Vol. 31: The Whole City Becomes a "Textbook"! The Magic of "Observation" to Sharpen Your Intellect
Hello everyone!
Do you think that "studying equals sitting at a desk and opening a book"? If so, you might be throwing away more than half of your intelligence.
Isaac Watts lists "Observation" alongside reading and conversation as one of the five ways to improve intelligence. He believed that the world around us is a "giant library" filled with the greatest wisdom.
In this issue, I will talk about observation techniques that will turn your boring daily life into an exciting "research field" and explosively evolve your intelligence.
We "See" but Do Not "Observe"
There is a famous quote by Sherlock Holmes: "You see, but you do not observe."
We take the same path to school or work every day, but how much do we notice the names of the flowers blooming on the roadside, the colors of the signs of new shops, or the expressions of the people passing by?
Watts asserts that "true knowledge cannot be gained without careful observation." Staring blankly at the scenery is the same as leaving the TV on while you sleep. Information may enter, but nothing remains in the brain.
Observation that polishes intelligence is an active act of holding your consciousness antenna high and asking the world "Why?".
The Secret of Observation: Searching for the "Reason" Behind Every Phenomenon
Watts' style of observation is not just about looking at things. Its essence lies in inferring the "principles" or "causes" behind them.
For example, let's say you observe a tree.
Just thinking "the leaves are green" is "looking."
Thinking "Why do flowers bloom at this time?" "Why do the branches grow only on this side?" or "What are the benefits of this shape?" is "observation."
This is not limited to natural science.
"Why is that shop always crowded? (Marketing)"
"Why is that friend always liked by everyone? (Psychology/Communication)"
"Why is this news causing such a stir? (Sociology)"
Just by going out into the city, countless "live problem sets" are lying in front of you. Pick them up one by one and form your own "hypotheses." This training will sharpen your natural intelligence more than reading a textbook 100 times.
Utilize all five senses to create "depth" in your memory
Watts teaches that "knowledge gained through one's own senses (eyes, ears, hands, etc.) is etched more deeply into the heart than knowledge heard from others."
The knowledge that "water boils at 100°C" read in a book is etched into the brain in a completely different way than the knowledge gained by actually standing in front of a stove, watching the water bubble, feeling the heat, and hearing the sound.
Observation accompanied by actual experience becomes the "episodic memory" we learned about in Session 26, forming a solid foundation of knowledge that is hard to forget.
Verify it with your own eyes.
Try touching it for yourself.
Breathe in the atmosphere of the scene.
By possessing this spirit of "fieldwork," you add weight to your words and gain a powerful weapon called "persuasiveness" in your communication with others.
Summary: From today, you become an 'explorer'
In this session, we talked about the power of "observation" to turn daily life into learning.
Let's review the points. First, learning is not just at a desk, but scattered throughout the world right in front of you. Second, true observation is not just looking, but exploring principles by asking 'Why?'. Third, actual experience using the five senses is what becomes deep, lifelong knowledge (wisdom).
Watts believed that improving one's intellect is the joy of understanding the beauty and mechanisms of this world created by God. Whether you spend every day as "just daily life" or enjoy it as a "textbook full of surprises" depends on your "observing eyes."
[Action plan you can start tomorrow] Tomorrow, between leaving your house and arriving at your destination, please find 3 "new discoveries" you have never noticed before. (e.g., there was an old mailbox in that spot, there was a rare bird in the neighbor's garden, there was a strange mark on the utility pole, etc.) And for one of them, please spend just 30 seconds thinking, "Why is it like that?" At that moment, the engine of your intellect will start running.