You know you’re a worrier. You think about the drive home and plot your errands based on having to make fewer left turns into traffic. You’ve volunteered to bring a dessert to the company potluck and have already spent hours online searching for a perfect recipe and plan at least one test run prior to the lunch. Your son hopes to go to the college of his choice—two years from now, but you are already working with him on his admission essay. Yes, you are a worrier. And that’s the good news.
At least according to research compiled by Lakehead University in Ontario. According to their findings, people prone to anxiety have higher levels of intelligence. The small study surveyed 126 students about anxiety and intelligence. They were scored on the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Those who ranked high for anxiety were also the most verbally intelligent. —S.H.
Bottom Line: It’s only logical. Smart people tend to consider past and present events in great detail which enables them to construct and replay various scenarios and outcomes—revealing potential results, both favorable and distressing.