Do You Even Know...
@thebohemianheart (8827)
United States
October 3, 2009 2:01pm CST
that you intimidate the hell out of me?
All through high school I was intimidated by my classmates. Later, I was intimidated by people who had gone to college and gotten a higher education. After that, it was just intelligent people in general.
None of these people purposely intimidated me. It is just the way I am. Smart people make me feel very small and very dumb, somehow. I have friends who have no more education than I , yet, they intimidate me because they are very intelligent. I have a younger brother and sister who intimidate me. They don't know that because they don't do it on purpose. It's just that their IQ's are off the charts and, they know things that I just cannot understand.
I have other friends who are well educated and, naturally intelligent people who don't intimidate me at all. I think this is because they have no idea how intelligent they are, or have very little confidence in themselves. And, while this aggravates me, (the fact that they are talented in some area and can't see it for themselves)I completely understand it and , I am comfortable with them.
Do you even know that you intimidate me? Do you know that your self confidence and your intelligence makes me feel less smart than I really am?
Which type are you? Do you have confidence enough not to be intimidated by people?
Or, like me, do you feel, somehow, less adequate when you are around these people?
6 people like this
10 responses
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
Pfffftttttt! Woman, please!*LOL*
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
4 Oct 09
Well it's good to know all the time and effort I've put in, into intimidating you worked! LOL (oops, did I type that out loud? Sparks slaps self upside the head and promises not to do it again!)
Anyway, bad jokes aside, I hear ya Bo. I was like that for years. I knew I was bright, but didn't have enough confidence to believe I was as smart as the next guy. Then I had kids who thought I was God for a lot of years and I kinda absorbed the notion and stopped being intimidated by anyone but them! lol
Bo.........I've always thought you were smarter than the average bear, and you might be surprised to know that when I first started noticing you here, you intimidated the hell out of me! Sometime you still do! So never, ever, think of yourself as less intellectually endowed than anyone else. You're not. Your talents are your own and can't be matched by anyone else and there's great confidence to be found in that.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
4 Oct 09
Oh that's just too hysterical for words. I never thought I could intimidate a fly until I discovered the power of a bic lighter! ROFL
Listen you silly woman............everyone is better at something than the next person. Doesn't make someone smarter or dumber, just an individual with their own talents and brains. Every morning while you're brushing your teeth, chant this mantra in your head: "I'm the best, to hell with the rest", over and over and one day you'll believe it. It might take you until you're about 55 like it did me, but it does work! LOL
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
Heehee! I have been telling myself, I am the best and, I deserve the best. It works.
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
4 Oct 09
I consider myself to be a fairly confident person most of the time and in most situations, but I too have my insecurities. I just cover them well! I'm not saying anything to you that you haven't already heard before I'm sure, but I reckon I know you pretty well and you certainly hold your own in life better than you think you do! 
Self belief is always a challenge and we're all fighting that fight at some time or another. The important thing is that we're humble when it comes to our strengths and that we're aware of our weaknesses and are able to combat them effectively as well. What's really interesting is when we come across situations where what we consider to be a weakness within ourself is seen as a strength by those outside of us! I hope I'm not one of these people who intimidates you Diddly, because I'm no different to you! 
Self belief is always a challenge and we're all fighting that fight at some time or another. The important thing is that we're humble when it comes to our strengths and that we're aware of our weaknesses and are able to combat them effectively as well. What's really interesting is when we come across situations where what we consider to be a weakness within ourself is seen as a strength by those outside of us! I hope I'm not one of these people who intimidates you Diddly, because I'm no different to you! 1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
James, you used to intimidate me, until I got to know you. I do know that we are the same in some ways, and that makes me more comfortable with you. I am learning to be a bit more like you. When someone asks me if I can do something, I tell them, Yes, of course I can! whether I have done it before or not. I know, in my line of work, that I can figure it out and get the job done. All I have to do is convince other people that I can.
*LOL @ Irish*
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
4 Oct 09
Hey bo! What a great discussion which just shows how intelligent
you really are! So there! You are quite an intelligent woman!
And you shouldn't be intimidated by anyone! You never come off
as being unintelligent ever! And you have the most wonderful
gift that I myself am truly jealous of! You can draw and paint
like a professional artist! I don't know anyone that could
possibly hold a candle to you my dearest friend! I am still
waiting for my "dancing Opal"!lol I have no idea whatever gave
you the idea that you weren't as intelligent as your brothers
and sisters! Damn, I'm quite sure that you probably are more
intelligent then they are, but you just won't admit it or let
yourself be! I know that I am intelligent, but tend to put
myself down at times! I tend to lack self confidence and that
does make me feel less intelligent! But, now that I am older
I don't let people get over on me or make me feel inadequate
anymore and neither should you! You are a beautiful woman with
alot more talent them I have! You can sing beautifully, paint,
draw! Damn, I wish I have one quarter of your talent Bo! I
would have it made! And you have a loving family! I have none
of those things! Next to you, I am a total failure~
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
OMG! Opal, you are far from being a failure. You are one of the sweetest, most caring people I have met! Oh, please, please, don't ever think of yourself that way again!
