I am trying to be less stupid

is this lame idk

[@El_Sharko_]

I’M A TEACHER, PLEASE READ THIS: there’s a surprisingly straightforward fix to what you’re experiencing. This isn’t an intelligence issue as much as it is a memory retention issue coupled with the natural side effects of living in a culture of overstimulation. Keep journals. Go to a library or used book store, pick up a random book that catches your fancy, and while you’re reading, write down every word you don’t know as well as its definition. That’s the fix. Make this a habit. It trains your brain to label things as “important” and not just throw them out. When you’re learning something new, give yourself time for pauses to stop and think(in silence) about what you just took in. Either meditate on, or write about, key information and your own thoughts. This is the EXACT strategy people use to start being able to remember their dreams(by default our brains toss that information in the trash every morning). If your brain does this too much with information you take in during waking hours, train it not to. You will be floored by how quickly and effectively this works. As your first book to read like this, I recommend a fun but thought provoking, quick and easy read: The Pig That Wants to be Eaten

[@joelboy19]

[@JustSheik]

I’m going to do this. Thank you for sharing.

[@theeightbithero]

I was homeschooled. I had a lot of homeschooled friends and all the smartest ones had parents that made them do exactly this rather than do what I was told to do which what just read text and answer fill in the blank questions about what I read. This unfortunately taught me to scan text for information and move on. This is NOT learning. I taught English for a bit and for a time I found making people read Narnia and look up every word they didn’t understand and write it down with the definition, helped the students pick up language slower, but better. Learning for learning sake rather than for the sake of the test.

[@OArchivesX]

Knowing how to learn is a skill. There are techiques you can use to improve memory and retention, try looking them up. Like word association. Do memory games, puzzle games.. etc. your brain is a muscle, and it can be trained.

[@xboneyt485]

Bro she can't read 😅

[@ToniMonteroroman]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[@HAMZAPINE]

Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!

[@BestOffer-ii9ny]

Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.

[@FabioPioFersini]

I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.

[@HAMZAPINE]

Is he on instagram?

[@BestOffer-ii9ny]

Yes he is dr.porassss.

[@sincerelyspazz]

That title is so real. I’ve been fighting stupidity for 21 years now (I’m losing)

[@theastuteangler]

40 year battle for me. I lost on the first day, but I can take a beating.

[@thekiran6176]

@@theastuteangler be fighting demons

[@johnstevens1575]

Don't worry, when you get older you can label it early onset dementia and claim that it's age and lifestyle related.

[@ignaciocabrera219]

The thing here is that this idea of you being stupid depends ENTIRELY on how you define stupid. Let's assume that is just something general like not being able to understand things that people are trying to teach you. Maybe it was on primary school, maybe it was on high school, maybe in college. So let's assume that it was on either one of them or maybe multiple. The question that should be asked is: On what factors me not understanding things depends? If the answer is, only me, then the inevitable conclusion is that I'm stupid (and it's even an intelligent answer! Because if it only depends on me then I must be the problem, it's brilliantly answered). But does it only depend on me? The answer is no, it can depend on me but also on other things. Let's say that the teacher also plays a role, learning method, did he try to make you learn with experience or only theory, motivation of the teacher (there are studies that show how contagious a person in front of a group is towards the group, for good and bad), how much the teacher knew about the subject. You can come up with a lot of factors that will dictate how well a student understands a given idea/subject whatever you call it. So it does not only depend on you. Hope this helps you in some way, and that further teachers you have can actually teach you in a way you find reasonable. Understanding things gives you a moment of self accomplishment that no one should be denied to have.

[@cohentheblue]

A human learns their whole life but still dies stupid. Embrace it, just means you have no goal to accomplish other than what you set for yourself. No one becomes "not stupid".

[@KeltorRochridge]

“She who asks a question is a fool for a moment, but she who never asks is a fool forever”

[@woulfhound]

The fact that people are labeled as "fools" just for being ignorant is both ethically and factually wrong. That quote has a built in shame/pride dynamic and that is a real shame.

[@ericpivaral4747]

​@@woulfhound You're focusing on the wrong thing

[@xXxCatsnakexXx]

@@woulfhound ignorance is not a strength

[@kipkipper-lg9vl]

big difference between being stupid and just not knowing things, gotta keep that in mind

[@charlesbrent4297]

"keep that in mind" did you just watch her video? ha ha.

[@haropones]

@@charlesbrent4297 LOL

[@globalgaucho]

@@haropones just start to watching historical ficcion in series and movies and maybe video games like assasin creed, see also youtube videos about the history of clothing and fashion

[@Tigo625]

@@charlesbrent4297 Good joke.

[@albertogarcia9250]

I think I get your point, not knowing some skills like math or cooking is one thing, but if you are a racist, a xenophobic or just not knowing when politicians manipulate you, then you are stupid.

[@screamingoctahedron2199]

What you said about information retention and reading reminded me of a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote (which I first heard at the end of a Vsauce video, The Zipf Mystery): "I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me." There's value in encountering new information other than memorizing it, but I think it's hard for us to appreciate that value since it's so intangible and consequently difficult to talk about. I try to keep that in mind when I read.

[@haropones]

Thats really useful to think about!

[@mprice6683]

Yes, this makes me remember the quote I read from Abraham Lincoln, "Don't believe everything you read on the internet".

[@sun--li]

Sometimes books just help us form correct beliefs, even if we then forget how exactly we came to those beliefs.

[@mprice6683]

@@sun--li Yes. A book can lead you in a direction of expansive learning.

[@GeneticSteve]

The more you think and learn, the better you get at thinking and learning.

[@Gr33kChief]

"I dont think im smart" yet tells a detailed story with a vast vocabulary. Trust me you got skills!!!!!! Questioning your own intelligence is a sign you're on the right path of learning!!!

[@Copemaxer]

That just means you have more than 80 iq.

[@Eldritch-1]

My best friend does the same thing.

[@Copemaxer]

@@Eldritch-1 what thing

[@user-tx4wj7qk4t]

It's hilarious how much you people will praise the absolute bottom of the barrel wmn

[@savbrown]

you have SHINING verbal intelligence..critical reasoning...i really resonate with you and i wonder if it's *because* you're so smart that you're especially sensitive to this deficit you feel. i also have trouble with information recall/retention/extrapolation so after i read anything i do a write up of key points and what i learned, what i'm taking with me....you'll know this from your note-taking but writing things out in your own words really helps with retention...also i find it helpful to 'pre-articulate' ideas to myself so i feel comfortable talking about them later with others :) you're doing great

[@haropones]

Wow, thank you so much!

[@g0kada]

ha, she also reminded me of you.

[@nucle4rpenguins534]

“‘pre-articulate’ ideas to myself so I feel comfortable talking about them later on…..” Honestly … kind of verbatim from a part in the “Feynman Technique”. Great skill though to master! To clarify for anyone that isn’t aware, the Feynman technique was coined by a Nobel laureate theory physicist: Richard Feynman, who developed this method in teaching himself new material and in teaching others. A part of it stresses largely in communicating the crux of an idea to someone completely ignorant of it while getting the point across. This really challenges you to not only make sense of the idea to yourself but also to the person you’re speaking to. Pre-articulation super helps as a start

[@stardust_2339]

​@@nucle4rpenguins534Exactly. In order to explain something well, you need to understand it. Trying to put things into a way you can tell them helps you understand them.

[@dmrfnk]

@@nucle4rpenguins534 Thanks I need to try this (consciously). I babble but also often can't recall names or words or other details when I need them so even my incoherent explanations can quickly come to an abrupt end.

[@vainarrara6651]

I want to praise your awareness. It takes a lot of courage to confront one's own ignorance.

[@geralt8660]

Is being self aware of not being at retaining information even anywhere close to ignorance?

[@vainarrara6651]

@@geralt8660 I feel like you just asked me for the meaning of life and the purpose of the universe. WTF?

[@geralt8660]

@@vainarrara6651 lol Nono. Just a rhetorical question.

