The Downside Of Being Smart

Being smart isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially if you want to crack the code of learning something new.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

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It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

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Transcript

The Downside of Being Smart

Seems we all know some really smart people, or as we say in Rhode Island: Wicked "Smat." And sure, intelligence has its perks. But there’s a downside too, and it’s one smart people don't realize.

In my experience, the smarter someone is, the more arguments they tend to make. And I don’t just mean arguments with other people—I’m talking about the mental kind. The inner debates. The justifications. The clever, convincing stories we tell ourselves.

Those of us with average intellects might replay the same handful of arguments in our heads. But the really smart folks? They’ve got a full library. They can argue every side of an issue, back it up with logic, and defend their position from a dozen angles. They’re like a one-person debate team—and undefeated.

But here’s the rub: that very brilliance, that sharp mind, can build a fortress that’s hard to get through.

I realized this during a conversation with my niece. I said to her—kind of off the cuff—“I find that smarter people are harder to reach.” And as soon as I said it, it hit me. It’s true. Their intellect becomes a shield. They use logic like bricks and mortar—constructing walls of rationale that make real connection or change almost impossible.

A line from the book Ishmael by Daniel Quinn came to mind: “There is no argument powerful enough to end the argument.” And wow, isn’t that accurate? Especially for the smart ones. They’ve got too many counterpoints, too many escape routes. Logic can’t get in.

So what's the answer to this dilemma for smart people . . . and the rest of us as well?

It starts by noticing. Just notice the argument in your head and don't argue with it. When you just observe, but not engage, the volume starts to drop. You create space. Space for something new to come through—something beyond logic. Something that sounds a lot more like wisdom.

The fact is, intelligence alone doesn’t solve the big questions in life. In fact, it can get in the way. Smart people are so used to solving everything with their minds, they forget that change—the deep kind—doesn’t come from more thinking. It comes from quiet. Stillness. Awareness.

That’s where wisdom lives.

I’ll leave you with one of the few Bible verses I actually know: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.”

Maybe it’s time to stop spinning out rationale. Stop arguing with yourself. Give your mind a break from all that clever logic, and just listen. You might be surprised what you hear in the silence.

All the best,

John