Be As Smart As Einstein in 4 Simple Steps

When Albert Einstein died, there was much anticipation about what the autopsy of his brain would reveal. Scientists speculated that his brain was significantly larger or more dense that normal. So they were confused and disappointed to discover that Einstein's brain was actually slightly smaller than normal, with average density.

Scientists were left to ponder what made Albert so smart. Since size didn't matter, the difference lies in how he used his gray matter.

Einstein's key to success was adaptability. You're well aware that humans can adapt to any climate or crisis. But Einstein took it to a whole new level.

He used a very systematic process when exploring the unknown in the field of physics. He would learn everything he could about an issue, then he'd turn himself loose in the field of possibilities.

Albert's passion was to revel in awe and wonder at the mysteries of nature. He once said that unlocking the secrets of nature was like reading the mind of God. That really turned him on!

The great news is that you can adopt Albert's attitude of adaptability and use the same process of exploring possibilities. Every day, you face new issues. When you're ready to stop trying to solve them in old ways that you know won't work, give Albert's adaptive formula a try:

Step 1: Acknowledge that there's more to this situation than you realize. This is always true! Accepting this simple fact will create space so your brain can grow new neural connections.

Step 2: Explore the simple question: how can I have more flexible thinking? Looks for old habits of thinking that limit your options. One red flag is letting memories of setbacks make you feel stuck.

Step 3: Breathe. Relaxing both your body and your mind will allow your brain the freedom to function optimally. Find ways to lighten up and laugh at yourself instead of getting caught up in the need to avoid embarrassment.

Step 4: Keep your eyes peeled for answers that can come from anywhere. Einstein got his biggest ideas in his dreams, daydreams and intuitive hunches. The ancient Greek scholar Archimedes had his famous Eureka moment in his bathtub.

The famous Hungarian psychology professor, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced chick-zen-mihaly) has written several riveting books on the connection between relaxing and creative hits.

To help you embrace the full power of your brain, here are a few Fun Facts: Your brain contains more than 100,000 miles of axons and dendrites. That's enough to wrap around the earth 4 times! The total number of neural circuits you could form is 10 followed by one million zeros.

That's a lot, but it's even more amazing when compared to the number of particles in the universe, which is estimated to be 10 followed by 79 zeros. You can absolutely find better ways to deal with your life!

And while we're on the subject, let's debunk one of the biggest myths about your brain. You've probably heard that when you reach adulthood, neurons start dying. While it's true that you're losing about one neuron per second, no worries. At this rate, it would take more than 600 years for you to lose half of the 40 billion neurons in your brain.

And there's more good news: you're growing new neurons at almost the same rate that you're losing them. This means that the total number of brain neurons you had at age 20 is not significantly more than you'll have at age 70. The lights aren't slowly going out in your brain. You can think just fine at any age.

Today's Coaching Question: What issue could you apply Albert's attitude of adaptability to?