[@vidzorko4492]

not really, it's just hard to stop being ignorant lol

[@vidzorko4492]

​@@vainarrara6651 and also, having a bad memory, low IQ, or bad focus, doesn't equal being ignorant, as you imply.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I FAILED ENGLISH 5 TIMES* I only passed it because a teacher came to my house and went through every question on the assignments with me and helped me. I'm a professional author now, my every penny comes from the books I've written. Ive also suffered brain damage and had to retrain my brain to remember things. YOUR BRAIN is way more plastic and changeable than you would ever think. YOU WILL BE FINE...!!!

[@allyson--]

🫡 you rock man

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@allyson-- - OH thank you - but really I am just trying to get from one day to the next like everyone else.

[@haropones]

That's so inspiring, thank you for sharing!

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@haropones - You are very welcome - I am 100% sure you will be fine! Consistency is the key - do a little bit each day and never miss unless you are ill 😀

[@nicbarth3838]

@@allyson-- fr

[@bekampfemittelmaigkeit4569]

Theres probably a few reasons playing into that feeling of "you not being able to recall information but all the others can." - Confirmation bias. Your strong awareness of the pattern makes you look for it. - Availability bias. When others can't recall information they stay silent and you only hear the times when they can recall it - Your belief that you can't recall information in itself could be hindering you from remembering because subconsciously you don't even try to remember because you think you're not fit for it. - Thinking about thinking keeps you from being present and from catching the information because you're not there but in your head. Youre very articulate and clearly you are a thinker. I don't think you lack mental ability at all, but instead it's a few factors coming together that give you that image. Thank you for uploading this video. I myself feel like this a lot of the time but I always have to think of this quote: "In this world there's people that worry they're idiots and then there's idiots"

[@dmrfnk]

I thought what she said was very curious as I was actually evaluated a couple weeks ago, scored better than average or high on other stuff but from hearing short detail rich stories (that didn't evoke any emotion or interest) I could recall significantly less than average. And it explained so much. I guess there's ways to practice this but if it's something very specific that serves no other purpose I'll be hard pressed to find motivation to do it consistently, lol. I hope getting back into reading books helps.

[@ceooflonelinessinc.267]

I (33) have a learning disability. My IQ is approx 80. I got tested twice in school. It is mainly due to the fact that my mother drunk alcohol during her pregnancy (FASD spectrum/Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Everything is harder in my life. No matter how hard I try, I always fail. I needed to visit special ed class till 18, I never had many friends, I never had the ability to visit college or achive high education, I only work at sign holder jobs...or fast food...I also never had a girlfriend. A low intelligenc is a severe punishment for your whole life, which affects every aspect of your life negatively. I hate my stupid life.

[@debomb721]

God that is so rough

[@ThePetalesharo]

That really sucks to hear, I'm sure that's been unbelievably difficult. I hope you have developed and keep developing strategies to learn despite your disability. You are not your learning disability, I believe in you!

[@heatherfoster7823]

Do you think, if given the chance, you could perform adequately in a higher level career? I ask sincerely because i remeberr the learning disabled kids from my youth and have wondered how they grew up. I wonder sometimes if a learning disability affects people beyond school or if its a label slapped on people that has the potential to change the outcome of their lives. I'm sorry you're being punished your whole life for someone else's mistake. I hope your mother is aware of your struggles and her responsibility in their origin.

[@soundiboi1749]

simple things aren't bad, they're usually better. I know finding a career is exceedingly difficult especially when people will write you off regardless of work experience because of it. A path I know to be very rewarding is volunteer work, which can turn into a career if you really commit to it. Volunteer work has worked great for people with learning disabilities I knew because it is often more social and because you initially start as a volunteer, they really have no reason to turn you away. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for or hoping to do, or if you even like the majority of volunteer related stuff, but it could be a good place to start. I hope you find luck, I know it's been 3 weeks since this comment but please respond with any updates!

[@kristiannoetorres]

I was a c student and I struggle to get where I need to be financially. Keep going. Everytime you fail the closer you are to victory. Don't be discouraged. I'm also 30

[@gabrielfair724]

We have known for a long time that giving our selves quiet "boring" time to daydream is extremely important for remembering and processing things we have recently learned. I remember clearly the moment in my life sitting in my English class when "general knowledge" clicked together with all my other classes.

[@julio_m_l]

it feels kinda embarrassing how long it took me to realize there was a point to thinking about things idly??? finding time to do that was such a major improvement for me

[@markjackson1989]

Like when you realize a coincidence is when two unrelated events coincide. It is the coincidence of events.

[@popsicIes]

@@markjackson1989 WHAT

[@davidyoussef8974]

Something I would like to point out to you is you said that you put all your energy into learning about things related to your appearance. How much information about hair makeup dressing working out and Aesthetics have you consumed over your lifetime? You honestly probably have a bachelor's or a PhD in the subject. I'm not saying this as a joke but as proof that you actually are really good at learning when you care and you think that what you're learning will actually improve your life. The fact that you learn so much about those subjects should make you feel better because it's proof that when you actually want to learn stuff and you're curious about it you can learn a huge amount. I have been a tutor in almost every subject from English and history to calculus biochem and quantum physics and one of the things I always try to tell my students is you're not dumb. You're just bored.

[@johnschoolfield9339]

I second this. You are A-B testing, you've developed good meta-cognition (thinking about thinking), and you've got a good intuition for logical and critical thinking. You just need material you find interesting to plow through, which you are in the process of collecting. I am really loving this series because you have all the qualities of my favorite students. It's exciting to watch!

[@allyson--]

Tell me why this was so healing to read even though I don't study aesthetics, makeup, beauty, etc.

[@johnschoolfield9339]

@@allyson-- My guess would be that you have put a lot of time and energy into your interests and he is saying that your effort counts.

[@haropones]

This was very reassuring!

[@thethinkerer]

@@allyson-- Because it applies to you...maybe all. The topic of aesthetics, etc, is just a variable in this equation, enter your own personal variable.

[@joblaaa]

This is why it’s so frustrating growing up in an era of overstimulation. I felt so unintelligent as a kid but in reality it was about memory and retention - unfortunately it seems like so many school subjects were kind of based on this.

[@thethinkerer]

Oh my, so many important topics touched on here. I was just listening while doing laundry and vacuuming the bedroom. Way relatable, I spend so much time hating the internet for what it is doing to society, but finding stuff like this makes it feel more balanced. I think I need to watch/listen again to stop and dwell more on the subjects. I find your "less stupid" series to be quite comforting. I used to read a paragraph a few times as well, I found that I was just reading the words, and not the content. My wife is the opposite, she will read the content while somehow skimming right over the words! I have been taking the time lately to talk to some people in "real life" and it is borderline amazing. I have a few friends who I can "deep dive" with, and I am actively seeking more. 37 years old and suddenly I care about peoples perspectives, and stories, I feel like I have just became human in the last few years, it is absolutely tragic, and inspiring. When I find someone to dive with, it makes me feel like my loads are shared, powerful stuff, it is like that feeling that I long for, like imagine you dreamed about someone, then you happen to tell them about the dream in real life and their eyes widen and they say they were in the same dream! (as themselves) Well I find it amazing that we are all here, right now, we could have been born in 1886 or somewhere else entirely, we truly are sharing a dream. I have been an intellectual my whole life (apparently) but I didn't know this until like 6 years ago maybe. Books are one of the closer things we have to magic and I didn't always understand this. Also read Neil Gaiman hehe...

[@gallowglass3764]

Your awareness signifies a great deal of intelligence. Love the hair, too. 👍

[@thefranken-thing]

I think the hair is some kind of optical trick or something. I scrolled by but immediately scrolled back up because the hair was strangely transfixing. The edge is just so rounded.

[@rational_observer]

The haircut is a problem. If you look in the mirror and think "this is good". I think that may be a symptom of a larger problem. Who did you pay for that hairstyling and how is it possible they make a living at that craft? There is a reason why people do not have their hair styled like that.

[@thee-sportspantheon330]

@@rational_observer Bro what?

