Why RM’s Way of Thinking Can Make You Smarter

Kim Namjoon taught himself English by watching sitcoms. He reads philosophy books for fun. He visits art museums on tour breaks. He’s given speeches at the United Nations despite having no formal training in public speaking.

RM isn’t just smart because of natural intelligence. His approach to learning, thinking, and growing is something anyone can adopt. And it genuinely makes you sharper.

The Foundation: Curiosity Without Agenda

Most people learn with specific goals: pass a test, get a job, impress others, achieve status. RM learns because things interest him.

The difference: Learning for external validation creates pressure and kills enjoyment. Learning from genuine curiosity sustains itself.

His approach: If something catches his attention, he explores it. Art, philosophy, architecture, poetry, language – not because they’ll be useful, but because they’re interesting.

Why this makes you smarter: When you learn without pressure, your brain relaxes and actually retains more. You make unexpected connections. You develop broader context for understanding new information.

Try this: Pick one topic that genuinely interests you but has no practical application to your current life. Spend 15 minutes weekly just exploring it. No goals, no pressure. Watch your natural curiosity strengthen.

Cross-Pollination: Connecting Unrelated Ideas

RM references art history in rap lyrics. He connects philosophy concepts to personal struggles. He sees patterns between museum exhibitions and human behavior.

What he does: Actively looks for connections between seemingly unrelated domains. How does this painting relate to that book? How does this philosophy apply to modern life?

Why this matters: Intelligence isn’t just knowing facts. It’s seeing relationships between facts. The most innovative thinking happens at intersections between different fields.

Example: His understanding of Carl Jung’s psychology influenced the Map of the Soul albums. His knowledge of art history shapes his music video concepts. His philosophy reading informs his songwriting.

Your practice: When you learn something new, ask: What does this remind me of? Where else have I seen this pattern? How does this connect to something I already know?

Creating these bridges builds a richer, more interconnected knowledge base.

Reading as Conversation, Not Consumption

RM doesn’t just read books. He engages with them, questions them, applies them to his life, and discusses them with others.

His approach: Read actively. Mark passages. Disagree with authors. Look up referenced concepts. Think about how ideas apply to your experience.

The shift: Books aren’t authorities delivering truth. They’re perspectives offering ideas you can examine, test, and integrate selectively.

Why this deepens intelligence: Passive consumption adds information. Active engagement builds critical thinking. You’re not just collecting facts; you’re developing judgment about ideas.

Practice: Read one chapter of anything. Then spend five minutes writing your reaction. What do you agree with? Disagree with? How does this apply to your life? What questions does it raise?

Language Learning as Brain Training

RM’s English learning method was unconventional: watch Friends, look up unfamiliar words, repeat phrases until they felt natural, practice thinking in English.

The lesson: You don’t need formal classes or perfect conditions to learn. You need consistent engagement with material slightly above your current level.

Why language learning matters: It literally rewires your brain. You develop new neural pathways, improve memory, strengthen pattern recognition, and enhance mental flexibility.

But also: Language learning teaches you how to learn. The process of moving from incompetent to competent in one area transfers to other skills.

Application beyond language: Pick any skill and use his method:

• Consume content in that domain (shows, books, videos)
• Look up things you don’t understand
• Practice regularly without formal structure
• Think in terms of that skill
• Use it in low-stakes situations

Thinking Out Loud: Processing Through Expression

RM frequently talks through his thought process in interviews and live streams. He doesn’t just share conclusions – he shares the messy middle of figuring things out.

What this does: Verbalizing thoughts clarifies them. You discover what you actually think by hearing yourself explain it. Gaps in understanding become obvious when you try to articulate ideas.

Why this increases intelligence: Speaking your thought process forces you to organize vague feelings into coherent structure. You catch flawed logic. You realize what you need to learn more about.

Try this: When working through a problem, talk through it out loud as if explaining to someone. Record yourself or just speak to empty room. You’ll be surprised how much clearer things become.

Learning From Everything, Including “Low-Brow” Content

RM doesn’t just consume “intellectual” material. He watches anime, plays games, engages with pop culture, and finds insights everywhere.

The principle: Intelligence isn’t about only consuming prestigious content. It’s about extracting insight from whatever you encounter.

His demonstration: He’s referenced anime plotlines in serious discussions about humanity. He’s found philosophy in cartoon characters. He treats all content as potentially meaningful.

Why this matters: Intellectual snobbery limits learning. When you’re open to finding value anywhere, you notice patterns and ideas others miss.

Your practice: Next time you watch something “mindless,” ask: What’s interesting here? What does this reveal about human nature? What techniques is this using? What can I learn from this?

Intellectual Humility: Admitting What You Don’t Know

Despite being regarded as the intellectual member, RM regularly says “I don’t know” or “I’m still learning” or “I might be wrong.”

The courage: Admitting ignorance, especially when people expect you to know everything, takes confidence.

Why this increases intelligence: When you pretend to know things, you stop learning. When you admit gaps, you create space to fill them. Intellectual humility is prerequisite for growth.

