7 Steps to Boost Your Intellectual Capacity the Da Vinci Way
Who exactly is a genius?
- A scientist?
- An artist?
- An engineer?
- A class topper?
Well, nope…
It’s you.
Everyone is a genius in their ways, and so are you.
As Bill Watterson says:
“I’m a misunderstood genius.”
“What’s misunderstood?”
“Nobody thinks I’m a genius.”
This couldn’t be more accurate.
If you think you’re anything less than a genius, then you need to reintroduce yourself to you and to the world. Because your brain is much better than you think.
In this blog, we’ll uncover the secrets of becoming a genius inspired by Michael J. Gelb’s book Think like Da Vinci: 7 Easy Steps to Boosting your Everyday Genius
Let’s dig down your inner genius.
Secret 1- Curiosita (Curiosity)
“An insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning.”
Great minds ask questions. And this is what it’s all about.
Having a curious approach to everything is the basis of learning. It’s simple, the more you show interest, the more you learn.
So, explore things…
Ask questions…
Learn…
Get deeper into it and harness your genius.
What’s more to it?
Your question-asking ability enhances your problem-solving skills. A classic example of this would be a student who waits till the end to ask just one more question before the lecture ends.
You may annoy others by your curiosity. But hey, you do you. 😊
How Can You Implement Curiosita?
- Carry a notebook and write what you find intriguing
- Evaluate it from the opposite perspective
- Focus more on observation and write about it
- Write down your thoughts and experiences
- Look for alternate ideas and opinions
- Play the devil’s advocate
Secret 2- Dimonstrazione (Independent Thinking)
“A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from a mistake.”
Learn from your experience – the good and the bad.
Let your curiosity and enthusiasm rule your mind. Unless you’re willing to test your knowledge and embrace your mistake, you won’t be able to reap the outcomes.
So, go and seek the truth mercilessly by:
- Testing
- Making mistakes
- Persistence
- Learning
- REPEAT
A good example of this would be a programmer who works on the ins and outs of programming codes to find the perfect technique to get their program running.
What Will You Get by Doing This?
Your mistakes help you come up with creative solutions to what you’re pursuing.
Ways to Apply Dimonstrazione in Real Life
- Explore your habits
- Test your least productive habit
- Question yourself
- Learn where you lack
- Think of better ways to overcome them
Secret 3- Sensazione (Refine Your Senses)
“Continual refinement of the senses as the means to enliven experience.”
Make the most of your senses to enhance your experience. Your feelings play a major part when you try something new. Focus on how new experiences make you feel.
Try new things.
Explore your abilities to see, hear, feel, and perceive things and how it uplifts your experience.
Takeaways – the more you put your senses to work, the more you learn by being present in the moment. This will enhance your mindfulness and make you more receptive to things.
Best Ways to Put Sensazione to Work
- Pay attention to nature’s beauty
- Try something you’re afraid of
- Listen to the loudest and softest noises
- Live in the moment
- Focus on your breathing
Secret 4- Sfumato (Embrace Uncertainty)
“A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.”
As they say: “The only certainty in life is uncertainty” and “the only thing constant is the change.”
These sayings are valid in all disciplines of life. And it’s better to accept it and go with the flow.
If you wish to excel in your life, learn to be ok with the uncertainties and always be prepared for the changes that come your way.
Secret 5- Arte/Scienza (Art & Science)
“The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination.”
Da Vinci’s fifth way to being a genius looks like a whole-brain thinking work.
It is rightly said creativity and knowledge go hand in hand.
You must create a balance between art and science to fully bring out your potential. Adding a pinch of logic to your imagination can open gateways to handle a situation in better ways.
What Will You Get?
- Enhanced problem-solving skills
- Enhanced creative thinking ability
- Balanced thinking perception
How Can You Apply It?
Set a goal at your work and try to achieve it creatively yet logically.
Secret 6- Corporalita (Mind-Body Care)
“The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.”
Similar to the fifth principle, Da Vinci’s sixth way of genius is also based on balancing. But this time, between your physical and mental health.
Your well-being matters the most out of everything you’ve got and aim to achieve.
Focus more on taking care of your physical and mental health before bracing yourself to achieve a milestone.
After all, a sharp mind and healthy body bring out your maximum productivity.
Ways To Ace Corporalita
- Join fitness classes (yoga, aerobics, etc.)
- Practice healthy eating
- Go swimming
- Ride a horse
Secret 7- Connessione: (Interconnectedness)
“A simple recognition of the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena.”
As creative as it is to come up with unique ideas, it is equally great to understand the interconnecting link between the following:
- Actions
- Pattern
- Relationship
To harness your power of building a system, all you need to do is unleash your true potential by utilizing your intelligence and skills in the best possible way.
Think like Da Vinci: 7 Easy Steps to Boosting your Everyday Genius is an outclass book based on Da Vinci’s 7 principles. Following these secrets is your gateway to boosting your intellectual capacity in ways you never imagined.