Discussion How to cope with being dumb when you’re ultra-aware of your dumbness?

[Interdegenerate]

This is my primary objective as of late.

 

[yowai]

Maybe make it into a joke, I'm really bad with math and failed an after graduation exam that's needed to get into any university because of it twice, and I'm super embarrassed about it but now I just joke to everyone and myself that math and numbers overwhelm me to cope lol. Also remembering a lot of people are really dumb in general or maybe consider that you're not actually less intelligent but just really harsh on yourself or that you have some other strenghts instead

 

[Interdegenerate]

Maybe make it into a joke, I'm really bad with math and failed an after graduation exam that's needed to get into any university because of it twice, and I'm super embarrassed about it but now I just joke to everyone and myself that math and numbers overwhelm me to cope lol. Also remembering a lot of people are really dumb in general or maybe consider that you're not actually less intelligent but just really harsh on yourself or that you have some other strenghts instead

You're right. I need to destroy my perfectionism. It continues to ruin a lot in my life. I'm reaching for a too unattainable ideal.

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

I'm really dumb if I don't have enough time/energy/motivation to work through several iterations of whatever idea/task I'm doing. Basically, my first draft is often incredibly dumb, my instinct/intuition/autopilot seems to be extremely unreliable. So I can't do anything on impulse or say whatever comes to mind without risk (I had a phase lasting a few years or so a while back where I lived impulsively/recklessly and it was a total disaster). A decade of depression and such I think has damaged my intellect, as well. Also on the input side, I tend to just believe whatever people say (working on it), no matter how insane/stupid, as a default (again, requiring I use a lot of energy and focus to use critical thinking, since there's no good autoimmune response).

So some strategies for me is to take care of myself to have some energy, and to use it wisely. To decide if someone is worth listening to ahead of time (especially online). And to try to give myself time to think things through. Also talking to others/getting info online, if at all possible, could be a good asset to balance out my natural stupidity. Another thing is caring, because of the depression/apathy I'm less likely to care about making mistakes (feeling like everything's already over), which only makes this worse/doesn't motivate me to think hard. So that has to be challenged and maybe replaced with a goal/ideal of being someone who uses his head.

Hope something there helps, best wishes.

 

[Ashu]

You generally grow more and more resigned to everything as you grow older. In advanced old age, the Finnish composer Sibelius wrote in his diary, "Cheer up: death is round the corner."

 

[CutToRelease]

Idk really when I was still in school my parents like most parents insisted I was smart. Never really felt smart. So I believed them tried hard got B and C averages. But stoped caring after a while. Wasn't worthing it felt to much for to little. Then I regretted trying so hard early on. It cemented my parents idea that I was smart. Just made them push me harder. Even if there pushing didn't work in the end. So yeah in summary stop caring I guess idk.

 

[cemeteryismyhome]

You generally grow more and more resigned to everything as you grow older. In advanced old age, the Finnish composer Sibelius wrote in his diary, "Cheer up: death is round the corner."

This is me as well

 

[EvisceratedJester]

I used to cope with it by trying to at least give off the impression that I was smart but then I eventually got to a point where I just accepted the fact that I'm a dumb bitch. May as well embrace it rather than try to hide it. Do I like that I'm an idiot who takes longer than others to learn and comprehend basic shit? No. But there isn't much I can do about it so I may as well embrace my stupidity to the fullest degree.

 

[SVEN]

Basically, I just don't care.

 

[niceday]

I had a brain injury that I eventually outgrew and one I felt very ashamed of. I don't know. Everyone makes mistakes. Maybe, you're just being too hard on yourself. Do what you love. Keep growing.

 

[suacide]

I think I used to be a smart kid, but then brain fog took over. Honestly these days I can't find the thought to care, but when I become conscious of it, I remind myself that to put it simply: Nothing is gonna happen if you're dumb. It's ok to be dumb. When people think you're dumb, life gets easier.