I am flattered by your response. And, I will work on that dancing lady for you. It just may take a little time. I am in the middle of planning and working on a wedding right now and, it consumes a lot of my time.
Oh, dear me! I never really expected some of the responses I have gotten. I thought one of you would make some smart a$$ remark and make me laugh at myself for all this.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
4 Oct 09
OPAL!
You listen to Bo now. She's very smart you know! Really she is. She's got you pegged hasn't she? LOL
We are all smarter than one another in our own ways. We can't be all things to all people, so it's best just to be the best of ourselves right? And frankly my dears, you both do that so well that I defy ANYONE to convince me otherwise!
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Oct 09
No one can know it all. We all have our special talents. You should value your talents more. Could there be something you know that the brains don't???? Hmmmm?? I find lots of high IQ people have weak people skills. I bet you are great with people now aren't you??? You might just intimidate them and don't know it. Learning and growing is always a great thing but there are all kinds of knowledge out there to learn.
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
Oh, yeah, there are lots of things I know that others don't. I can read most people like a book, and I do have some talent. There are just some things your grow up hearing that are hard to get out of the back of your brain, you know?
I am learning to tell people that I am the best at what I do and, you know what? They believe me! I know that I am not but, one day I will be and, that is what I am looking at right now. If I don't tell them I can do it now, I won't be able to later.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
4 Oct 09
I'm lost for words... Actually I don't know how to respond properly because I'm afraid that I might say something that could intimidate you. Hmm to be honest I think a simple guy like me cannot intimidate you. I think you just haven't discovered your true potential because you kept on looking to others and not yourself
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
4 Oct 09
You are so right about looking to others. I have to find my strength in myself. We all do need a bit of encouragement and a pat on the back from time to time, though. And, with that comes a boost of confidence and, we begin to see our self worth.
1 person likes this
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
4 Oct 09
I'm just glad that I was able to bring some sense. I'm most glad that you weren't intimidated. Keep it up, this will serve as your first step in discovering your true potential. I'm sure you'll love yourself more in the long run:)
@littleowl (7157)
•
4 Oct 09
Hi Bo', you shouldn't feel intimidated by anyone hun, wether they are intelligent or not, you are just as intelligent as they are but probably in other way. As for me, I used to let everyone intimidate me wether it was their intelligence or they wern't, now though through a lot of hard lessons no-one intimidates me...well that I know of, why should they? It belittles your ego, makes you feel small and not worthy...hun look at all the good thing in you how kind, thoughtful and loving you are, you have abilitie as a mother that people don't so you alone are intelligent...don't ever think you aren't...Hugs LoLo
@thayes1106 (156)
• United States
4 Oct 09
I am intimidated a lot of times. I am not a social person. I usually end up saying the wrong things. I really don't understand people at all sometimes.
@angelsmummy (1696)
•
3 Oct 09
I hope I dont intimidate you! I dont feel that I am smart at all! I am very sef-confident but that is because I am happy with my life not because I am smart, pretty or above anybody else. Some people I find quite intimidating like people that can buy their children the more expensive thing to what I have bought them but I know that children prefer love and happiness to the latest toy. Well at this age anyway (15 months and 7 weeks) You ahve no reason to feel intimidated tho!
You are smart you must be to come on myLot and make such brilliant friends lol! I know its not easy to believe in yourself but when you do you will feel less intimidated by people! I bet at times they feel intimidated by you!
Happy myLotting!
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Awwww. How sweet are you! Your response made me smile.
I do have more confidence in myself than I did when I was younger. I own my own business, I better be a little confident in what I can do, huh?
And, your kids will absolutely remember the things that you do for them out of love, the hugs and even the scoldings because you love them, above anything else you can ever give them. Both of mine tell me that the best times they had were when we just spent time together, the nights I went in and sang them a song or told them a story, when they were little. The fact that you stop and give your kids 10 minutes of your undivided attention will be loads more to them than the toys.
@sderringer (303)
• United States
3 Oct 09
I don't usually feel intimidated by others anymore. I used to when I was very young but I guess one of the advantages of getting older is sometimes you gain confidence and feel better about yourself (or accept youself as you are) and then things that used to bother you don't anymore. We all have something unique and outstanding about us, we just have to take the time to discover what it is and when you do, you won't feel as much low self esteem and won't be easily intimidated by anyone. I just try to remember that we all put our pants on the same way and being smarter than me or prettier or whatever means nothing unless I LET IT mean something. Do you follow what I am trying to get across here?
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Oh, yes, absolutely. I am more confident at 50 than I have ever been in my life. It is kind of sad to think that I let these things hinder me all these years. But, I can't think about that now, I am in a good place and, I intend to stay there.