[@faye8400]

@@rational_observer I think your comment is a symptom of a larger problem: ignorance

[@sayo2409]

@@rational_observer WHO CARES ABOUT HER HAIR BRU

[@deezmemes126]

Dyscalculia is as common as dyslexia, but doesn't get as much attention as the latter. Numbers are abstract on their own, there's no such thing as a nine unless applied to something concrete, like apples or poodles. A common method to shed this abstract concept, and particularly useful for creative types, is to assign a colour to each numerical value: 2 becomes green, 7 orange. Choose your own colours, make it unique to you, so whenever you think of a nine you'll have a pleasant hue associated with it.

[@Untoldanimations]

Respectfully, I think this is antithetical to mathematics. Don’t try to obscure the abstraction. Abstraction is the whole point. When you have someone trying to get smarter at maths, that means they need to confront the abstraction

[@deezmemes126]

@@Untoldanimations Some folks brains are wired differently and may have to approach the abstraction from a new perspective. We view the world in our own way, which in itself is unique and beautiful. Mathematics was the one subject I could not fully engage with. I realise numbers hold a certain beauty and perfection for many, but I couldn't match my fellow classmates for speed or accuracy and so I formed a sort of "math performance anxiety" where those numbers eventually meant nothing to me if pressed on a question in class. I could, if left alone for a while, struggle through and finish a math problem. In my school you were quick with the answer or you were deemed to be a little dumb. Hey I can run 100 meters also, not as fast as Usain Bolt, however. All I'm saying is give the mathphobes a break. We will get there, we may have to find new ways to solve our numerical problems but we will get there.

[@Untoldanimations]

@@deezmemes126 having tutored several people in maths, yes I fully understand the extent to which people need to make their own associations with numbers and operations to push through the calculations. People have the goal of scoring well in an exam and I can help them do that. I don’t think I’m teaching them mathematics though. I’m doing something else. Therefore I don’t think I’m giving them the true experience and that’s ok because it was never the goal. This woman is in a unique situation where I really do think she should try to confront the abstraction head-on. If you go on the internet and search “[school year] maths” you will get only a barrage of people teaching you how to rote memorise solutions. If instead you instead shed the exam expectation and seek out maths for the sake of maths, then your brain will really start firing. It will be very painful and humiliating trying to do maths in its full abstraction and that’s why it’s so worth it. I have declined tutoring someone in college maths because I think I would be doing a disservice to NOT deal with the abstract and instead have them make memory associations. This person was not interested in doing mathematics and so I don’t know how far they will go in their degree. In summary: anyone is capable of carrying out arithmetic calculations. Doing this alone won’t enrich you. Instead there is so much potential to let your mind soak up fully abstract ideas and this I think will change your life for the better forever.

[@Fr00stee]

imo an easier way is to represent numbers as physical collections of blocks, its much easier to process

[@padmeasmr]

Fear freezes the brain. I couldn't learn math in school when I developed an idiosincracy to it. I didn't understand it despite me being quite smart and later I loved studying logic at uni (philosophy degree). You have to overcome that inner distrust in knowledge and in your capabilities to retain it. Maybe your brain really does work a lil different, maybe you have a very visual memory or something. Don't let it take you down. Find creative new ways of learning. A lot is about exercise. I have a friend like you who deep down thinks shes stupid, she didn't finish school and only reads romance books so its hard to talk about anything with her she kinda escapes any "difficult" subject. She tries, she sees learning is demanding (like a language for example) and then she just quits right away without going through the hard parts. The secret is to enjoy whats hard bc little by little it becomes more and more simple. Its just a matter of exercise and using those parts of the brain. I commend your courage ❤

[@danceking3441]

also I bet she has a lot of emotional intelligence from reading romance, there's so many different types of intellect

[@aaa-gt8by]

*Idiosyncrasy

[@padmeasmr]

@@aaa-gt8by im italian, we say idiosincrasia and I tried to translate lol

[@aaa-gt8by]

@@padmeasmr Ohhh okay. You fooled me. Your English is nearly perfect. I was completely convinced you were a native speaker.

[@padmeasmr]

@@aaa-gt8by well that's nice to hear ahah

[@Lost_in-the_Woods]

Thank you so much for posting this. I can relate so so so much to the fear of feeling confused and being disappointed when I try to learn something new because I just assume I won’t be able to understand and/or retain it because that’s the way it’s been for practically my whole life. I think it has a lot to do with my very limited working memory, so I’ve tried searching for strategies to help with that. Really though, what’s kept me “stupid” for so long is that fear that nothing I try will make a difference, and tying my self-worth to my innate intellectual abilities. My advice to both you and myself is to try as much as you can to give yourself compassion and ask yourself “what am I doing that’s not working?” instead of “why can’t I just get this?” when you hit that wall of confusion, frustration, and anxiety. The problem is most likely not that your brain is incompatible with learning, but that your learning methods aren’t compatible with your brain. I wish you the best of luck on this journey. You’re not alone on it 💖

[@ines8546]

I love the fact that you didn't cut away the part where u struggled a bit to summarize one of the books. Makes you really relatable and most importantly you come across really authentic since struggling in one way or another is just a part of being human. I feel better about myself now thanks to you :) keep it up!

[@gamenation9485]

"The will to learn is the process of learning" M.E - The intruige on the art book is adorable and its truly evident what makes you happy , whatever you do ,make it the most important thing and everything else needed will come in time.

[@photonfantastic]

So happy to hear that you're taking notes. Taking notes is essential! Without summarizing video content into your own words, you're not learning. It's also important to keep coming back to those notes in the days and weeks afterwards and to test your recall of the important points. Try to make connections between things, too. Keep up the good work!

[@jamesarmisteaddoublespyund1193]

Thank you for making this video, I’ve felt lonely, like no one else has experienced this and I needed this to know another people go through and feel the same way about this as I do.

[@kendawg_mcawesome]

Knowledge is about making connections, not remembering things per se. A big part of the reason your boyfriend can recall a single person from the French Revolution has a few aspects to it, 1) He has probably read or been exposed to narratives about this guy multiple times from different authors, podcasts, documentaries, etc. 2) He has other knowledge about the French Revolution that he can use as a structure to hold information about this single individual. It's hard at first, but once you begin building these webs of knowledge, they start to get easier to expand because you have other knowledge to hang new knowledge on, and you will also tend to get exposed to the same knowledge from different angles as you read about related events or topics. The hardest part, after getting started, is continuing to push yourself. Eventually you start to build out this scaffolding for new knowledge from old knowledge, and things start to become less effortful, and you can begin retaining certain knowledge without making a conscious decision to do so.

[@haropones]

Oh my god you just perfectly described what I was trying to explain around 22:40. I think I definitely need to grow that "web of knowledge"!

[@scientism8047]

​@@haropones I was going to say the same thing. It sounds like you have a bad model of how people learn (some people just absorb things, some people don't) that produces anxiety and makes you avoid trying to learn new things. I'd try reading books like 'Make It Stick' on improving knowledge retention. I'd also check out Foer's 'Moonwalking with Einstein' on memory competitions and Benjamin's 'Mathemagics' on mental math techniques. I recommend these two because they show how seemingly extraordinary intellectual abilities are based on simple techniques that anyone can learn. I think it'd help demystify the whole issue.

[@sanjacobs6261]

Getting a view of things from multiple angles is such a massive multiplier, but can also be really tough sometimes. The mind really wants the completely alternate perspective to fit with the first one you learned, so you can end up trying to make connections that don't make sense or rejecting the idea entirely. Reading Chomsky, and then reading Moldbug for instance. You end up having to build a completely new web of knowledge, because their ways of thinking are so foreign to one another.

[@gibdopaminepls]

@@haropones yeah i'm guessing you meant Robespierre. for example the only reason i remember him because a random tinder date at one point said "Robespierre was right" and i forever remember that sentence because it's tied to that memory. If i'd just read it in a book, i doubt i'd remember it as well.

