Take a moment and picture the person you are today. Do you genuinely feel more sharp and switched on now than when you were a teenager with clearer critical thinking, a stronger sense of logic, and a better grasp of how to make solid decisions, or do you still find yourself falling into the same dumb choices and tripping over the same complexities and nuances of life on this planet that left you feeling clueless back then?
 

I also keep wondering if there is a stage in life where our intelligence just plateaus for a while. Maybe we get these big bursts of growth at certain points and then long stretches of nothing in between. It makes you think about when the real development of your mind actually happened. Was it simply time passing, or was it certain experiences, shocks, mistakes, or bits of information that pushed your thinking into a higher gear?

 

And of course this whole idea probably lands very differently for everyone. Most studies suggest that only a small slice of humanity ever reaches that upper tier of deeper thought to begin with, so it makes sense that plenty of people will read this and shrug because it just does not apply to them in any meaningful way.

8 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Take a moment and picture the person you are today. Do you genuinely feel more sharp and switched on now than you were as a teenager with clearer critical thinking, a stronger sense of logic, and a better grasp of how to make solid decisions...

 

Nope

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

Nope

I appreciate your honest answer. Still, there has to be a part of everyone that feels they understand things on a deeper level than they did when they were less mature with a less developed brain, even if that growth comes from life experience alone, no?

Just now, SoCal1990 said:

I appreciate your honest answer. But there must be a side of everyone that feels like they understand things better than when they were less mature with a less developed brain, if not then just based on life experience experiences alone, no?

 

I don't believe that. You deal with cards you are given at any time.

 

My younger self was a risk taker. I don't think my brain has the same capacity today to take the same risks. Thailand is a classic example of this where a lot of old men that are supposed to be wiser fail miserably. 

no, im not as intelligent now as i was when i was young, but i stand my ground better now, are less hesitant and insecure, and acknowledge my gut instinct

I'd say much smarter mainly due to experience gained over all that time, also better at solving problems than i was even 20 years ago

44 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Thailand is a classic example of this where a lot of old men that are supposed to be wiser fail miserably. 

Mainly because many are thinking with the smaller head. 

Body got older.... mind did not, it is not as sharp though possibly due the to thousands of liters of alcohol consumed.

If only we could all rise to the level of Gamma the resident genius posing as a great thinker while mainly posting nonsensical topics laced with sixties rock videos everyone has already seen a thousand times.

2 hours ago, Alpha84 said:

If only we could all rise to the level of Gamma the resident genius posing as a great thinker while mainly posting nonsensical topics laced with sixties rock videos everyone has already seen a thousand times.

 

Sadly, Gamma is a classic example of the Dunning-Kruger effect. But nonetheless, deserves an A for effort. 

6 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

I don't believe that. You deal with cards you are given at any time.

 

My younger self was a risk taker. I don't think my brain has the same capacity today to take the same risks. Thailand is a classic example of this where a lot of old men that are supposed to be wiser fail miserably. 

Mostly as in all countries older people hide behind their age when not understanding things. Unless one has Alzheimer or dementia, they weren't too smart all their lives.  I keep learning all the time.

If you don't get smarter , the older you get ...your xxxxxx

 

regards worgeordie

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

I don't believe that. You deal with cards you are given at any time.

 

My younger self was a risk taker. I don't think my brain has the same capacity today to take the same risks. Thailand is a classic example of this where a lot of old men that are supposed to be wiser fail miserably. 

 

Seconded. I was more impulsive and a risk-taker when younger. Nowadays I consider things more carefully from all perspectives, before making an informed decision. You live and learn... 😆

Nope, I am de-volving.

 

 

5 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

 

Sadly, Gamma is a classic example of the Dunning-Kruger effect. But nonetheless, deserves an A for effort. 

 

Yep, a textbook D-K case, but you do have to give him credit, he really strives for greatness at it.

It is good to be older and see more logic in why things are as it is, and there is no short cuts! 

 

Happy life takes effort, and also understand the world goes on like it have done since the beginning no matter what I think, want or think I can do! 

 

Enjoy your moment and time, that’s what it is, nothing more

I have a large family, lot of siblings.

 

I have outgrown these people. I am not on the same wavelength at all with them anymore. I have to tolerate hostility at family gatherings for stepping out of the herd mentality. Most families are "cults". Everyone is expected to think and behave the same way. 

 

 

I honestly believe that the older we get, the less we evolve, and typically we become lesser versions of ourselves. Unless we're making a real effort to improve, and unless we're making an effort to look within not only for the source of our problems, but for the reasons to stay upbeat and positive, and to maintain perspective and gratitude, with regard to our lives. If we're able to do that I think we can use our experience and wisdom to lead incredibly rich lives. And if we're incapable of doing that most just seem to become grumpier and uglier versions of themselves. It's very much up to us. 

