Most people use the words smart and intelligent interchangeably, because to them the words mean just about the same thing. However, to me, and for the purpose of this blog the words have two different meanings.
Here is how I define each word:
- Intelligent: having high cognitive ability or mental capacity.
- Smart: the ability to use one’s intelligence effectively.
The way most people measure intelligence is by IQ score. And in the past, I did as well. But now, I think of an intelligent person as somebody who has high cognitive ability (short term memory, reaction time, problem solving skills, etc). I no longer go off of IQ score alone (even though I do consider it) because IQ tests can sometimes can depend on the education and knowledge a person has accumulated over their life time. Therefore, an intelligent person who didn’t try in school wouldn’t score as well as someone with an equal (or even lower) amount of intelligence who did.
Many who read that last statement will argue “If a person was intelligent, why wouldn’t they try in school?” And that’s what this post is about. Just because a person is intelligent, doesn’t mean they always make smart decisions. In fact, I think it is entirely possible for a person to be very intelligent but stupid.
So what makes a person smart then? A smart person is somebody who actually used their intelligence (regardless of the amount they have) to better their lives. They make their decisions based off of logic, and not how they temporarily feel. In other words, they don’t let their emotions cloud their judgment. And as you can probably imagine, stupid people to me are people who do just about the exact opposite. These people let their emotions cloud their judgment, and they make their decisions based off of those emotions. They know what they should do, but for whatever reason they don’t.
Obviously, no one really makes either “smart” or “stupid” decisions 100% of the time. I like to think that I make mostly smart decisions but I know there’s plenty of things I do (or mainly don’t do) that I consider stupid. For example, I know I should exercise everyday but I don’t. Or sometimes I will watch TV when I know I have better things to do like work on my business. These are stupid decisions that I sometimes (okay, a little more than sometimes) make based off of my emotions (in this case laziness).
What I have found though is when you start to call your decisions for what they are (stupid or smart), you’ll end up making the smarter decisions more often. This is because we all like to think of ourselves as smart, so when we call a decision stupid we are less likely to make it. Be aware of your emotions though, because they tend to have a way of making stupid decisions sound like smart ones. Like in my exercising example, I can easily say “I don’t exercise because I don’t have enough time.” Sounds pretty logical, right? But in reality, I can make time for exercising by either spending less time on unimportant things or just by waking up a little bit earlier every morning.
We all have the intelligence to figure out what decision is best to make (see the Don’t Know What To Do? That’s Not An Excuse To Do Nothing post), we just need to be smart enough to make it. It takes a lot of self discipline, but if you can do this you will improve whatever you apply it to. I know when I do, I am healthier, more productive, and better off financially (just to name a few things). I end up feeling more fulfilled and therefore happier. And I know the same thing will happen to you if you do. It just depends on whether or not you’re smart enough to do so.
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Interesting. I came to a similar conclusion some time ago, but only with slight changes. You’re theory is that “stupid” people “are those who let emotion cloud their judgement”. I, on the otherhand, while using school as my field of observation, found that “stupid” is plain-old “laziness”, with some exceptions (mentally disabled people, for example.) Like you I associated “smart” with “intelligence”, though I worded it slightly differently using the term “effort” instead. Simply because when one calls you “smart” in school (highschool) they say it because you do well on an academic assignment, like a test for example. And the only reason you did well is because you put in “effort” (which is a relative term, as “effort” may be more for some and less for some depending on the activity. As in, if they have “intelligence” for that certain type of activity, mathematics for example, their “effort” would be much less in comparison to one who has only “intelligence” in say, art.) Though all in all, your theory that one’s inability to make proper decisions truly is a factor of stupidity. But then again, the majority of people choose the wrong decision because it is the “easier” one, and they only choose the “easier” one because they are lazy (even if they don’t admit it).
I definitely agree that intelligence is about cognitive ability and mental capacity. But I, personally, don’t define smart as simply the ability or effort to use intelligence effectively (though they will be determining factors for the individual’s level of success at a goal). I’ve felt more that smart is the retention of knowledge, information, and material, and it can thereby be calculated-like with tests. Whereas intelligence could not, being more the break down, build up, and connectivity of complex ideas. As far as emotion is concerned, either side can fall prey. But, I’m inclined to think a smart person would most fall prey to emotion because they would be less experienced at handling information that is more “fluid” and not as easily discernible.
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