[@Moshm4n]

Becoming "less stupid" is a part of life's journey for everyone, including for me. In spite of my great successes and my remaining faults, I'm still striving to become less stupid. I think it's important for you to figure out how to depersonalize that feeling. I will say you've already taken an important step, and that's avoiding the absolutist trap of, "I must not be stupid to have value," or it's opposite, "I must be perfect." Being less stupid is achievable, unlike being perfect, which is unachievable. And again, it's something everyone contends with. As we travel through life, we learn and grow into more and more complex and rounded people. Growth includes learning information, like math, but also unlearning information that either is just wrong or bad or is otherwise not useful or relevant to us. That's an incredibly demanding process and most people hate contending with personal growth voluntarily. Most people won't engage in growth until they absolutely have to as a matter of survival. Some catastrophic event has to preceded the desire for growth in a lot of people. That is, fundamentally what a "wake up call" is. You'll sometimes read a story about a former addict who had to lose everything in their life before they could gather the will to dissolve their addictive habits. They had to hit rock bottom. So for you to voluntarily take on growth shows a lot of character. With the "I am trying to be less stupid," you also avoid saying, "I am stupid." And if you think you are, you're not. Even if you feel a sense of waste in caring for your appearance, that doesn't mean you aren't intelligent. You seem very competent and knowledgeable in aesthetics. It takes a lot of deliberate effort and forethought to deploy those skills. Aside from that, you're very well spoken, have a great command over the English language, and all in front of a camera. I've known people who probably have IQ's of over 130 who would melt instantly in front of a camera or microphone and at best could produce a few stutters. I think it's great you want to marshal your intelligence in different directions, but take stock in the capabilities you have now so you can trust them when used to develop yourself in other areas. As far as addressing issues in information retention, I would get curious over where that comes from. It could be you're just unpracticed in studying raw material and need to ride the friction of getting better. Maybe there's something physical in your past that was inhibiting you, like lack of sleep and good nutrition. In my case, I had undiagnosed ADHD. When I got evaluated and treated, my interest in studying materials and doing friction-rich activities increased because I could retain information and stay engaged continuously. Whatever the case is for you, it is not the case you're stupid.

[@Redranddd]

Less than 2 minutes and I have already subscribed your story is so beautiful that I'm already crying

[@Alwayz1999]

I’m so grateful to have come across your channel, as your transparency and honesty is encouraging. Your videos have encouraged me in accepting myself in spite of my ADHD and spectrum challenges. Thank you for putting out caring content, and may you continue to enjoy life as you discover how valuable you are, just as you are.

[@DrLogicall]

I was the lowest performing student in my graduating engineering class. I am HIGHLY dyslexic and have always struggled with it my whole life and I am now 30. For all of my life up until last year, I thought things like my grades and not having even broke 1k on my SATs were important, achieving a 4.0 during COVID because well "everyone did." I thought it to be Important enough that It destroyed me and all of my confidence and my ability to think that, "how can someone dumb like me do xyz." It took a lot of therapy for me to realize that I can do a thing or two and am finally on my path of believing in myself. Once I started to ignore the things that truly had a grasp on my life in ways I didnt understand, I really started to see changes in my outcomes and for once they were starting to be in my favor. A lot of what youre saying is an echo of my past and I believe in you. You are asking all the right questions to yourself and your journey is only the beginning of a long life ahead of you

[@vyda]

Great, you SHOULD believe in yourself, and I'm proud of you as much as a stranger can be. It's like the famous Henry Ford quote: "whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right".

[@iyasugames]

you might think you don't know many things that you should, but when you speak you sound like an intelligent person. you got this

[@jackietea8772]

I was really bad with info retention also and felt so dumb in school. not only that, my sister was really smart, and I think I figured I would never be as smart as her so I leaned into my "stupidness"... and became the funny little airhead, and would kinda laugh about it. But it was a self-fulfilling prophecy... the more I believed I was dumb... the more I became "stupid"... because I didn't try. Now that I am in my late 30s I have come to realize how UNTRUE that mind frame was. It's really quite liberating to realize you aren't actually stupid, you just didn't apply yourself because you made yourself believe you were stupid. I also finally found out I have inattentive Adhd... which is a huge reason for my poor retention and focus in school. Your videos just speak so deeply to me because I have had such a similar experience to you. Your French Revolution story was so relatable. There are so many historical events I KNOW we learned about in school... I just never listened... simple as that. I also just didn't retain the things I learned.. it just went in one ear and out the other. I think part of it was immaturity. I didn't care. I have come to realize that when you actually care about things or are interested in things... you learn them. I didn't give a crap about anything when I was young. I had no interests except for boys and fashion. I was a daydreamer.. and just coasted by. I wanted to get good grades and learn... I just didn't understand how to care enough about the things we were learning.

[@barrington4800]

I found this video to be very relatable. I always was able to retain information and regurgitate it growing up all throughout middle school and a majority of high school. Once college started (more recently) I had so much freedom contrasting my years in grade school. Because of this new found freedom, I’d spend every day overstimulating myself with video games and social media. I started to more recently question why I am so “slow” in learning/retaining new information in school now as opposed to when I was younger. Even books which were such a joy to read growing up were just such a chore to pick up as I have been having the exact same problems as you regarding any type of text based works. A majority of the time I can’t even remember people’s names when they first introduced themselves to me; that’s really alarming as I could always recall peoples names even without them saying anything of significance in their introduction (which I usually use as a mnemonic device), or any other supporting set of information that helps me retain their name easier. This video, and several of the comments that have given advice on this problem I’d like to fix, are very valuable and I appreciate you being so open about this mental battle you have on the daily.

[@jbone877]

A good thing to do would be to look into metalearning (learning how the brain learns). Barbara Oakley has published some really accessible work on it, and I really recommend her for people just getting into it. By learning how we learn, you can make all of your other learning much more easy and effective. Good luck with everything! I'm so happy to see you embarking on this journey ❤

[@markusrobinson9081]

Also would look into Benjamin Keep and Justin Sung as well as Scott Young for even deeper insights on how the brain learns. Justin Sung specifically has a course where he systematically teaches things like how to better encode (that is transfer info from the working memory to the long term memory and use techniques like spacing and active recall.

[@TheHorhe93]

A lot of what you've said resonates with me and my life throughout. I also picked up reading as a hobby about a year ago, and found myself struggling to keep information on my brain, specially specific dates or set ups to specific events. All I can say is that is just a matter of throwing yourself at it over and over and you'll get better at it every time. I find rading a variety of book in terms of length and thematics also helps with it. I wish you the best of luck. It makes me very happy seeing people wanting to become better!

[@fieryforge1]

This is low key one of the most “intelligent” videos I’ve seen on KZbin - you’re like thoughtfully and critically engaging with really interesting questions and in a way that, for whatever this is worth, feels really distinct from other models for thinking about knowledge or intelligence that I’ve encountered. Wait - is this wisdom? I just want to say that I had this video on in the background (because the title is fucking smart!) and it’s continued to float into my thoughts since so I listened again and just came out of it feeling like oh wait… this is like real, meaningful intelligence. Rare in a world where “information” is the privileged way to participate in economies of thought, criticality tends to be wrongly taken as subordinate. Anyway, Thank you!

[@Hasutora]

I was a stereotypical nerd in school. Even though I spent hours doing my makeup every day, I was horribly bullied for my appearance. In some ways, it helped me. I got academic scholarships, and I learned a huge amount in school. I have excellent recall of information, but I don't think the appearance thing ever really goes away (as a girl). Honestly, it is something I have lowkey given up on because selfishly, it isn't really for me, and I think it has hugely diminishing returns. I just got rid of most of my mirrors, and I don't take pictures of myself. Learning is for everyone, and you should just do it for you, because you're worth it. Also, just look things up (I do a lot of word puzzles, and I look things up all the time). This video is super cute. Welcome to Nerd Land ❤❤

[@VargusDread]

My brain was like this when I was in late teens and early 20s, I found out I had ADD and built up anxiety about learning new things and eventually I just had to force myself to sit down and do stuff for an hour at a time and eventually I found that hour turned into several hours and it helped me develop the study habits I never developed in school and now I actually enjoy learning. As a dude, it's easy for me not to realize how awful social media can be for women, I'm glad you've been able to frame a healthier mindset around all that stuff! Good luck with your character development ! xD

[@sillkthashocker]

I would encourage using a highlighter when reading and immediately highlighting something that resonates

[@EmmettXIV]

Note taking, annotations; it really does help retain and or go back to see what really resonated with one in the jumbled mess.

