A common belief I come across in many truly smart and talented individuals is the idea that “I’m too smart to be happy.” Here’s why that belief is often wrong and self-fulfilling.
One common belief I come across (especially in many truly smart and talented individuals), is the thought that “I’m too smart to be happy.”
Many believe that there is a direct relationship between being too intelligent and being depressed. This is sometimes referred to as depressive realism, which is the idea that depressed people have a more accurate and rational view of the world.
To people that have an “I’m too smart to be happy” mindset, they see their intelligence as a burden. People that are happy are obviously ignorant, dumb, and/or delusional (the old adage “ignorance is bliss”), and intelligent people accept the world for the cold, dead place it really is.
Or at least that’s what some of us tell ourselves.
I sympathize with this mentality, because I used to have it myself. However, I ultimately find it to be wrong. And even worse than that, it can become limiting and self-fulfilling.
What this mindset often comes down to is an unwillingness to change, learn and improve. It’s an excuse. A defense mechanism driven by ego.
Sure, you may be the smartest person in the room. A genius who can solve complex mathematical formulas, program AI software, or engineer the latest technology. But you still may lack knowledge and intelligence when it comes to how to be happy and live a satisfying life.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but your intelligence doesn’t need to be seen as an obstacle in-itself.
“I Am Too Smart to Be Happy” – Debunking Depressive Realism
Let’s say it happened to be true that intelligence was linked to depression. That still doesn’t mean that your life is set in stone to be unhappy and unsatisfying.
First, a correlation doesn’t mean causation. And even if 99 out of every 100 intelligent people are depressed or unhappy, you can still be that 1% that rises above the trend and forges a satisfying life for yourself.
But let’s step back and look at the evidence anyway. In fact, most research shows that there is a positive correlation between IQ and well-being…
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“Happiness is significantly associated with IQ. Those in the lowest IQ range (70-99) reported the lowest levels of happiness compared with the highest IQ group (120-129). Mediation analysis using the continuous IQ variable found dependency in activities of daily living, income, health and neurotic symptoms were strong mediators of the relationship, as they reduced the association between happiness and IQ by 50%.”
If anything, intelligence is more of an asset to happiness than a cost, although this effect is often mediated by the fact that more intelligent people also typically have better health and better socioeconomic status overall.
Most of the evidence behind the theory of “depressive realism” is a few psychology experiments done in the 1970s-1980s. Some of the evidence for this theory includes experiments where…
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“When participants were asked to press a button and rate the control they perceived they had over whether or not a light turned on, depressed individuals made more accurate ratings of control than non-depressed individuals.[6] Among participants asked to complete a task and rate their performance without any feedback, depressed individuals made more accurate self-ratings than non-depressed individuals. [7][8][9][10]”
According to another study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 2009, it was proposed that depression may be an adaptive mechanism that motivates us to step back and analyze our lives in greater detail.
This explains why “excessive rumination” is a common symptom of depression. It’s our brains motivating us to step back, think critically, and try to find solutions for our problems. In this way, there is a type of “analytical intelligence” that is associated with negative states.
But while depression can serve us in certain situations, this doesn’t mean it is the best strategy in the long-term.
One perspective is to see states of depression as a stepping stone to improve yourself, grow, and move forward. But that only applies if you can take some of your rumination and begin transforming it into positive action.
Another important thing to consider is that your analytical mind is only one tool at your disposal. But sometimes happiness requires us to turn off our analytical minds and allow ourselves to be in other modes of being…
Intelligent people can sometimes have the hardest time overcoming their depression, precisely because they are really good at rationalizing why they are the way they are. That might be the biggest obstacle when it comes to those who are “too smart to be happy.”
Again, I really do sympathize with this mindset because I used to be the same way. Here are some healthy suggestions that I think apply to many of those who hold the “Too Smart to Be Happy” mentality.
Healthy Recommendations For Those Who Are “Too Smart to Be Happy”…
- Exercise – Many intelligent people live too much time inside their minds and not enough time inside their bodies. I know I personally neglected a lot of my health for this reason. This is likely why research has shown that exercise is one of the best “natural remedies” for depression, and studies say that it is often just as good as a “secondary medication” for those who are clinically diagnosed.
- Social Support – Intelligent people sometimes have difficulty connecting with others because they feel they can’t relate to them. Having a supportive social circle is very important for people going through difficult times, even if it’s just one or two friends you really trust to listen to you and give emotional validation. Intelligent people sometimes fall into the trap of thinking “I can do everything on my own, I don’t need anyone!” But we all need meaningful relationships in our lives to support us and motivate us to do our best.
- Creative Outlet – Creativity is a great way to express yourself and channel thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to put into words. Hobbies like painting, music, or photography can help you get out of the “analytical mindset” and begin to think in a more playful and “creative mindset,” which is something that intelligent people often need more of.
- Positive News – The types of information you consume on a daily basis have a big influence over your mood and emotions. If you are someone who follows a lot of news and politics, you are likely bombarded with a lot of negativity every day. We have to be more mindful of what we are consuming and take more control over what information we are exposed to. And one way to do that is to actively seek more positive news, such as checking out Uplifting News on Reddit or the Good News Network (both of which I make a point to visit on a daily basis).
Resource: The “Everything Counts” Mindset for Exercise: How to Reframe Your Perspective on Health
Resource: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help: It’s a Strength, Not a Weakness
Resource: Everyone Needs a Creative Endeavor (a bit old, I have to write about this more!)
Resource: Bless the Messenger: Focus on Sharing More Good News With People
These are all important areas I’ve focused on in my own life. Each one isn’t a magical cure, but if you can combine them all and apply them on a daily basis, you’d be surprised by how much progress you can make in your life. Happiness might be more within your grasp than you think. Be patient with yourself and keep taking small steps forward.
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