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Fun Fact Friday: The Brain Myth

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Education & Training with Although I'm retired, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals.

“The mind is not limited by capacity; it is expanded by curiosity.” 

Have you ever heard that humans only use 10% of their brains?

It is one of the most popular and persistent myths out there. It shows up in movies, books, and motivational speeches. 

Myth:
Humans only use 10% of their brain. 

Fact: 
Modern brain imaging shows that we use virtually all parts of our brain, just not all at once. Even simple activities like talking, walking, remembering, or daydreaming activate multiple areas across the brain.

There is no “unused 90%” just sitting there waiting to be unlocked.

While it may be true that many of us only tap into a portion of our personal potential, that has nothing to do with only using a small portion of our brains.

Your brain is already highly active and engaged every day. The idea of “unused potential” is about habits, learning, confidence, and opportunities, not about dormant sections of your brain waiting to be switched on.

In other words, you are not limited by unused brain tissue. You are empowered by how you choose to grow, learn, and stretch yourself.  

A little Real Estate Tie-In
Just like the brain myth, clients are only seeing a small part of what a good agent is doing. Pricing strategy, market timing, negotiation skills, local knowledge, problem-solving, and experience all work together, much of which is done behind the scenes. They are fully engaged. 

Posted by

Carol Williams

"Information is FREE.
Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless."

- Carol Williams

Retired: Real Estate Broker/Owner, Property Manager 
Coaching, goal setting, and marketing consultant

Active: Golf & Travel Blogger
"Golf isn't a sport. It's a lifestyle."
SeniorWomenGolfers.com
TopTeamCarol@gmail.com
 

Whatever You're Doing, Make It Fun!



Comments(12)

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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I always wondered how true that was, and wondered about whether or not people could actually attain superpowers by unleashing the full power of the brain, haha.

Feb 13, 2026 04:26 AM
Carol Williams

Hi Brian England 
It is certainly true that most people never use their brains to attain their full potential, but the whole brain is engaged in some capacity most of the time. 

Feb 13, 2026 07:43 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Interesting. So all parts of the brain are working, but do we know everything they can do? I still wonder...

Feb 13, 2026 04:43 AM
Carol Williams

Hi Kat Palmiotti 
I think the brain is the last frontier that science may never completely understand. Everyone's brain works so differently.  I've always been fascinated by dreaming.

Feb 13, 2026 07:45 AM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams dreams are fascinating. I've had dreams that rival a Spielberg movie. Larry goes nuts when I try to retell my dreams to him. 

Feb 13, 2026 06:16 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Retired Real Estate Broker

Interesting post, Carol Williams   My wife would want to say that at times, my mental abilities are on high octane for the way I will conger up things

Feb 13, 2026 05:14 AM
Carol Williams

Hi Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 
I think all of us can be accused of that at times. And, other times, our brains are out of fuel completely for some of the things we do. 😂

Feb 13, 2026 07:46 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Carol. The mind is not limited by capacity, it is expanded by curiosity. So curiosity must be the accelerator, the more curious and ambitious you are the faster and more of the mind you use. Lack of curiosity is the brake. Which is your favorite pedal? In your case it is definitely the accelerator and sometimes you floor it.(a car reference). Enjoy your day. 

Feb 13, 2026 05:22 AM
Carol Williams

I love that, Wayne Martin 
"The mind is not limited by capacity, it is expanded by curiosity. So curiosity must be the accelerator, the more curious and ambitious you are the faster and more of the mind you use. Lack of curiosity is the brake."  

Curiosity is definitely an accelerator. Perhaps some people have no accelerator and only brakes. 🤪

Feb 13, 2026 07:48 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Carol, for this interesting post.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Feb 13, 2026 05:26 AM
Carol Williams

Thanks for checking in on this week's Friday Fun-Fact, Roy Kelley. I'm having fun trying to come up with something each Friday.

Feb 13, 2026 07:49 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Hi Carol.... I had read this once before about how we use only a small part of our brain. I love this analogy because it's perfect: A little Real Estate Tie-In

Just like the brain myth, clients are only seeing a small part of what a good agent is doing. Pricing strategy, market timing, negotiation skills, local knowledge, problem-solving, and experience all work together, much of which is done behind the scenes. They are fully engaged. 

 

Feb 13, 2026 06:33 AM
Carol Williams

Good morning, Nina Hollander, Broker 
Like I mentioned to Brian, it is certainly true that most people never use their brains to attain their full potential, but the whole brain is engaged in some capacity most of the time.  

And, I like what Wayne Martin said:
"The mind is not limited by capacity, it is expanded by curiosity. So curiosity must be the accelerator, the more curious and ambitious you are the faster and more of the mind you use. Lack of curiosity is the brake."  


Feb 13, 2026 07:51 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs.
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Miss Carol Williams - for the"science" component - we first need to define "use". 

I have seen real science prove that at least half the brain is no longer firing and wiring the way it is designed to.  

Think about all the things we do "automatically," the things we do without thinking about them.  

I love the brain and have been studying it for at least 10 years now.  Love it! 

Thank you for this fun post and read. 

Feb 13, 2026 07:12 AM
Carol Williams

Good morning, Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist 
Like I mentioned to Brian, it is certainly true that most people never use their brains to attain their full potential, but the whole brain is engaged in some capacity most of the time... or maybe I am wrong about that.   

And, I like what Wayne Martin said:
"The mind is not limited by capacity, it is expanded by curiosity. So curiosity must be the accelerator, the more curious and ambitious you are the faster and more of the mind you use. Lack of curiosity is the brake."  

I have always been most fascinated by the brain and the unique ways it functions in each person. Dreams, in particular, have always captured my curiosity. 


Feb 13, 2026 07:56 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Carol Williams I do know people who that 10% use of brain would apply to ..... LOL

Feb 13, 2026 08:41 AM
Carol Williams

I knew someone would pick up on that, George Souto. 🤣

Feb 13, 2026 09:01 AM
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Carol, I too can think of at least one person that only uses 10% of their brain.  LOL

Feb 13, 2026 11:23 AM
Carol Williams

Hi Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner 
I think we all know a few of those people! 😂

Feb 14, 2026 08:20 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Carol- it's amazing what the brain can do. Larry's neurologists believe he might have been born with hydrocephalus but was able to compensate for it...thus his ability to fly a jet, dive, hunt, ski, etc. I do believe that just as other parts of the body the "use it or lose it" theory holds true. 

Feb 13, 2026 06:19 PM
Carol Williams

Hi Kathy Streib 
Use it or lose it probably applies to all parts of our body. As for hydrocephalus, I had to look that up. It sounds ominous, but sounds like Larry has not allowed it to slow him down. 

Feb 14, 2026 08:23 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

What a fun read, Carol Williams. I liked how you cut through the myth with a light touch and tied it back to the work we do every day, since so much of our value sits behind the curtain. Thanks for sharing this one, it gave me a smile and a little spark of insight too :)

Feb 14, 2026 05:50 PM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

This is a great way to challenge a long-standing myth and replace it with something more accurate and empowering. The distinction between brain capacity and personal potential is important, and you explained it clearly without overcomplicating the science.

The real estate tie in works well too. Clients often see only the visible moments, while the strategy, analysis, and problem solving happen quietly in the background. Just like the brain, effective representation is fully engaged even when the work is not obvious.

Feb 15, 2026 05:32 AM