A huge portion of the time I feel like my family doesn’t think I’m smart enough to wipe my own butt. (If you have teenagers, you know.) Even more often I believe the people I encounter in daily life think I’m a cheeseburger short of a Happy Meal. Why is that?
Do you ever feel this way?
Even though we have immediate access to infinite information at our fingertips, we all seem to doubt our own ability or the ability of others to have a lick of sense. We have all developed complexes that make us feel either too smart for our own good or too dumb to function.
There’s nothing smart about either of those mindsets and it makes me want to borrow the words of Stewart Smalley from Saturday Night Live, “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And, doggone it, people like me.”
I want to get to the point where I can confidently say, “Shut up, insecurity. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I’m just as guilty as the next guy for using knowledge to puff up my self-esteem in certain situations and act like a know-it-all. (I always want to kick myself later for being snotty.) There’s something to be said for admitting we don’t have all the answers and even more to lifting others up for the knowledge and skills they possess.
It’s important to value the intelligence of individuals and recognize that it’s our unique knowledge and skills that make the world go round. If you aren’t feeling like the brightest crayon in the box, it’s okay. Broken crayons still color and can be molded to make a difference that lightens any situation.
Not the sharpest tool in the shed? That’s okay, too. The sharpest words can cut the deepest and using words and actions that have been worn smooth by time and experience can bring comfort and comprehension in lots of circumstances. Soften the way you react or connect with others by acknowledging the facts and what may or may not be understood in the situation.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are genuinely feeling intelligent because you’ve helped resolve a problem or improved an issue, be proud. Celebrate being clever and reassure yourself it won’t be the last time.
You deserve to deem yourself worthy of praise, a possessor of valuable perception, and a knower of good stuff. Insecurity is a jerk, just like know-it-all people. Don’t let it or them get you down. You are good enough. You are smart enough. And doggone it people like you. Feel smart because you are smart. Put Intentergy into giving yourself grace when mistakes are made and keep a positive outlook when learning new things.
By: Melanie A. Peters
P.S. You are smarter for having read this post because you can now quote a brilliant writer, who knows good satire when she watches it.
P.P.S. Here’s a link to the Valentine’s Day episode of “Daily Reflections” with Stewart Smalley. It will remind you to love yourself.
Intentergy 