Why human intelligence is failing - and what still matters.

Today, I read an article by an American advertising guru, who believes 20 to 30% of jobs will be automated soon, and humans should focus on developing four qualities: 

intuition, insight, imagination, and interaction. 

Intelligence isn’t included in the list because AI is rapidly making IQ type intelligence (pattern recognition, analysis, and synthesis) less scarce. 

Some call this the “intelligence curse" because as humans we are potentially becoming less essential to GDP growth and therefore less valuable as an economic resource.

What’s worse, our attention spans are shortening which makes us less likely to develop the concentration required for genuine insight or to make a breakthrough. All the while we increasingly rely on AI to make decisions.

However, AI may be better at analysing our medical results, but we still prefer to hear difficult news from a human. We want to be seen, held, understood by a living, breathing other, not a machine, when we’re facing a challenge and our world is crumbling. Or even when we’re happy and want to celebrate.

I would add equanimity.

Its origin comes from the Latin aequus meaning equal and animus meaning mind, spirit, or soul, literally translating to even-mindedness or even-beingness. It means not being buffeted by the world while also being able to take the world in. 

There can be confusion between being even-minded and being cold. But true equanimity allows us to become more sensitive — to take in more of the world without losing our balance and becoming consumed. And it’s essential to healthy interactions (the fourth quality in the guru’s list).

Equanimity starts with developing awareness of what is happening for you and around you. I don’t call it empathy - because treating empathy as a quality to be developed is like putting breathing on your CV. Almost all humans are capable of empathy i.e. having a sense of another person’s experience. But like breathing, not all of us empathise deeply enough or we empathise too deeply for the situation. Equanimity allows us to be both caring and wise so we’re not consumed by another’s experience but do what we can. Equanimity is the key to healthy boundaries.

But to develop equanimity, you must know your patterns.

THREE PATTERNS THAT UNBALANCE RELATIONSHIPS:

Often in relationships, we lose our balance because: 1) we move too fast and respond too quickly; 2) we shut down and hide what we truly think or feel - which accumulates tension that can explode later; or 3) we ignore everything and live in our own little bubble, which means we’ll be knocked over by the relationship at some point. 

Here are a few questions to start noticing the patterns that might cause you to lose your balance.

1. When someone is stressed: do you tend to offer solutions, listen while thinking about your own problems, or let it wash over while visualising your happy place?

2. During conversations: when there’s silence in a conversation, do you fill it with whatever comes to mind, feel awkward and start fidgeting, or assume the conversation has ended?

3. If you need something: do you start making a plan, tell yourself you don’t really need it, or trust the universe will deliver?

4. On saying No: if someone asks you for something you can’t do, do you immediately say yes, start apologising and explaining why you can’t do it, or change the subject?

5. About conflict: in a tense meeting, do you diffuse the situation with humour, brace for impact, or look out the window and wonder what’s for lunch?

   
   

The interesting thing is that when you start noticing your patterns including where and when they show up, you also notice other people’s patterns and how they behave towards you. It gives you a clue about the dynamics you’re part of, why they appear, and where things can be different.

Once you notice the pattern, the practice becomes more or less straightforward. You have the 5Rs: 

• Recognise the pattern, 

• Refrain from the pattern, 

• Relax the urge to enact the pattern, 

• Reorient to what’s important, and 

• Respond from there.

Then it’s just a matter of time before the pattern weakens and you experience more balance and ease.

Equanimity doesn’t replace good judgement but makes it more likely.

Let me know your thoughts.

Have a great week,

Amina

P.S. Ways we can work together right now:

1. Book a one-off 5R coaching session to navigate a stuck point or big decision.

2. Invite me to design a ‘creating tomorrow while today is uncertain’ conversation for your team or organisation. Book a time here.

3. Have an exploratory conversation  where you help me understand how leaders and professionals are responding to uncertainty. In return, I offer focused coaching on a challenge of your choice.