[@gerunkwon2598]

The research shows highlighting is useless

[@challelalle]

highlighting is very inefficient. Notes, problems, active recall, concept understanding ,and spaced repetition is the way to go.

[@simonschneider5913]

@@gerunkwon2598 i knew it! the ones with the most highlighting and notes and stuff are almost always they most clueless in class..

[@sanjacobs6261]

I would discourage using a highlighter when reading. If something resonates, close the book while keeping the page with your finger, try to re-state the point to yourself, expand on it, and find out how it fits in with related ideas.

[@legendzero6755]

It's so encouraging seeing you make progress! I just came to this video from your other one a few months back. I'm going to start journaling about books I read as well, and seeing someone else walking the path ahead of me makes it feel a lot more doable :)

[@humanperson001]

Honestly so psyched for you and your journey, thanks for loving yourself, I love hearing you speak and reflect, you are truly inspirational!

[@j4BnSPUgdu]

Discovery hour. What a great idea. Absolutely. Fantastic to hear about your reading! super cool that you had a positive experience with the Thinking, Fast and Slow book. You seemed to feel as though you were failing to convey to us what you learned from the book. Wow. You're amazing. I feel certain that if you keep on doing what you're already doing -- which is reading books, paying attention to them, and then trying to explain what you experienced to other people -- you're absolutely going to get better at this. Way to go!

[@13forsaken69]

Becoming a reader at a later age, is very challenging. I never liked reading and honestly I still don't really even though I had many great experiences and learned very valuable things. I remember when I was 17, just about to graduate from high school, that I realised I was very ignorant/dumb while participating at a school quiz. My quiz group wasn't scoring well and I eventually realised I literally didn't know the answer to one single question. That was quite confrontational. It was only years later at college that I started to get interested in politics and philosophy and that I read my first books that I actually bought myself. I think therefore you should firstly concentrate on topics that you really want to explore yourself instead of getting "smart". As you correctly pointed out, just about any book is going to make more sense if you already read a couple of books. This is why a great method of becoming well read is to read a good, short introduction to a topic (the Oxford series introductions are perfect for that). If your introductory book was any good you will start to notice that certain key points will definitely be referenced in even the more expert material. If you pick a well known classic like Kahneman's book to read I recommend book reviews and/or recommendations on KZbin. There is some amazing content on here and really helpful experts who will give better quality advice than your local store. Lastly I recommend the CrashCourse channel for general topics. Really informative, reliable with entertaining visuals. I personally checked out the course on American history and it was extremely helpful for making me understand books on the topic.

[@riptidegaming2823]

I'm so happy I found someone I can relate to. I've had the same problems for so long, and it's great to hear your experiences I've always been close to failing in all my math classes and most other classes I didn't do that great in but I did good in history so I mostly focused on that and I started seeing myself In a better light most times

[@ollieisaninja]

Sincerely, its beyond cool the way you approached your own concerns in such a honest and humble format. Im not sure why youtube showed me this but it peaked my interest. As it finished I felt truly inspired by you. You're aware, self conscious, intelligent and determined from what I can tell. We are mostly products of our environment, then our education system can totally fail to inspire/harness the skill and intelligence we have in us all. Also circumstances or influences in life can greatly effect our path along it. What makes you intelligent is that you have this awareness, then you self criticised what you saw and looked for a way forward for your own self with interests you value. Youre an absolute champion, friend.

[@brb__bathroom]

retaining information in this day and age where we are bombarded with information from every angle, I've given up on that. I settled on rather remembering where to find said information.

[@Tmate4444]

Useless. You need to retain information in order to connect different pieces of information.

[@crisvis8905]

This is exactly why people are so dumb these days

[@markusrobinson9081]

This idea kinda reminds me of certain note taking systems developed throughout human history such as the commonplace book early modern scholars used and going well into the 19th century and up to a point today, the zettelkasten system developed by Niklas Luhmann, and in the modern era such equivalents as Tiago Fortes’ Second Brain or digital apps like Obsidian or Roam. While I don’t think it should be a supplement for a conceptual understanding of a topic I do think the really minor and isolated details of a topic are such that they don’t necessarily need memorizing and can be kept within these kinds of repositories or personal encyclopedias. It also generally depends on how you are using the information , whether you will be tested on it, etc.

[@brb__bathroom]

@@crisvis8905 I wouldn't chalk it down as people know less than before, it's more that people know a little bit about a lot of different things these days - and one might suggest that people before the internet had more in-depth knowledge on a fewer topics . I have nothing to support this, other than my perception, ofc.

[@sayo2409]

@@crisvis8905 Always gonna have the same amount of dumb people

[@force_majeure4070]

Granted, I've only just found your channel, so take this as just a quick observation... but for someone who self-describes as a person who struggles with learning and information recall, who is not an avid reader, who recognizes that for the most part you lack context for history and current events because that type of information isn't easily encoded for you, and who is only just now, at 26, looking to engage with information and knowledge in a way that had previously seemed out of reach for you - you have a FANTASTIC vocabulary. Learning is a skill that has to be practiced, and it's good to see you taking on the challenge to become more informed. "Intelligence" is as much a muscle as your biceps or abs, and it needs to be exercised to become stronger. Keep reading. Keep exploring information and remember to question the source. Beware of confirmation bias and the Dunning-Kruger Effect in others. Critically think about and question what the author's/creator's position is, and don't take them as immutable truths because there's always an opposition view of the world that may be equally as logical and true. The world needs more people like you who are willing to take on the challenge and aspire to be more than they have been. Good luck on your journey!

[@kkirT]

The inscription on my gravestone will read "I am trying to be less stupid"

[@LovelyTransposition]

You described so many of the things I’ve experienced perfectly. I was addicted to gaming and had been gaming ever since I can remember and when I quit I started to notice many of the things you mentioned. Severe lack of recollection, my reading level was low, I could not put my phone down etc. I used many things to work on these problems and one of them was to start reading. Although it’s been very difficult for me to start the habit of reading I read three books last year, and have been improving myself day by day. Thank you so much for sharing this, it means more than you know 💕

[@justryan7109]

You definitely don't come across as dumb at all. I've always thought of you as extremely talented and brilliant. I miss RPAN

[@juusolatva]

I did well in school, at least to a certain point, but that's a whole another topic. I still feel like I was a dumbass in the past and I'm now slowly becoming smarter in my 30s, but I guess that's just how things happen with age, which makes learning a lifelong process. it's good to remind yourself that comparing yourself to others is not very useful, since everyone's life is unique and everyone's circumstances are unique as well. I think it's better to set goals for yourself (preferably realistic ones) and then you can grow as a person by achieving them. learning is a skill, so you can and will get better at it with practice. some people can remember things easier than others, but becoming better at learning will help you remember things. the better you understand the big picture of something the easier it is to remember the details, since you already know their context and you're no longer just trying to recall random trivia about a subject you're unfamiliar with. reading is also a skill, so you will get better at it with time as well. taking notes while watching a video a second time is a good example of becoming better at learning. there are different ways to learn and you kind of have to develop your own way to learn that suits you best. it's kind of hard to give specific suggestions, although I've taken notes too while reading harder books about more complex subjects and it certainly helps as does reading them multiple times. I do have to admit that I don't remember every single one of them well and I only have vague recollections about others, but that's normal. it's easier the retain knowledge, if you need to use it or otherwise return to the subject once in a while. being focused is quite essential for learning and once you start to lose focus it's a good time to take short break to think about what you've learned and create your own interpretations of it. you're kind of slowly digesting the information. it helps you understand it and the breaks keep you from getting overwhelmed. of course it's easier focus on things that you find interesting, although they are not always useful things and they don't have to be, since there's a joy to just learning about fun and interesting things. the thirst for knowledge can be a surprisingly powerful once it hits you. I mean it's impossible to know everything, since our lifetimes are limited, so learning about things that you find important or interesting is usually the way to go. I do especially like how you have thought about wanting to learn and how methodically you approach learning by choosing books about different subjects based on your interests. it's always good to have a plan, but you're in no hurry either and you can take it slow, if you feel like it, since trying to force things will make it less fun, until you find a rhythm that suits you. I want to say that trying to explain to others what you have read or learned will help you understand the subject better as well and it's actually quite hard as you have to process what you have read in your head into a form that is easy to explain to others. it's not always an easy feat. politics are a difficult subject to speak about in more ways than one, but especially due to people having strong opinions about it. that doesn't mean that you should be afraid to speak about politics, but it becomes easier once you know more about it and become more confident in your understanding of it. also nobody really understands how economics really works deep down and even economists are just making educated guesses. I mean it's good to understand economics to a point and what that point is depends on you. I'm fairly sure you know it already, but you don't really need more than general knowledge, unless you work as an actual expert. I would say that once you start making your own connections between different things you've learned, it's a sign of general knowledge. I did write a lot more text than I originally intended, but the video was longer than I expected as well. the text is rather dry, since this is a not a subject that I'm well-versed on any other level than practical and I have no idea, if it's any help, but I do like writing in general, so it's not a big deal. in the end it's based on my life experiences, so your mileage may vary. the most important thing is that you want to learn and that by itself is already enough. all the rest will then come with time.

