Published in the May 14-27 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Marty Cheek
Marty Cheek
It amazes me how people like Einstein, Newton, Lincoln, Beethoven and Picasso were able to create such fantastic new ways of looking at life through science, politics, music and painting. What lightning storm of neural processing might have gone on inside their brains as they conceived thoughts that led to exciting new ideas that revolutionized the way we look at the world?
The concept of thinking at a genius level intrigues me. I suspect this ability exists in nearly everyone. An individual isn’t so much a “genius,” but instead, they tap into the genius ability that must exist in some form within us all.
Buckerminster Fuller once noted that everyone is born a genius, but the process of living “de-geniuses” us. There’s tragic truth in that observation. We’ve all seen young children who feel excited about exploring the world and sharing their imaginative ideas. Too often, when these young minds get to middle school and high school, they’ve lost their passion for the mental exhilaration of knowledge discovery and creativity. Many children have parents, teachers, friends and others in their lives who have imposed on them the message that being unique with original thoughts will result in dire consequences. Not conforming to the standards your cultural group or society expect you to conform to is dangerous to social survival — or so goes the message most people hear during their young years. That message can shut down their genius ability.
I have a hunch that part of the problem is that many people look at the celebrity geniuses of history such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton and doubt they can ever reach that outstanding level of mental thought. They feel threatened by anyone who believes in their own genius, and so, through discouraging words and mocking, they seek to destroy that genius in others. The simple truth is, you don’t have to reach the heights of Einstein and Newton to tap into your genius ability.
The word genius, which has its origins in ancient Greece, has connections with other words relating to the process of creation. Genesis, genetics, genes, genii, generation — these are words relating to the process of creation. These words suggest what people who have discovered their genius really do — create something new in the world.
Relatively simple techniques exist that enable nearly everyone to discover and activate the inner genius that lies within all of us. One of the most effective is “the Einstein effect,” an easy and fun process using image streaming that every child should learn. The technique is simple. It involves going into a quiet spot, placing yourself in a deeply relaxed state and looking inside your subconscious mind for the answers you need to solve your challenges. I use it often in the process of writing.
People who discover their inner genius also spend time in nature. Einstein was particularly fond of sailing and taking long walks while pondering the universe. Connecting with the cosmos through the exploration of nature is definitely a key to discovering our inner genius. Music and art also helps us connect with our subconscious genius ability.
The most important concept to understand when it comes to tapping into our genius power is that it takes courage to be creative. Letting go of our egos and listening to our personal genius can be a scary business for most people. Coming up with new and revolutionary ideas requires taking the brakes off of our ego and letting our inner genius take the wheel for a while, driving the car of creativity in whatever direction it needs to go to discover new ideas.
IMAGE STREAMING
Our genius dwells in our subconscious. Learn to “tune” to the frequency of your subconscious by finding a quiet spot, sitting still, closing your eyes and entering a state of relaxation. Then focus on the “image stream” that appears.
