BEING INQUISITIVE

‘I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive.’ (Albert Einstein)

The word ‘intellectual’ is usually assumed to mean somebody especially intelligent. In fact your intellect is your ability to understand complex ideas, to learn from your experiences, to be mentally creative and to continually grow. It’s a major part of every person’s life. Being intellectually fulfilled will lead you to feel happier and more satisfied.

Every individual has a different intellect which is challenged by different thoughts and tasks. We have different talents. When we do something that’s intellectually and emotionally satisfying it becomes an achievement. What it is depends entirely on the individual. One person might learn a language or to play a musical instrument. Another might learn to cook or do some DIY. Whatever the task is, achieving things makes us feel good. If we have nothing to keep our thought processes active or nothing to aim for we become unhappy.

Too many of us live in the past, worrying about what we did or said, or what someone else did or said. Others wrestle with the problem of the future and what might happen, or might not happen, or we spend a huge amount of time worrying about why we can’t get what we want. Instead of using all that time and intellectual energy on what we can’t change, we should learn to use it to enjoy living in the present and allowing our lives to unfold.

You can be opportunistic and make plans for the future, and you will learn from past mistakes, but there’s no point in dwelling on the past, or getting despondent if your plans for the future don’t work out the way you hoped. Envision your life as a journey, with many twists and turns, each of which leads you to somewhere new and interesting. If you take a wrong turning, use your intellect to look for a different way to get there. Focus on the excitement of the journey and not on the destination.

I’ve written before about the importance of being creative. You can use your intellect and imagination to be creative about anything you do. Make sure you try out new things, or try doing things in a different way. Often it will lead you to creative discoveries. Being creative exercises your intellect, which makes you a happier more fulfilled person.

Remember that your capacity for intellectual growth is limitless. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, you are always able to study and learn. I don’t necessarily mean going to school or doing a course, but find something that makes you feel interested and stimulates your mind and learn more about it. There’s so much satisfaction to be gained from learning new skills or ways of thinking.

Your intellect will grow if you use it. So:

· Identify your talents and interests and expand them.
· Be observant and absorb knowledge from what happens in the world around you.
· Try to live in the present and enjoy the journey of life.
· Be creative in your thoughts and actions.
· Study and learn about anything that interests you.
· Be inquisitive!