps the most important thing you can do if you want to be "smart." Smart people know that the world doesn't revolve around them. They believe in the power of the greater good and know that a simple selfless act as small as a smile to a random stranger may just change someone's life‒and their own.
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