His example: In interviews, when asked complex questions, he’ll often say “That’s something I’m thinking about” rather than faking an answer.

Practice: Notice when you’re tempted to pretend understanding. Try saying “I don’t know enough about that yet” or “Help me understand what you mean.” Watch how this opens learning opportunities.

Systematic Exploration: Deep Dives Instead of Surface Skimming

When RM gets interested in something, he doesn’t just Google it. He reads multiple books, visits museums, discusses with experts, and integrates it deeply.

The approach: Pick topics and explore them thoroughly rather than skimming many things shallowly.

Why depth beats breadth: Surface-level knowledge of many things provides conversation starters. Deep knowledge of fewer things builds expertise and enables genuine insight.

His pattern: When interested in art, he doesn’t just visit one museum. He studies movements, reads art theory, learns about artists’ lives, and considers philosophical implications.

Your application: Instead of trying to learn everything, pick three topics that genuinely interest you. Spend six months going deep on each. Read multiple books. Follow experts. Practice applying the knowledge. Develop real understanding.

Using Mistakes as Learning Data

RM has talked about mistakes he made: times he said the wrong thing, misunderstood cultural contexts, or made poor decisions.

His response: Examine why it happened, understand the gap in knowledge or judgment, and adjust going forward.

The intelligence here: Mistakes become valuable when you extract lessons. People who defend or ignore mistakes repeat them. People who analyze mistakes grow from them.

Practice: After mistakes, ask:

• What did I not know that I needed to know?
• What assumption was wrong?
• What would I do differently now?
• What can I learn from this?

Treating mistakes as data rather than failures accelerates growth.

Creating Thinking Space

RM schedules time for just thinking. Walking, sitting, processing without constant input.

What he does: Regular breaks from consumption to digest and integrate information. Time to connect ideas, form opinions, and develop original thoughts.

Why this matters: In our constantly-connected world, we consume endlessly but rarely process. Information without integration isn’t knowledge.

The result: Space for thinking enables creativity, insight, and original thought. You move from repeating others’ ideas to forming your own.

Practice: Schedule 30 minutes weekly with no input. No phone, no book, no podcast. Just thinking time. Walk, sit, or write. Let your brain process and connect.

Embracing Complexity Over Simple Answers

RM rarely gives simple answers to complex questions. He explores nuance, acknowledges multiple perspectives, and resists binary thinking.

Example: When asked about success, he doesn’t give platitudes. He discusses the complexity of pressure, expectations, personal satisfaction, and external validation.

Why this reflects intelligence: Simple answers often miss important nuance. Comfortable with complexity indicates deeper understanding.

What makes people uncomfortable: Nuanced thinking doesn’t provide easy takeaways. It requires holding multiple ideas simultaneously, some contradictory.

The skill: Practice saying “both/and” instead of “either/or.” Most situations aren’t binary. Success can be fulfilling and stressful. You can love your career and need boundaries. Ambiguity reflects reality.

Teaching as Learning Tool

RM often explains concepts to members or in interviews. Teaching forces deeper understanding.

Why this works: To teach something, you must understand it thoroughly. Preparation reveals gaps in knowledge. Questions force you to think harder.

His approach: When learning something, he often explains it to others. This tests his understanding and forces clarity.

Your practice: When learning anything, try explaining it to someone else (or imagine doing so). Can you make it clear? Are there parts you stumble on? Those are areas needing more study.

The Meta-Skill: Learning How to Learn

The biggest intelligence boost from RM isn’t any specific knowledge. It’s his approach to learning itself.

He’s developed:

• Systems for acquiring information
• Methods for retaining knowledge
• Techniques for connecting ideas
• Practices for deepening understanding
• Habits for continuous growth

This transfers everywhere: Learn how to learn one thing well, and you can learn anything. The meta-skill of learning is more valuable than any specific knowledge.

Building Your Own Intelligence Practice

Based on RM’s approach, here’s a framework:

Daily (15 minutes):

• Read something challenging
• Think through one idea actively
• Make one unexpected connection

Weekly:

• Deep dive into one interesting topic
• Thinking time with no input
• Explain something you learned

Monthly:

• Finish one substantive book
• Visit museum, gallery, or lecture
• Reflect on what you’ve learned and how it connects

Quarterly:

• Evaluate gaps in knowledge
• Pick new area for deep exploration
• Teach something to someone

The Real Intelligence Lesson

RM proves intelligence isn’t fixed. It’s not about IQ scores or natural gifts. It’s about curiosity, consistent learning, active engagement, and systematic development.

You won’t become RM by copying his approach. But you’ll definitely become a clearer thinker, more creative problem-solver, and deeper understander of the world around you.

Intelligence is a practice, not a trait. Anyone willing to be curious, stay humble, and engage actively can develop it.

The question isn’t “Am I smart enough?” It’s “Am I willing to think actively instead of passively consuming?”

If yes, you already have what you need to start.