We are not all actually “so smart.” Though some of us operate with varying cognitive advantages.
Here’s what worked for me…
In a Universe governed by entropy, ignorance and confusion is the natural state of mind.
Success is a function of persistence, perseverance, tenacity, endurance, application, willfulness, doing it. Do not forget that.
Everyone is a pathological lier, stop listening to whoever the hell that is.
Simple truths, no matter how boring or unpopular are better in the long run than made-to-believe, whatever it pays.
Oh, and do things the hard way, it is the only way you will truly own it. If you haven’t noticed, everything else is over leveraged.