[@ThePetalesharo]

You don't sound stupid to me! You're very eloquent and I wish I could speak as well as you. You'll probably never read this, but I have definitely struggled similarly. One thing I've discovered in the past few years is that I have Aphantasia (no ability to visualize in my mind) and something I discovered only recently was that aphantasia typically comes with a memory disorder called SDAM (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory). When you talked about how you couldn't repeat what you've been reading back to someone it really rang true to me, as I definitely struggle with the same. I figured I would mention it since it could be a possibility. You aren't stupid, keep that curiosity alive! Edit: Just wanted to add that the reading a paragraph over and over is a me thing too, especially if I'm not somewhere isolated. And I think my ex felt similarly to you about not knowing things and frustrations with learning. I definitely tried hard to break down the things I was talking about until she could understand, as I believe teachers need to be patient and adapt to the needs of the student, and that's probably where her frustrations began in the past. I hope you already have or find others in your life that are patient for you!

[@ccroseofficial]

I LOVE your new hair!!! it's really sweet how open you are with us thanks sm for sharing, these videos help a lot of people and let us know that we're not alone! keep shining your light girl

[@Sourwhatup]

The fact you are so aware and conscious of your situation goes to show you how intelligent you actually are. The problem I've noticed over the last 25 years or so is that smartness vs intelligence vs wiseness are often confused with eachother: -Being smart is something you have to actively work at, most people are too lazy for this. -Intelligence is something you are born with. -Wisdom is something you just earn over time and real experience. You could argue that smart, clever, wise, etc are all sub sets of intelligence. But regardless I just think we try to lump humans up into boxes. And don't worry, I've been called intelligent, extremely smart, wise beyond my years, etc. my whole life. It sucks, trust me. You are put up on a pedestal with huge expectations from everyone around you and it is way easier to let people down if you are really intelligent since you are way more self conscious and aware. P.S. I think I am an utter idiot every day 😅🤣

[@deannny14]

Hiya Haro, Psych major here. Fluid intelligence is the name for general cognitive ability, it can be thought of just as IQ too. It seems to peak at around 25 years old and there's no way we know of enhancing. BUT, in terms of career success, crystallised intelligence (often referred to as knowledge) is just as important to cultivate. People with higher IQs are generally faster at accumulating knowledge, but if you have a really good work ethic or are just very curious, you can make up for a lapse in IQ. IQ doesn't correlate very well with success, but the best predictor of being successful is having the desire to be successful, which not all smart people have. I'm curious to know why you want to be knowledgeable about the things you want to learn about. Awareness of what's going on in the world can be quite stressful, especially if you're high in trait neuroticism (personality dimension) and very rarely are people in a position to do anything about the problems they're exposed to. I would mix some science in there and build a good attention span by turning off electronics and just spending hours at a time reading books and solving problems on paper. Just do small amounts every day until you build a habit, don't jump straight into it.

[@deannny14]

Also, personal note-taking apps like Obsidian are v useful if you want to memorise info/keep it around for later.

[@stepbysteptom]

Very proud of you for being vulneable with this. I had a fear like this growing up but I was in flight and fight mode until my early twenties and my brain calmed down as things got better. That can be a factor. It can be ego that stops us and not pride but if you have defined yourself a way its scary for the brain to change. You're doing great, very articulate and have a want. The last 7 years I've learnt so much and my brain never wants to stop so throw yourself and maybe your brain knows this is what you really are, a learner and that's pushing you. Also learn so much about what you have passion for which makes it easier.

[@jennywarren]

Reading and watching a lot of historical fiction has helped me to build a timeline of events and remember names correctly without having to trawl through a heavy textbook.

[@Societyman123]

You dont seem that stupid to me, its all about association

[@johnbellevanti7945]

read george jackson's "blood in my eye"

[@aqueen6717]

Im turning 18 this year and i seriously relate to literally everything you brought up like ive felt and still feel the exact same and doing my alevels has made me feel even more stupid because talking to my friends about the subjects and seeing them be able to just expand and explain the majority of it while i sit there struggling has been really hard and honestly the same thing with reading i have such a hard time actively choosing to read something and then i hear all my friends talking about the new books they read and i really really feel stupid and literally the only thing i can resort to majority of the time is my looks idk it feels like possibly one of the most controllable things which has then in turn led to me fully struggling with the way i perceive my body and leading to other issues and because of all this going into uni is actually scaring me even more than i feel like it should be

[@miurtouissi1093]

I relate to this so much. What helped me in school and uni was to make a lot of introspection to understand how I can learn. For me it was a lot of taking notes, even for things that could seem obvious. I'd take notes so that the memory of me writing the fact sticked. I did that through law school and took the bar this way. Yet i never felt intelligent because the amount of work I had to put seemed so immense. I truly have always felt stupid and behind. But these days I too try to cultivate my intellectual curiosity. This video was so needed for me.. feeling stupid truly makes you feel insecure and ashamed. It's a burden that you kind of have to keep quiet and unlearn by learning. Good luck ❤

[@juliuspringles2239]

Yoda said one time: "Do. Or do not. There is no try." .

[@markusrobinson9081]

Some Irish dude who wrote or something once penned “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

[@salparadise8581]

Being self aware and critiquing constructively with an emphasis on being kind to oneself is a great asset. You're gonna be fine

[@vodkaboy]

more Butters, less Cartman, gotchu

[@Carnables]

I struggle with intrusive thoughts and I have experienced something similar with the feeling you've expressed here. First, I wanna say that you have been taking all the right steps for your own comfort and empowerment. Giving yourself space to wonder what types of things you want to learn about and seeking approachable mediums for it is perfect. I also struggled a lot in school despite people constantly telling me how smart I was. That's what caused me to doubt myself and my abilities to understand anything, but math especially. I've recently learned that I actually am very good at math. I just, for brevity's sake I'll just say, had a really messed up childhood along-side a bunch undiagnosed learning disabilities. There are many reasons why a person can struggle to learn, but the most difficult one to overcome is BELIEVING you are stupid. Without a sense of confidence that you can learn something, your brain will make up all sorts of reasons why you can't. Having compassion and tenderness for yourself, when you are challenging old thoughts about yourself, will help cultivate that confidence. Now, that might take a while, or maybe the rest of your life. However, even if that's all you do in life, it's worth it. Because YOU are worth it. Edit: I got emotional and typed this before I saw the end. Everything I said before I still stand behind however I want to say that you are doing everything right. Also, you being so vulnerable is very inspiring. Thank you for making this.

[@kliklaklote]

I feel vicariously-proud watching this. So humble, I love it!

[@billdestroyerofworlds]

Here's a few tips: buy physical books and read them physically. Get a notebook and hand-write any notes you want to make to yourself by hand. Limit the amount of time you expose yourself to social media and just scrolling. Talk to people about the things that you are learning about. If you can teach them, all the better. All of these things have been shown scientifically to boost your ability to remember things. Also, the first step to gaining wisdom is knowing what you lack. Socrates himself said he became conscious he knew nothing, and that was his gateway to becoming a philosopher.

