The Secret of Smart People: Why the Smarter People Can Maintain Inner Peace

When the 10th work message pops up on your phone and the subway is crowded with anxious office workers, have you ever wondered why there are always people who can stay calm and composed? Neuroscientists have scanned the brains of hundreds of participants and found an astonishing biological connection between intelligence and calmness.

1. Physical advantages of a smart brain

1. Thicker prefrontal cortex

Like a computer upgrading its processor, people with developed brain regions can quickly activate rational analysis mode in the face of emergencies. The scan shows that their frontal lobes are 15% thicker than normal, which is equivalent to having an emotional buffer zone built in.

2. The amygdala is more compact in size.

The amygdala responsible for fear response is smaller in the brain of the wise, but the nerve fibers connecting the prefrontal cortex are denser. This structure enables them to regulate their emotions like skilled animal trainers.

3. The default mode network is more active.

This brain network is most active during daydreaming, and the brainwaves of intelligent individuals present a unique rhythm in this state. It's like turning on power-saving mode on a phone, they are better at recovering energy in fragmented time.

2. Three Neuroplasticity Techniques for Daily Practice

1. Set an Emotional Buffer Period

When encountering something bad, take three deep breaths first. This simple action can buy 6 seconds of activation time for the prefrontal cortex, avoiding being hijacked by the emotional brain. Laboratory data shows that this habit alone can reduce impulsive decision-making rates by 38%.

2. Cultivate an observer perspective

Try to describe your situation in the third person. Princeton University experiments have confirmed that this psychological distance can immediately weaken amygdala responses, with an effect comparable to natural sedatives.

3. Create cognitive surplus

Set aside 30 minutes each day without processing any information. This deliberate emptying can enhance the default mode network connection density, and the creativity test score of long-term persistence will increase by 22%.

3. The Paradox of Wisdom Not Equal to Knowledge

1. The librarian effect

A person who possesses a large amount of knowledge but does not know how to filter, their brain is like a warehouse filled with books. Truly intelligent people will establish efficient retrieval systems, which is why some people become more anxious the more they read.

2. The way to break the experience trap

Overreliance on past experience can lead to rigid thinking. Research on neuroplasticity suggests that regularly trying new things can keep the brain young, and new synapses can still grow at the age of 60.

3. differences in Fuzzy Tolerance

Ordinary people trigger anxiety circuits in the face of uncertainty, but the intelligent brain sees it as an opportunity for exploration. This trait can be acquired through meditation training, and an eight week course can change the structure of the brain.

Those who seem always calm actually have mastered the instructions for using the brain. Starting today, consider every emotional fluctuation as an opportunity to upgrade your brain system. Remember, calmness is not the absence of storms, but the ability to accommodate storms like the deep sea. Your neurons are waiting to be rewired, and change can always start from the next breath.