 

Having said all that I think one of my greatest personal improvements has been my unwillingness to tolerate nonsense of any kind, and it's become much easier for me to bring out my inner assh+++, and that's a good thing. Ha! 

16 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

and it's become much easier for me to bring out my inner assh+++, and that's a good thing. Ha! 

Yeah baby, engrave a picture of it onto your shirt and wear it with pride!

I'm pretty sure I peaked when I was 17. I was in touch with the deeper universe then. 

 

It's been downhill ever since then.

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

I'm pretty sure I peaked when I was 17. I was in touch with the deeper universe then. 

 

It's been downhill ever since then.

I thought that might be the case...................🤫

19 minutes ago, transam said:

I thought that might be the case...................🤫

 

Definitely.

 

The women, nothing but trouble.

24 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

I'm pretty sure I peaked when I was 17. I was in touch with the deeper universe then. 

 

It's been downhill ever since then.

I thought I peaked at 19, and life couldn’t be better than that, and it was true to a certain limit. Right now I wouldn’t go back to those days for a minute even. Life’s a repeating rollercoster if you let it! 

 

Take control and be happy!

Just now, Hummin said:

I thought I peaked at 19, and life couldn’t be better than that, and it was true to a certain limit. Right now I wouldn’t go back to those days for a minute even. Life’s a repeating rollercoster if you let it! 

 

Take control and be happy!

 

Yah, the universe was revealing truths to me on a deeper level, I wasn't even taking any substances, just by the power of my mind. I was fearless. Driven.

 

Then I got moulded by the big machine into a cog to serve the big machine. 

 

Of course things are better now on many levels, more money, better women, but that laser focus mental energy, I think that got lost on the way. Then again maybe I don't need it so much now. I didn't have many answers then, mostly questions. Now, I know so much more of course. Yet I still wish I had that focus and energy.

13 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

Do you genuinely feel more sharp and switched on now than when you were a teenager with clearer critical thinking, a stronger sense of logic, and a better grasp of how to make solid decisions

Of course.

13 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

or do you still find yourself falling into the same dumb choices and tripping over the same complexities and nuances of life on this planet that left you feeling clueless back then?

Haven’t all those been weeded out or living on the streets already?

2 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Yah, the universe was revealing truths to me on a deeper level, I wasn't even taking any substances, just by the power of my mind. I was fearless. Driven.

 

Then I got moulded by the big machine into a cog to serve the big machine. 

 

Of course things are better now on many levels, more money, better women, but that laser focus mental energy, I think that got lost on the way. Then again maybe I don't need it so much now. I didn't have many answers then, mostly questions. Now, I know so much more of course. Yet I still wish I had that focus and energy.

 

I do not know what she is saying, but she appeared in my feed now, and it reminds me on my primetime in my life. Ladies who could say whatever they wanted, and I didnt understand anything, just smiled and nodded to comfort them while talking while my mind was on something totally different. Now happy with a good old lady to settle rest of my life with. Grow old and get wrinkles sharing memories 

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/717333814323867/?fs=e&fs=e

 

 

17 hours ago, Hummin said:

 

I do not know what she is saying, but she appeared in my feed now, and it reminds me on my primetime in my life. Ladies who could say whatever they wanted, and I didnt understand anything, just smiled and nodded to comfort them while talking while my mind was on something totally different. Now happy with a good old lady to settle rest of my life with. Grow old and get wrinkles sharing memories 

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/717333814323867/?fs=e&fs=e

 

 

 

Nothing better than finding the woman you know you will spend the rest of  your life with.

 

If she's attractive, obviously.

 

If she looks like Celsius' missus I'd probably go through a mid-life crisis.

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

 

Nothing better than finding the woman you know you will spend the rest of  your life with.

 

If she's attractive, obviously.

 

If she looks like Celsius' missus I'd probably go through a mid-life crisis.

You've met her then...........🤫

4 minutes ago, transam said:

You've met her then...........🤫

 

Fair point, that would really be required to make a fully accurate judgement.

 

I concede this, you have a point transam.

At 19, I was Bullet Proof and did some stupid things and lived through it. I found my personal growth is a lifelong process. You’re never “done” growing as a person. There’s always room for improvement. The changes you go through may not be noticeable to others. But that doesn’t mean they’re not real or important. This is your life, and you’re the only one who knows what’s going on inside of you. Now as I approach my 79 birthday this month in good health, I try not to think too much about my expiration date.