Reading over this, I see a few basic things. First, you want to become smarter and better, seem to be comparing yourself to others, and are a bit too self aware (&quot;... basic questions ... without looking out of place&quot;).<p>The thing is... you can&#x27;t really become better at things without doing the basic work. I started drawing before I could read - I&#x27;m in my late 30&#x27;s now. I still watch tutorials, very basic ones, to broaden my art skills. Even if it is meant for children or Bob Ross. Valid techniques are hidden in those. These sorts of habits are aslo ones i find in very intelligent people. It is hard to feel new sometimes, but that is a habit like anything else, and after a while, you get used to it and it isn&#x27;t so uncomfortable anymore.<p>Comparing yourself to others isn&#x27;t really bad, per se, but you still have to do the base work and know yourself well enough to know when you need to diverge from the other person and just do it your own way. I really admire those who sculpt or paint in different styles than I do and wish I could do it, but I know my own limitations and it doesn&#x27;t discount any of my own work at all.<p>The last piece of information is a few traits I notice in the most intelligent people i&#x27;ve met: They have a broad general knowledge base, and tend to find interests both in &quot;hard&quot; subjects (science, math, etc) and &quot;soft&quot; ones (music, art, philosophy). They find patterns that scope between subjects and draw lines between things.