Not too long ago I came across a book that resonated with thoughts that I have had for some time.
I’ll introduce this idea by saying that my whole life I have had times where I have felt like I was meant for something more than what I was doing/being. Have you ever felt like that? You know that you have something unique about you but through the course of life and different paths you’ve chosen, you still haven’t felt like you have been utilized to your greatest ability.
It’s painful.
Micheal Mead in his book, The Genius Within, tells us that we need to find the genius inside and let it out! According to the book, genius is in us since birth. It’s not just a simple talent, but rather it is the gifts that we have been given, the talents we might bear, the style in which we live it, and the uniqueness of our deep self.
Watching T.V, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook might lead us to believe that only some have genius. They are the stars we see: the soccer stars, the broadcasters, the authors, the musicians, etc. However, genius is the calling inside of each and every one of us. We just need to find out what it means for us.
So how do we find our genius?
In is book, Micheal writes that by the age of 20 each of us have had an experience of that unique genius and that often times it is discovered during times of adversity. Think back to childhood adversity and how you survived a difficult moment. He says that however you did that, there is some genius in that method.
I had never put those two things together before! It is very interesting that one’s creative genius will find a way through adversity. Here’s my own story of where I saw that as a child:
I was 13 years old and I decided to go for a hike with my friend and my sister. I must have planned to meet some boys on the hike because when we got to our destination there were boys there! As 13 year old kids may do, my friend and I started to play spin the bottle with these boys. It was all about innocent fun and experimenting with something new for me. However, when we arrived home and my mom asked me where we had been, I lied and told her just a hike. For good reason she didn’t believe me and so she asked my sister what we had been doing and she told her the truth. My mom was extremely hurt that I had lied to her and I remember going to my room and writing in a diary that I would never do anything again to disappoint my parents and that I would be perfect. I felt deep anguish over that event and it has stayed with me throughout my life.
In the years that followed, I survived the pain of being imperfect by spending as much time as I could in the public eye, trying to get accolades for my acting, public speaking, sports, leadership and singing. I was trying to appear perfect. That moment of adversity has lead me down a path closer to what I feel is unique about me. I’m still on a journey to fully discover that person, but I know that I’m on the right path.
Micheal writes that genius lies behind two doors: the love of something or/and adversity. The truth is, we won’t be satisfied until we find it! However, when we do find it, it can bring peace to our lives.
Once you find it, work that path! Recently, I found that I was spending too much precious time watching Netflix. It’s a good way to unwind, but it was consuming my free time. If I want to truly discover my genius, then I need to do things like what I committed to this month with the 30 Days of Wellness blog. Whatever it is for you, commit the process, study, take a course, get up early and believe you can do it.
Everyone’s genius is needed. Even compassion can be someone’s genius. Have you ever met someone with a beautiful and natural ability to show compassion to others? Your genius is not necessarily an overt talent, but it is something that is unique to you and your world is dying to see it.
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