Feeling Stuck? It's Time to Take Inventory of Your Life! >> Access our 'You Are' Here' Exercise Now
Looking for the Lessons and the Blessings in Every Experience
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Authentic Intelligence is more important than ever
Artificial Intelligence is advancing at a rapid pace, changing the way we work, communicate, and make decisions. It's streamlining tasks, analyzing data, and even offering predictions about the future.
But here's the thing—A.I. can't replace Authentic Intelligence.
No matter how sophisticated A.I. becomes, there are certain things it will never be able to do—things that set us apart as thinking, feeling, intuitive beings. True success, leadership, and impact in an A.I. driven world don't come from knowing how to use artificial intelligence but from knowing how to tap into your own Authentic Intelligence—the powerful combination of mental, emotional, and spiritual intelligence.
In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, we sit down with Dr. Jan Schwartz, an expert in forensic research and psychology, to discuss how developing Authentic Intelligence can help you make better decisions, overcome fear, and thrive in an ever-changing world.
If you've ever wondered how to trust your instincts, think critically, and lead with wisdom, this conversation is for you!
Listen now to discover how to strengthen your Authentic Intelligence and stay ahead in an Artificial Intelligence driven world!
Why artificial intelligence can't replacec human and authentic intelligence
While Artificial Intelligence is incredibly powerful, there are key areas where human experiences, emotions, and nuances give us a distinct edge. Here are five things that A.I. can't do as well as humans:
- Genuinely Feel and Express Emotions: A.I. can mimic emotions through text or speech, but it doesn't feel joy, sadness, excitement, or love. Human emotions come with a depth, history, and personal experiences that allow us to influence and connect in ways that A.I. simply cannot replicate with the same effectiveness.
- Experience and Interpret Life's Moments with Depth: A.I. can analyze data, but it doesn't live through challenges, relationships, or personal triumphs. The lessons and wisdom gained from firsthand experiences—such as overcoming failure or feeling deep connection—are uniquely human. And as humans, we are able to rekindle or tap back into the feelings of past experiences. As the saying goes, facts tell, but stories sell. And stories sell because they make us feel something that moves us into action. As humans we can use our past stories and the feelings they stir up within ourselves to motivate and move ourselves into empowering actions.
- Make Decisions Based on Intuition and Gut Feelings: While A.I. relies on patterns and probabilities, humans often make decisions based on intuition—an internal sense shaped by emotions, subconscious processing, and lived experience. This gut feeling often leads to creative, unexpected, or deeply meaningful choices. And it is our ability to empathize and reflect on the things we've experienced that allows us to know when to pause, pivot, or make adjustments to our approach toward goals and in our communications with others.
- Truly Empathize and Connect with Others: A.I. can recognize words that indicate emotions, but it doesn't actually feel what another person is going through. Genuine empathy involves shared experiences, emotional resonance, and the ability to sense what's unsaid—something A.I. can't authentically achieve.
- Create with Personal Meaning and Soul: A.I. can generate art, music, and stories based on existing patterns, but it doesn't create with the soul, passion, or personal significance that comes from human experiences. The meaning behind human creativity—rooted in emotions, struggles, and aspirations—is something A.I. can't replicate.
These differences are why our experiences, emotions, and reflections matter so much—they shape the unique perspectives and insights that A.I. simply can't provide.
Life is something we feel and experience, it's not just something we need to do. So, if you're ready to take these principles even further and create a clear, actionable plan for your success, check out our Best Year Ever Blueprint course. It's designed to help you set meaningful goals, stay focused on progress, and make the next 12 months your best year yet. And it's created to guide you through a process that helps you feel, experience, and create in a way that uses your authentic intelligence to give yourself the greatest advantages. Don't wait until the beginning of the year to start making your dreams a reality.
More ways to listen:
Meet Dr. Jan Schwartz
Dr. Jan Schwartz is a forensic researcher, psychologist, and investigative expert specializing in white-collar crime, fraud detection, and human behavior analysis. With a diverse career spanning education, psychology, and forensic research, she has worked alongside state, local, and federal agencies to uncover corruption and deception.
Beyond her investigative work, Dr. Schwartz is passionate about helping individuals develop Authentic Intelligence—the integration of mental, emotional, and spiritual intelligence—to make better decisions, overcome fear, and lead with wisdom.
Dr. Schwartz is also the author of Last Summer with Oscar and the upcoming book Authentic Intelligence, where she shares insights on how to strengthen critical thinking, intuition, and resilience in an AI-driven world.