[@chimchim2_]

She's cute, self aware, and she's trying. That's makes her far more attractive than the typical shallow, intellectually hallow people you'll find out in the wild. Just keep trying.

[@SakuraYoshita]

I hope (and beg you) to never stop this series. I relate to this so much and suffer from imposter syndrome. I feel stupid and don't know much but I was able to achieve some success (top school overseas, now I manage an international project for work worth millions for a job). I have a bachelors degree but I still feel stupid ! What has been helping me so far is going to conferences on topics I want to learn more about, I feel like I retain the information better. I also noticed that all the information I have learned is never used... I read somewhere that you memorize the information if you are able to utilize it again. Anyways, this is a great video, I will follow you on this journey to knowledge. You gain a new subscriber

[@kommdegaya753]

It def is true that the things you have to utilize during your day are easier to memorize. But the most important thing is a genuine interest in the thing you wanna know stuff about. I personally am interessted in many things and I know much about them because of that. Watch videos and read about stuff that is really interesting to you, instead of watching videos just for stupid enjoyment. It actually will be really fun to learn about those things. At least it is that way for me. It you want some herbal help for a better memory, there is a plant called brahmi that is used in indian medicine for thousands of years. The chemical inside is a nootropic, it helps the brain, and is said to aid in memory but also is used against ADHD or depression. You can either buy capsules, but I prefer the tea. It def is worth a look, but do your own research about it. It is never smart to just trust a random in the internet haha. Anyways hope it helps. Have a great day!

[@nlingrel]

Watching you recount the information about the books you have read I get the feeling that you may not actually have a memory recall problem, you may have a thought-to-words problem (at least that's how I think of it). I have this problem myself; it's not that I *don't* remember, it's that I don't always remember neatly organized factoids but instead I remember concepts. So I have to spend a lot of mental effort to sort of "unwind" a web of abstract concepts and then forge them into more concrete thoughts and words before I can speak them. When this happens, my best advice is to not "give up". Take as much time and as many attempts to rephrase the thought as is socially acceptable (and then a little bit more) before you move on, BUT THEN the most important part is to store that struggle away and try to untangle it on your own time. You will either untangle it sufficient enough for your sanity or you will re-learn the thing and have a much stronger grasp of it. You have to sit in that struggle and let it bother you.

[@Victor_Andrei]

Absolutely remarkable self awareness. You're on the right path. All of our minds are different, but it is up to us to make the most of what we have.

[@ketchupjonmustard4514]

I align with this so much. Also, your hair is amazing.

[@StarOfArtemis]

This is so relatable, I have a hell of a time retaining information. I can study for ages and just not remember shit. I like how you say you’re like a paper weight, I’ve always said some people are like sponges, for me it’s like pouring water on a rock.

[@durrcodurr]

I think it's awesome that you're working on overcoming your issues, and the way you're doing it is actually how it could work. -- Most people have learning problems in some area. Math for instance, needs practicing to be able to learn it. The most useful math things that people use in daily life are the "4 kinds of arithmetic" (that is basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), which you can learn by doing them on paper over and over until you grok it. Also the "small multiplication table" (for numbers smaller than 100), and the "rule of three" (which can be useful to convert from one unit of measurement to another).

[@letterbox203]

Thank you for your utmost honesty and transparency! I appreciate your self awareness and your approach to growth.

[@mariazzz541]

I've always had good grades at school. As a child it made me think I was smart. As an teenager I understood it made other people think I was smart and interesting. As a university student, after some traumatic events happened, I started to isolate mysellf, and to doubt my intelligence. I developed (or switched on) an high sensitivity around judgemental environments. Even after a master degree I don't believe I'm even close to be intelligent anyway. This makes me think that there is a difference between BEING intellingent and FEELING intelligent. Knowing what you're taught in school, the general knowledge is important, and it stops you from being ignorant. It is the first step. But it doesn't automatically make you FEEL intelligent. I see a link between feeling intelligent, self-esteem and the relational support system one has. On the other hand there are various tipes of intelligence, general knowledge isn't all anyway❤❤

[@yeahokay...actuallynah]

I hovered my cursor over this video and the second you said "I don't know my multiplication tables..." I clicked faster than ever because ME TOO. It took me until an age in the double digits to be able to tell time and I still use my fingers to count. I internalised how behind I was to an extreme level where I didn't even ask for help from teachers, instead hovering my pencil over the pages pretending to write the answers. I've only watched 1.15 and I already relate on every level. I will continue tomorrow cause I need sleep (: but I want to thank you for this video

[@joeross9688]

I feel this so hard! Something that helps me a bit is to try to “learn like I’ll live forever.” When I put things in that perspective, it helps me relax and just focus on one small little bit at a time instead of trying to learn whole concepts at a time.

[@Cleancookie]

interesting to find myself relating to a lot of what youre saying! ive always subconsciously felt some of these things but never formalised it with words. as someone who struggles with expressing themselves with words, theres something comforting in seeing someone put those feelings to words. especially the stuff about thinking its easy for other people to soak in knowledge, having just better general knowledge than me 6:57 - i like to view life like a game where each day everyone gets 10 points and can spend it on whatever they want to. someone who puts lots of points into playing an instrument might feel stupid in a conversation between people who spent their points learning about physics, that might not make them dumb rather they just spent their points elsewhere

[@Lullayable]

I want you to know you've inspired me. I bought a book today on a hard subject I've wanted to understand for ages but wasn't sure I wanted to understand. I know my stance on it, but understanding the ins and outs of it is going to lead me to face some things I don't want to face. I also don't think you're stupid. You're willing to take on this task of educating yourself, you understand that it's going to take time and dedication to educate yourself and gather knowledge you don't have. That takes guts and intelligence.

[@liilgammy6205]

this feels so relatable makes ,made me feel seen and less alone , you'll make it out keep going

[@lenardw3585]

First step is awareness, if that acknowledgement of yourself bothers you enough, you will one way or another find a to fix you're problem . Developed a similar problem. My Tipps that helped me personally are: Always being persistent to do better, exercising, not looking on other ones progress but only on your own (always look for advice tho, or ways to reach you're goals faster), discuss with friends and being transparent while at it, Religion (Being mindful of every person and background, always being respectful and helpful) , disabling/deleting all social media on phone (Access only on PC), finding a higher goal like a degree a nice physique etc. (that took me while tho), quitting porn, not being ashamed of trying new things/asking about new things, acknowledging when wrong->being less arrogant, meeting talking to new people.

[@aidanfehr7660]

Great video! I studied history at uni, but to be honest I have found that I have learned the most from fiction. I think that sometimes deeper truths can become clouded when we are too concerned with real things, and that sometimes an entirely made-up story can teach us a lot about others and about ourselves (although of course non-fiction is very important too). Good luck with your future reading!

[@Nyx__]

You're great at conveying your thoughts and structuring the video into something entertaining to watch. I don't have any problems with learning, but my sister does and for her the most important thing was whether or not she was interested in the subject. Great video

[@cigamspargle]

This is an amazing goal. I've felt both smart and dumb and you're definitely going to feel both for the rest of your life. The attitude you're beginning to take is a great step some people never take! keep it up! subbed~

[@WarpedEchov2]

Your mindset in this is delightful, and inspiring. I wish you the best, reading is a powerful skill

[@higamerXD]

Im glad i found this, this is a really honnest down to earth kinda video and imo its the exact thing that youtube is best for, just a bit of good ol human connection

[@constantinknab]

I've been going through this too, I really believe anyone can get to a point where they learned and retained what they wanted. I dropped a sub, let's see where this goes!

