Randy Kay's Blog
August 18, 2015
From Daily Keys to Success
Think Like a Child
A semi loaded with boxes traveled along a highway going from San Jose to Los Angeles. As the driver entered the city, he was confronted with a low-arching overpass and he was worried about the clearance. The truck driver decided to go under the overpass, and his truck got stuck. He quickly tried to go in reverse after failing to move forward, but to no avail—his truck was completely wedged between the road and the overpass. He then lit some flares to deter any other vehicles from rear-ending the truck. When emergency vehicles arrived, the workers tried almost everything to dislodge the truck. They could not remove any of the tightly banded boxes from the truck to reduce its height.
Then a mother pulled to the side of the highway, allowing her seven–year-old son to run up to the workers along the side shouting, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” “Got what?” asked the chief emergency worker. The child answered, “Let the air out of the truck’s tires, move it past the overpass, and then pump up the tires again!” The workers did just that—problem solved!
Leave it to a child. Some of the most brilliant scholars (like Einstein) have long advocated this philosophy: it is productive and sometimes essential for people to think like children to achieve success as adults.
Old habits of thinking and commonly accepted patterns of behavior clog our ability to accept free-flowing ideas. Sometimes we need to view things from a fresh perspective, unfettered by age. “Children are designed by evolution to be extremely good learners—to be able to think about anything that’s interesting and important in the world around them,” says Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology and an affiliate professor at the University of California, Berkley. “When you look at their brains, they’re extremely flexible, so they can change what they think based on new evidence very quickly and easily.”
She further explains that as adults we tend to focus only on the things that are most relevant to us, making us more close-minded and unable or unwilling to consider the broadest possible range of opportunities. Gopnik suggests adopting more of the inquisitive approach to things that adults tend to lack by becoming more hesitant to ask questions.
Keeping an open mind and releasing preconceptions is key to not overthinking a problem with prejudiced answers.
“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” – Pablo Picasso
A semi loaded with boxes traveled along a highway going from San Jose to Los Angeles. As the driver entered the city, he was confronted with a low-arching overpass and he was worried about the clearance. The truck driver decided to go under the overpass, and his truck got stuck. He quickly tried to go in reverse after failing to move forward, but to no avail—his truck was completely wedged between the road and the overpass. He then lit some flares to deter any other vehicles from rear-ending the truck. When emergency vehicles arrived, the workers tried almost everything to dislodge the truck. They could not remove any of the tightly banded boxes from the truck to reduce its height.
Then a mother pulled to the side of the highway, allowing her seven–year-old son to run up to the workers along the side shouting, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” “Got what?” asked the chief emergency worker. The child answered, “Let the air out of the truck’s tires, move it past the overpass, and then pump up the tires again!” The workers did just that—problem solved!
Leave it to a child. Some of the most brilliant scholars (like Einstein) have long advocated this philosophy: it is productive and sometimes essential for people to think like children to achieve success as adults.
Old habits of thinking and commonly accepted patterns of behavior clog our ability to accept free-flowing ideas. Sometimes we need to view things from a fresh perspective, unfettered by age. “Children are designed by evolution to be extremely good learners—to be able to think about anything that’s interesting and important in the world around them,” says Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology and an affiliate professor at the University of California, Berkley. “When you look at their brains, they’re extremely flexible, so they can change what they think based on new evidence very quickly and easily.”
She further explains that as adults we tend to focus only on the things that are most relevant to us, making us more close-minded and unable or unwilling to consider the broadest possible range of opportunities. Gopnik suggests adopting more of the inquisitive approach to things that adults tend to lack by becoming more hesitant to ask questions.
Keeping an open mind and releasing preconceptions is key to not overthinking a problem with prejudiced answers.
“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” – Pablo Picasso
December 18, 2013
Grow Your Intellect
I will grow my intellect
Yes, it is possible to grow your intellect, and no, you don’t have to lose
brainpower as you age. A strong mind typically results in a better job,
more income, and improved mental health. Common research has discovered
that we use only one-third of the brain, so the key is to engage the other twothirds.
The research linking physical and mental health continues to grow. A
Cambridge University study showed that jogging just a couple of times a week
stimulates the brain. After a few days of running, tests revealed that several
hundred thousand new brain cells had grown in a part of the brain linked to
the formation and recall of memories. Vigorous exercise actually helps release
a protein called “noggin” that helps counter another protein called bone
morphogenetic protein, thus stimulating an increase in the division of brain
stem cells. This keeps the brain active and quick, and could possibly prevent
the onset of age-related brain malfunctions such as dementia. After that
exercise, taking a nap was also shown to benefit the memory. An hour nap in
the afternoon boosts the brain’s ability to learn new facts and applications.
Those in the study who stay awake all day could not process information as
well, thus leading the researchers to suggest regular napping may help to head
off degenerative mental diseases.
The brain requires significant amounts of nutrients, complex stimulation,
oxygen, water, and exercise, so monitor your intake of all of these. Excessive
sugars have been shown to cause cellular damage. Mental exercises like word
puzzles can help as can “tricking” the brain by using your non-dominant hand,
which develops different neuropathways that can access untapped parts of the
brain. Experts also suggest that long controlled breaths not only create a greater
oxygen intake for the brain, but they also signal to the brain that air is plentiful
so that it can focus on complex tasks. Research published in the journal Neuron
found that an increase of magnesium (Mg) in the brain could help learning in
humans regardless of age. Foods rich in Mg include vegetables like spinach and
broccoli. Vitamin D (which we get from the sun and from oily fish) also kept
the brain active and could improve information processing. Learning
Yes, it is possible to grow your intellect, and no, you don’t have to lose
brainpower as you age. A strong mind typically results in a better job,
more income, and improved mental health. Common research has discovered
that we use only one-third of the brain, so the key is to engage the other twothirds.
The research linking physical and mental health continues to grow. A
Cambridge University study showed that jogging just a couple of times a week
stimulates the brain. After a few days of running, tests revealed that several
hundred thousand new brain cells had grown in a part of the brain linked to
the formation and recall of memories. Vigorous exercise actually helps release
a protein called “noggin” that helps counter another protein called bone
morphogenetic protein, thus stimulating an increase in the division of brain
stem cells. This keeps the brain active and quick, and could possibly prevent
the onset of age-related brain malfunctions such as dementia. After that
exercise, taking a nap was also shown to benefit the memory. An hour nap in
the afternoon boosts the brain’s ability to learn new facts and applications.
Those in the study who stay awake all day could not process information as
well, thus leading the researchers to suggest regular napping may help to head
off degenerative mental diseases.
The brain requires significant amounts of nutrients, complex stimulation,
oxygen, water, and exercise, so monitor your intake of all of these. Excessive
sugars have been shown to cause cellular damage. Mental exercises like word
puzzles can help as can “tricking” the brain by using your non-dominant hand,
which develops different neuropathways that can access untapped parts of the
brain. Experts also suggest that long controlled breaths not only create a greater
oxygen intake for the brain, but they also signal to the brain that air is plentiful
so that it can focus on complex tasks. Research published in the journal Neuron
found that an increase of magnesium (Mg) in the brain could help learning in
humans regardless of age. Foods rich in Mg include vegetables like spinach and
broccoli. Vitamin D (which we get from the sun and from oily fish) also kept
the brain active and could improve information processing. Learning