Follow and Connect with Dr. Jan Scwartz:
Website: janschwartz.us
LinkedIn: Jan Mielke Schwartz
Main Takeaways & Golden nuggets from this episode
Throughout this conversation with Dr. Jan Schwartz, we explored powerful lessons about thinking critically, overcoming fear, and turning setbacks into stepping stones for growth. Here are three takeaways from this episode:
- Develop Your Authentic Intelligence: Authentic Intelligence isn't just about what you know—it's about how you think, feel, and align your choices with your values. True wisdom comes from integrating:
- Mental Intelligence (IQ) Logical thinking and problem-solving
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Understanding emotions and human connections
- Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) Living with purpose and integrity
When you engage all three, you'll find that your decisions become more aligned, grounded, and impactful.
2. An Unwavering Purpose Can Help Us Overcome Fear: Dr. Schwartz's fearless approach to life comes from her deep commitment to protecting good. Even in the face of corruption and high-stakes situations, she stood firm in her values and purpose.
Her conviction wasn't something she "turned on" when needed—it was simply who she was. And when your mission is clear, fear takes a backseat.
3. Developing Your Intelligence Can Be Fun & Exciting: The key to making intelligence development enjoyable is to follow your curiosity and approach learning as an exciting challenge rather than a chore. Whether it's diving into a new book, engaging in meaningful conversations, or exploring new experiences, growth becomes sustainable when it's something you look forward to rather than something you "have to" do.
For an in-depth exploration of these takeaways and more, be sure to listen to the full episode below.
"Our job is to feed our potential for wholeness and to not want to feed our brokenness."
Tips for applying these takeaways:
Want to apply these insights to your life? Here are some actionable steps you can take today:
- Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly check in with yourself to assess how your thoughts, emotions, and actions align with your values. Journaling or meditation can help you become more aware of your internal compass.
- Engage in Lifelong Learning: Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge in areas beyond your usual interests—whether it's reading books on emotional intelligence, taking courses on mindfulness, or engaging with mentors in your field.
- Balance the Head and the Heart: Take time each day to balance logical problem-solving with emotional and spiritual insights. For example, when making decisions, ask yourself, "What's the most logical choice? How does this align with my values and emotions?"
- Define Your Core Values and Mission: Write down your life's mission and the values that are non-negotiable for you. When fear arises, remind yourself of your purpose and how it connects to your values.
- Follow Your Curiosity: Notice what excites you and pursue it. Curiosity is a powerful driver of personal growth, so let it lead you to explore new topics, hobbies, or fields of study.
Listen now if you're ready to overcome fear, think critically, and make empowered decisions!
final thoughts: aritificial intelligence isn't everything
Artificial intelligence may be getting smarter and able to do a lot, but true intelligence isn't just about processing data—it's something that must be experienced and felt in order to maximize it's benefits and our ability to impact in our lives.
Dr. Jan Schwartz's insights remind us that while technology can assist us, it can't replace the power of human intelligence, emotional depth, and being driven by your purpose.
If you want to thrive in an A.I.-driven world, focus on what A.I. can't do.
Start strengthening your Authentic Intelligence today, and you'll always have the advantage—no matter how much technology advances.
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we and people from all walks of life share their experiences and we identify the lessons, blessings, and success principles that life is providing—lessons that we can all take advantage of and learn from if we pay attention.
If you're ready to step into your full potential, make sure to listen to the episode and share it with someone who could benefit from this powerful message. And don't forget to subscribe to Recounting Life Lessons and jump onto our Insider email list for more insights, actionable tips, and empowering stories.
We are Sione & Alana
Co-Hosts and Owners of
Recounting Life Lessons
We're a married couple from Hawaii who are now living in Vancouver, Washington.
Two things that we are passionate about are:
1) Uncovering the success principles and life lessons that help us all grow into our best selves.
Our favorite ways to uncover success principles and life lessons are by sharing stories from our own adventures and interviewing inspiring guests from all walks of life on our podcast.
2) Making personal growth and consistently leveling up in your life simple and sustainable, no matter what your circumstances are.
We take special care to craft the programs and resources we create, in a way, that keeps things simple and easy to follow-through on.
Through our blog, podcast, courses, and programs, we aim to empower you to grow into your best self, live with purpose, and make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
Create Your Plan to Make the next 12 Months Your Best Year Ever
Discover the ultimate guide for designing a clear vision, simplifying decision making, and implementing a 3 step-daily plan to make your top goal a reality.
Get Unstuck, Get Clarity, & Take Action
Discover the simple yet powerful framework for turning overwhelm into empowering actions
Unlock Insights for a Better Year Ahead
Grab this free guide to get key reflections for taking inventory of the last 12 month...
Master a New Habit in 100 Days
Grab this free tracker to help you build better habits to transform your life
Inspiration & life's lessons every week!
Join our Recounting Life Lessons community and receive a fresh dose of inspiration, personal insights, and practical takeaways every week. Through life's highs, lows, and everything in between, we share lessons that help you grow, reflect, and thrive. Sign up now to stay connected and uncover the wisdom in your own journey!
