Everyone I know considers him or herself to be an intelligent person. We all like to think we know things and are able to carry on a dialogue that is informative and demonstrates our abilities. On the other hand, many people I know are quite uncomfortable with change. When the unexpected occurs or things do not go as planned, it can be challenging to adapt to the new circumstances.

What we know is that the very universe in which we live is adaptive to changing circumstances. Our world today is quite different from the world that existed at the beginning of time. It has shifted, changed and responded to its environment – literally and figuratively. We need to do the same. As Stephen Hawking suggests, to demonstrate intelligence we must be able to adapt to changing circumstances. We would no more stay seated in a burning building than we should stand by our strongly held ideas in the presence of new evidence. Listening to others – hearing their views and their approach to a given situation – helps us build our intellect. It makes us think.

The next time you find yourself dismissing a new idea, ask if you are adapting or staying the course. Which is the better course of action?