The intelligent human

Are there intelligent beings in space? Consider this conversation between two aliens:

- FRANCIS J. KONG

I’m sure you are. And here’s the thing about intelligent people: they instinctively know the habits and practices that reflect intelligence.

Alien 1: “The dominant life forms on Planet Earth have developed satellite-based nuclear weapons.”

Alien 2: “Impressive. So these earthlings must be emerging as an intelligent species?”

Alien 1: “Not really. They have them aimed at themselves.”

Now, back to us humans. The question is: Are you intelligent?

They also know the things they have to avoid.

We all have blind spots, we all make mistakes, and we all need improvement. The unintelligent person is not the one who struggles or fails. It’s the one who knows there’s a problem but denies it, defends it, and refuses to change.

Are you intelligent? I am sure you are. Intelligent people would instinctively know both the things they do well and the things they should avoid.

We often praise emotionally intelligent people for what they do: they listen, they empathize, they adapt. But sometimes it’s not the habits you practice, but the habits you avoid that make the difference.

As the saying goes, “Smart people know what to say. Wise people know whether to say it at all.”

Here are seven habits emotionally intelligent people refuse to entertain — and why avoiding them can help you succeed in work and in life:

1. Reacting impulsively instead of responding accordingly