Is Intelligence Truly a Gift?

Consciousness and intelligence are the most unique gifts given to us humans. It is what separates us from all other animals. It is what allows us to experience the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. Intelligence has allowed us to feel more complex emotions; it is what allows us to feel injustice, anger, hatred, sadness, and all sorts of mental illnesses. But it is also what has allowed us to laugh, to relate, to be amazed, to be proud, and to find enjoyment in the smallest of things. This sort of balance raises the question of whether or not intelligence is truly a gift. Can we really say, with the drawbacks of more complex negative emotions, that consciousness and intelligence is a gift? One thing for sure is that with consciousness and intelligence, we are the only species capable of making light of a bad situation. We are the only species capable of self-imposed gratitude. With our consciousness and intelligence, we are able to see the good and bad about something, giving us the ability to nullify negative aspects of our lives. With this, the enjoyment of human lives is dependent on our utilisation of consciousness and intelligence; our happiness is dependent on our gratefulness.