Uncover Your Brilliance

Uncover your Brilliance

When my brother and sister-in-law were expecting their first child, my in-laws were very concerned: their future grandson might not have the chance to be President of the United States, since his birthplace would be in France. I was awe-inspired by the confidence and the future of endless possibility my family had for this unborn baby.

This event caused me to wonder -- what if we all had this kind of support from others? Even better, what if we had this confidence in ourselves? You can choose to consciously set your beliefs to agree with William James, who suggested that “genius means making a shift in your thinking so that you let go of habits and open yourself to possibilities of greatness.” Expand your realities to the point that you believe at your core that you can indeed achieve your highest dreams. We all have access to brilliance if we simply follow our passions, have supporters, find great teachers to lead us, and decide to be determined.

“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.” n~ Michelangelo
These simple words indicate that we are all geniuses! We each have the potential to paint, to become president, to move mountains – if we commit to doing the work. Even pop culture is exploring this concept. For example, MTV’s “Made” chooses seemingly talent-less individuals who have a passion. Then, with support, instruction and accountability with experts in the field, a pampered cheerleader is transformed into an impressive skateboarder, or a bookworm is transformed into his dream of becoming the wide receiver of the football team. Each episode demonstrates that if you are committed and you have support, your dreams can become reality.

What dreams or goals have you given up on, ignored, or kept secret? What is keeping you from sharing your passions, talents, and brilliance with the world? The road to accomplishing your goals will require hard work, but when you are truly fulfilled by following your dreams, the work suddenly becomes enjoyable!

My desire for you is to start the process. Take a step. Refuse to live an ordinary life. Begin with the following:
1. Identify your passions or reconnect with them.
2. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
3. Ignore your inner critic.
4. Build a support team: get a coach, join a group, or find a local expert.
5. Commit to your dream even during the difficult times; don’t give up before your dream has a chance to be reality.
6. Create an affirmation, so when you get off track (or don’t even know where the track is anymore) you can bring yourself back to align with your purpose or goal.
7. Visualize the end result daily.

We have all heard inspiring quotes that tell us to “never give up”, to “reach for the stars”. Choose to believe it. Explore and express the brilliance within you, and sail in the universe of possibility.