In this article I would like to speak to, Everyone is a Genius, But if You Judge a…with respect to creative genius. In my experience I have found that creative genius is not limited because of limitation (s). Let me explain below.
“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein
“Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me,’ and when you have found that attitude, follow it.” William James
Why You May be Feeling Stupid
In life you may have sustained a debilitating illness or you may have been in an accident that has left you with a disability or disabilities. Consequently, you may find yourself frustrated by your set of set of circumstances. You may find yourself focusing on your limitations and inabilities, which leaves you feeling stuck. Growing up you may have been told that you will never amount to anything. I was. You may have a “system” that is telling you that unless you fit into their “mold” for you, you can not and will never be enough. Consequently, you may find yourself feeling stupid, less than and insignificant because of what you are unable to do or accomplish with your life.
I have been there too my friend. I felt stupid, less than and insignificant for many years.
Why I Felt Stupid, Less than and Insignificant
I kept running into one wall after another wall and criticized for not being able to…for many years.You can read a detailed account of my struggles growing up with the impact of a traumatic brain injury (my traumatic brain injury occurred when I was 10 years old) and an invisible disability by clicking on this link: Detailed About Page
Events that Led me to My Bottom
After obtaining a master’s degree in rehabilitation from the University of Kentucky and my national credentials as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), I held several professional positions. One job was as a department of vocational rehabilitation counselor in Florida. While working as a DVR counselor, I was having difficulties on the job. As a result, I disclosed to my supervisor that had I sustained a traumatic brain injury when I was 10 years old in 1967. With this news she told the manager and the manager told the district supervisor and the decision was to extend my probationary period and make me a client of DVR there in Florida. To make a long story short, 2 months later I was fired as a counselor, but continued on as a client. After an unsuccessful job placement I was terminated as a client of the DVR there in Florida.
After being terminated as a client of DVR and remaining in my own denial, I gained and lost several more professional jobs. My last professional job was working with an insurance company as a certified rehabilitation counselor in North Carolina. But 4 months after moving to North Carolina and beginning the job I was fired from that job. After being fired from yet another job, I decided to apply for services with the North Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. I also completed my 3rd application for SSDI benefits with the Social Security Administration.
After completing the evaluation process with the North Carolina DVR I was told by my counselor that I was unemployable. Shortly after receiving the news that I was unemployable the Social Security Administration approved my 3rd application. I began receiving SSDI in 1999. After being declared unemployable and disabled I found myself frustrated by both my own denial and the denial of family members. How could I be unemployable and disabled and still be able to get an undergraduate and graduate degree? (my undergraduate degree took 10 years and my graduate degree 3 1/2 years) To read more about my journey, click on this link: About
Finding Freedom From Molds
My experience has shown that people can not give to us what they themselves do not possess. Putting people in molds to conform them to a system where they do not fit, leaves the system remis of the benefit of the individual and the individual frustrated for not being able to fit into the mold.
Voc Rehab could not fit me into a mold and I needed to grieve what I could not possess. Through this grieving process, I was able to grow in awareness, acceptance and my ability to get into “action”. Action that enabled me to find a way that would work for me and this too was a process.
In my experience, the process of figuring out how to use my gifts talents and abilities took 7 more years (after being deemed unemployable by the department of vocational rehabilitation and declared disabled by the Social Security Administration).
I do not fault, Voc Rehab for not helping me to find my “fit”. No one had an answer for me. What became apparent was that only I could struggle to find my way. My way to using my gifts, talents, and abilities in ways that would work for me.
Grateful for the Struggle
I am grateful for the struggle, as the struggle yielded Second Chance to Live.
Second Chance to Live became the medium (to use what I love) to share my God-given gifts, talents, and abilities.
To share my gifts, talents, and abilities with individuals who want what I have to offer.
To encourage individuals to not give up on their process, a loving God, themselves or on hope.
To read the back story of how I discovered how I could use my gifts, talents and abilities, click on the below 2 links:
Back Story of Second Chance to Live Part 1
Back Story of Second Chance to Live Part 2
Valuable Lesson Discovered
Through my ongoing process in recovery, I discovered valuable lessons. One of these lessons was gained through my training in international martial arts and boxing. The founder of international martial arts and boxing was a student of the late Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee called his fighting system, Jeet Kune Do, the way of the intercepting fist. Jeet Kune Do is a combination of Eastern and Western fighting systems.
Jeet Kune Do blends what has been learned from different martial art systems into a system that works best for the individual.
What Bruce Lee taught his students, according to Dan Inosanto, was to blend what works for the individual.
Bruce Lee taught his students to:
Research your own experience, Absorb what is useful, Reject what is useless and Add specifically what is your own creation.
Through my training in international martial arts and boxing and in my personal development I have used Bruce Lee’s philosophy.
Researching what works for me by not getting bogged down by what does not work for me (trying to climb a tree) and then creating with what works for me.
Although I was not able to “climb a tree”, because I was unemployable and disabled I discovered that I was not stupid.
By insisting on myself (not giving up). Through discovering my gifts, talents and abilities. Through cultivating (developing my gifts, talents and abilities). Through learning how to and continuing to learn how to use my gifts, talents and abilities I discover what is my assignment. By doing what is assigned to me, I am living my purpose.
Today’s Thought — A Word of Encouragement
“You Are Not Stupid”
Although you may not be able to climb a tree, because of a debilitating illness or a disability, be encouraged my friend.
Research your own experience.
Grieve and accept what you are not able (does not work) to do.
Take the time to discover what you love to do.
Then take the time to figure out how to use ( a medium) what you love to do through your gifts, talents and abilities.
And then continue to create with what you have discovered despite your limitations.
And Remember
What you have to bring to the “table of life” is vitally important. You are someone else’s miracle, by being you. So don’t give up on your process, a loving God or yourself. More will be revealed to you and to me with time. The pieces of the puzzle will come together at the right time and in the right order.
So Don’t Give Up Discovering Your Creative Genius. Don’t Give Up on your Dreams. Don’t Give Up on Your Destiny.
“It is not that I am so smart. It is just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 –2018.
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