What makes someone intelligent? Is it a gift you’re born with? Or is it something your family helps you grow?
For decades, researchers have debated what shapes the mind. Genes matter, but so does the world around you. And there’s one influence that’s often overlooked. Your family legacy.
When people talk about intelligence, they often mention school or brainpower. But your family plays a bigger role than you might think. Not just in your DNA but in the way you think, feel, and grow. Your family legacy includes everything from genetics to bedtime stories. From quiet traditions to the way your parents asked you questions. All of it adds up, and all of it shapes your intelligence.
Your intelligence is more than the numbers on a test. It grows from what you inherit and how you’re raised. But it also grows through the values, habits, and traditions your family passes on, like storytelling, reflection, and even visiting graves. In this article, you’ll explore how family legacy shapes your mind in ways both seen and unseen.
This article is also the first in a series where we dive deeper and deeper into family legacy and its impact on installment. Stay tuned to learn more about the impact of grave visits on developing intelligence and how family legacy affects emotional intelligence.
You Inherit More Than Eye Color
Genetics matters, and it matters a lot when it comes to your intelligence. Studies on twins, especially those raised apart, show that intelligence is strongly influenced by heredity. In fact, scientists estimate that 50% to 80% of your intelligence can be traced back to your genes.
But intelligence isn’t one single thing. It includes many traits, like memory, focus, reasoning, and language. And your genes help shape those traits before you’re even born.
However, having “smart genes” doesn’t guarantee success. And that’s where family legacy steps in again, this time in how you’re raised.
Your Home Teaches Your Mind
Your early environment is vital for developing your intelligence.
The way your family talks, plays and solves problems affects how you learn. You grew up in a home filled with books and conversation. That builds vocabulary and curiosity. Maybe your home offered patience and encouragement. That grows confidence and resilience.
Even small actions matter. When your parents explain something, instead of saying, “Because I said so,” they’re helping your brain connect ideas. That’s a legacy of learning.
Even families without lots of money can pass down rich habits of thought. Family legacy is not about wealth, it’s about values. If your parents taught you to ask questions, stay curious, and keep trying, they gave you something priceless.
Traditions That Train the Brain
Think about the traditions your family keeps. Think of the times you said your prayers at night. Remember all the stories you heard at dinner. Or, think about your family’s visits to cemeteries on special days.
These actions may seem minor. But they teach you how to think.
Take grave visits, for example. Standing at a grave might feel quiet. But your mind is likely processing more information than you realize. When you stand in front of a family member’s headstone and hear their stories, you feel connected to them.
You likely imagine what they or their lives may have been like. Maybe wonder what they would say if they were here. These thoughts spark reflection. And reflection is key to growth.
Reflection Builds Intelligence
When you stop to reflect, you’re using higher-order thinking.
You’re not just reacting, you’re reviewing. You’re analyzing your choices and learning from them.
That’s what grave visits and other reflective traditions offer. They give your mind room to breathe. They give you space to process emotions and thoughts that don’t come up in daily life.
Over time, this builds executive function, the set of mental skills that help you plan, focus, and solve problems. These are skills you use in school, work, and relationships.
So when your family encourages you to pause, to remember, to think, that’s not just emotional. That’s mental training. That’s a family legacy in action.
You Learn Emotional Intelligence at Home
Emotional intelligence matters just as much as cognitive ability. When you know how to read feelings, your own and others, you make better decisions. You build better relationships. You grow wiser.
And most emotional intelligence is learned, not born. It’s shaped by the way your family talks about emotions. Notice whether they name their feelings. Or if they listen when you talk about yours.
Rituals like storytelling or visiting graves can help children understand hard topics like grief, love, and legacy. These quiet moments teach empathy and compassion. They also show that it’s okay to feel and that feelings have meaning.
This emotional awareness builds a kind of intelligence no test can measure, but everyone benefits from it.
Not All Legacy Is Genetic
Some of you may think that you’re not part of a family legacy. Maybe you think so because you were adopted. Or, you were raised in a different culture from your birth family.
That’s the beauty of family legacy. It’s not only about blood. It’s also about practice.
Research shows that adopted children raised in supportive, stimulating homes often develop strong intellectual skills. In many cases, stronger than their biological peers in less supportive settings.
Family legacy is not just about who gave birth to you. It’s about the ones who raised you, challenged you, and believed in you.
That’s where true family legacy comes from.
Grave Visits Keep Memory Alive
We don’t usually link intelligence with graveyards. But maybe we should.
Grave visits help you connect to your history. They encourage big questions such as, “What do I believe? What do I want to pass on?”
These are questions of identity. And identity strengthens decision-making and critical thinking.
Even young children benefit. When they hear family stories or ask questions about those who’ve passed, they begin to see life as part of a longer journey. That long view helps them develop patience, gratitude, and perspective.
It also helps them feel connected, which boosts emotional resilience and mental clarity.
Your Family Legacy Is Still Being Written
Everything you learn, everything you teach become part of your legacy. When you remember your roots, you gain wisdom. When you honour traditions, especially those that promote thoughtfulness, you grow stronger. You don’t need a perfect past. You just need to be intentional now.
Teach your children to ask questions. Share your stories. Visit graves. Reflect.
These simple acts pass on more than memory. They pass on capacity.
Bakerview Memorial Cemetery. We Help Develop Your Family Legacy.
Bakerview Memorial Cemetery is Metro Vancouver’s newest large-format cemetery. With abundant space, we offer family estates and other burial options with customizability that is perfect for establishing a family legacy. With expert, dedicated staff versed in every religion and culture, we can care for your family members and commemorate their lives for generations to come.
We also offer payment plans, such as 300 a month for traditional burials and 99 a month for cremation spaces with a deposit. So, give us a call at (604) 856-0330 and get a tour of the grounds today.
Conclusion
Your family legacy is more than history. It’s a living influence. It shapes the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you grow. When you honour your roots and create space for reflection, you’re not just preserving the past, you’re building a stronger mind for the future.
Published: April 5, 2025