[@Borealis0000]

Back in High School I used to go home, watch Netflix and play video games instead of doing my homework. Then the night before and the morning of a test I would study all the material and do all the homework. It was actually somewhat time efficient except for the fact that I would forget everything within a week. I got honor roll every year. After school I continued my meaningless existence of Netflix and video games while working instead of going to school. When my memory started to deteriorate all I had to do was read a book for 1 hour and I would regain some mental clarity, focus, and memory. After three years of this I am at the point where it doesn't work anymore. I can re-read the same line over and over again and forget it within a minute after losing focus. I have a disease that is know for causing brain-fog and fatigue. I also struggle with sleep deprivation so that probably contributes to it. It sucks because even after getting 3 good sleeps in a row and reading for an hour each day it didn't even help like it used to. The only thing that sorta helps bring me back to where I once was is exercising as soon as I wake up. I am depressed due to sleep deprivation and overstimulation. The struggle of physical exertion really helps me to feel like I accomplished something. For a short while after my morning workout I notice an increase in mental clarity. Unfortunately after an 8 hour work day of my monotonous job I lose it once again and feel too tired/ lazy to get it back. I am allowed to listen to music/podcasts/audiobooks while I work but I don't retain any information so I feel like I'm wasting the entire day. I'm 22 right now. I hope I can recover soon.

[@KoenRH2803]

Being smart comes in so many shapes and what we stereotypically see as intelligent, is such a reductive/limiting way of judging someone's mental capabilities. At the risk of sounding narcissistic I feel like I'm at the same time very intelligent but also extremely underdeveloped/stupid. I'm extremely good at engaging with abstract ideas, information and coming up with detailed creative solutions, BUT I'm also ashamed that I'm horrible at everyday tasks, common knowledge, being consistent and having motor skills. You are VERY good at telling a honest, engaging, clear, chronological story and explaining your life experiences, which is actually a major sign of intelligence! Especially if you're able to do it in front of a camera. Anytime I try doing that, I fail horribly at it and feel stupid. point is: don't be too hard on yourself for the things you don't excel at, you're smarter than you give yourself credit for :)

[@horsexiu]

writing stuff down all the time has helped me with retaining the things i learn. I think just consuming educational content without taking active steps towards understanding and rewording what you have learnt into your own words will probably be difficult to retain. Also I think its a lot easier to learn about something when its about a topic you enjoy, unless you really feel you want to learn general knowledge but I think if the motivation for wanting to learn more general knowledge is because you feel like people will think you are ‘dumb’ without it will probably make it feel more like a chore than anything.

[@perueddie23]

This was a very motivational video that added value to my life, and I am very grateful for that. I wish you all the best on your learning journey and hope you never lose the passion you have for learning. As a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience I hope you continue your interest in how memory works in the brain. Looking forward to another update

[@leeellis784]

I've been going through something similar. I have learning difficulties, anxiety and I'm autistic. I've always found it difficult to retain information and learning new skills. It made me depressed and inadequate. It's like something is blocking my mind ( especially when it's something complex ) or only bits of information comes through and just like you I decided to do something about it. I passed my driving test two years ago, which is something I didn't think I could possibly do, now I'm getting an education and trying to techniques to help. Mostly overcoming mental blocks by just simply practising so my mind can become accustomed to more complex topics. I would also recommend doing shadow work.

[@slick_kitten]

The algorithm must really know me well because I feel similar to you. I take medication and it dulls my mind in many different ways. Before I was on medication, I also felt like it was hard to retain information, so needless to say, I feel hindered, and school has been tough. I am trying to overcome this by working out, eating clean, and trying to have a healthy social life. Just from working out, my mind feels so much clearer. On a last note, having a sense of humor is also a sign of intelligence, which I could tell you have from your well-spoken narration.

[@EpiDot52]

I think I feel similarly, and I think a positive slant on this is that we might both value intelligence, including in the people we surround ourselves with. My friends are really smart. They're smart interesting worldly people and I am on one hand proud that I've been able to surround myself with people that are smarter than me. I am often very envious though. Currently I feel my main issue is that I just don't retain information and not that I'm not able to think and understand, so I'm trying to read more broadly and take notes on what I'm reading. I've also wrapped some of my smarter friends into these habits to try to keep them. If your friends would do the same, I'd recommend it! Wishing you happiness in your journey!

[@bentleyreynolds8577]

I just want to say that this is something that I struggled with for a long time. I struggled throughout school to get good grades and believed I was stupid. I had to learn to love learning. You've got this.

[@stuartd1127]

I'm almost same age and for the past half-year I've been pulling myself out of the same mindset. I say mindset, because it's not reality, it's a product of growing up terminally online, and thinking in any thing you do that there is a 'correct' way or interpretation, combined with a 'gamification' approach where you think that by reading X, Y, Z you'll understand something and tbh I see most of the books you've picked here as catering to this mindset, where the book is the teacher and the reader the student. Watching you summarise those two books it struck me that what you lack is confidence - you understand what the book was trying to tell you, but struggle to communicate it for fear of being perceived as 'not getting' it. It's a poisonous mindset, and a poisonous relationship to have with books, because it belittles the reader. Reading = dialogue. I call this mindset the 'objective' view, where everything is right or wrong, factual, exists in reality. The other half then is the 'subjective' view, whereby you accept and embrace your individuality and use it as a lens for reading. Modern life grinds the subjective view into dust through constant distractions and comparisons, so much so that our natural state now is pretty much to completely ignore it. I suppose because it isn't sellable, there aren't any easy guides or methods that can be packaged up nicely and sold as self-help books or whatever. The only true way is by speaking and listening to your self. This is where solitude comes in. Go for long walks without any headphones, let thoughts bubble up in your mind. Don't judge them, there is no right or wrong way of thinking when it is purely to your self. Let them mature, write them out on paper to make them real - add in a bit of the objective view to shape and mould the subjective clay. This is thinking for yourself, which is how you become 'less stupid'. What opened my life up from stagnation was writing out pages and pages of thoughts and practicing dream analysis. I reached a point where my perspective on reality shifted from the default state of modern man, leading to me carrying out an 'irrational' act. From this I've caught glimpses of my authentic self and now when I read I don't just take in the words, I dialogue with the author and the message. I've found passions and opinions I never thought I could have, and I've started to relate to long dead thinkers and authors where I catch the same glimpses in their work too. It's truly a magical thing, to recognise something universal in someone so far away from yourself in time and space. If anyone is interested, so far I've resonated with Kierkegaard and Goethe the most. P.S. try going to Oxfam bookshops every now and then, and purchase some books from their cover alone (a crime, I know) - you'll be surprised at how accurate your subconscious is at guiding you down the right path if you just let it guide you. P.P.S. my gf works for Waterstones and I can confirm they do write all the recommendations themselves, it's not from above. P.P.P.S. another thing that's helped immensely with understanding and retaining definitions is to use www.websters1913.com/ as my dictionary. It provides not only definition but also gives many examples of usage, which I find helps A LOT with retention, as opposed to just reading the definition and forgetting it 30 seconds later.

[@twitchtveldenkoo2916]

I relate to you so much lol. My girlfriend is exactly the same as your boyfriend (a walking encyclopedia) and I feel the same as you; I can never retain information that doesn't interest me fully (similar to your previous obsession over looks). I also cannot ever explain what has happened in the books I've been reading, but I know that I understand them (a new hobby for me, one I'm struggling to be consistent with). You're clearly not stupid though, the level of self-awareness you have is beyond ridiculous, I don't know how anyone can in good faith call you stupid. That being said, I feel the same way, people know things that have gone over my head and it makes me feel stupid too. Thanks for the video & good luck on your journey of self-improvement.

[@1haunt]

About 3 years ago (when I was exactly the same age as you) I was dealing with literally the same feelings about my intelligence (or lack thereof) and all the anxiety around that. I laughed out loud when I saw that you also read "Thinking, Fast and Slow", the exact same book I had bought for the exact same reason at the exact same age 😂Unfortunately I've since then forgotten about almost all of what I read in that book except for a few takeaways about the stock market and recency bias. I left another comment in your original video about this topic but this followup just hammered the validation home and it really hit hard.

[@Applecitylightkiwi]

I had a friend that felt the same and had almost identical struggles, as soon as she did fine arts in london, it changed her, shes good at this

[@JuniperAshe]

For some reason, your other video popped up on my feed back in March. I was watching vids on electronics but I clicked on yours. I only made it 3 minutes in. It changed the youtube algorithm and took me down a different rabbit hole. That opened my eyes to aspects of myself I had not realized, and am following up on it now. I just want you to know: Thank you for sharing. You're not just changing yourself for the better.

[@valya_zelenka]

i like you'r videos, i think they cozy and inspiring♥ keep going