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Word of the Year: Genius
December 3rd, 2008 by Christine Kane
Note: December is Word-of-the-Year Month at Christine’s Blog. As we roll into another New Year, each day will feature a new guest blogger who chose one word as a way of setting intention for her whole year. Today’s guest is Giulietta Nardone, who is a “Challenger of Assumptions.” More about Giulietta below!
Fifteen years ago I read Women Who Run With the Wolves
But the one I relish above all others happened after I read Christine’s blog and picked my word for 2008:
Genius.
I kicked off 2008 by finding my own Genius: Challenger of Assumptions. That “aha moment” liberated me from ugly ducklingitis instantly and completely. It explained my collective behavior since childhood. It bestowed me with powers I didn’t know I had. It anointed me with life purpose: to teach others how to find theirs so they can experience the same liberating “aha moment.”
Way too many of us spend our precious lives suppressing our true genius in order to get phony acceptance from people and institutions that don’t matter. The only acceptance you need is your own.
For 2009 I’m picking the same word: Genius.
As Robert Ingersoll said, “In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous …”
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Giulietta Nardone teaches you how to recognize, reveal and release your true genius, that unique inner brilliance you were put on the planet to share with others. Learn more about finding yours at http://www.designing-words.com
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December 3rd, 2008 12:23 am
Quite profound and so true.
December 3rd, 2008 1:01 am
I’ve been breaking out of mediocrity this past year - it’s been an amazing journey. What I hadn’t thought about was the word “genius”. And, it’s an excellent word - because - in finding our own “genius” - we find that which does break the chains of mediocrity! We don’t have to meld to what society suggests is “right” - we CAN choose what is “right” for us! Awesome choice, Giulietta!
December 3rd, 2008 6:38 am
that is one cool word !
December 3rd, 2008 9:21 am
Oh my gosh! I love this post! As I read it, I instantly had a vision of the super hero YOU, named GENIUS.
What a wonderful vision and mission you are creating!
December 3rd, 2008 12:11 pm
Giuli,
Great word, and great work promoting it. Finding your own genius is self-empowering but getting to know ourselves should not be a lonesome task. It’s important to connect with those who support our efforts to figure out what’s right for us!
December 3rd, 2008 4:39 pm
Hi all,
Much thanks for your kind comments on my beloved word of 2008 and 2009: Genius. Self-acceptance is something so many of us struggle with. I’ve found over the years that the more I accept myself, the more I attract the amazing and brilliant people who were meant to be in my life. Like attracts like.
I wish you all a year filled with the magic of genius!
giulietta
December 3rd, 2008 9:03 pm
Guilietta,
I applaud your commitment to honoring your own genius and finding that quality in others.
Recognizing your own genius is the first step in fulfilling it.
Genius On!
Nancy
December 3rd, 2008 11:20 pm
Thought provoking. Having listened to Isaacson’s “Einstein” book earlier this year, my initial thoughts on hearing genius were towards the “extraordinary intellectual power”. However that’s only one aspect of the definition, the broader meaning towards “a peculiar, distinctive, or identifying character or spirit” is what Giuli is really getting at. Searching out, finding, and then pursuing those things that having special meaning to you personally will inevitable lead to your building up of knowledge, skillsets, … that will lead to that distinctive identity.
Thanks for sharing Giuli.
December 4th, 2008 1:31 pm
It’s so fun to get and read comments!
Lance, that’s great you are breaking out of mediocrity. It’s dull and lifeless in there!
Brandi, that’s right. we are all superheros of our own lives.
Sally, i’ve met so many terrific people on the path to self-knowing. i feel more connected to others than ever.
Randy, it’s true. We all have genius. The secret is out!
Thanks Irene, Mary and Nancy!
Anyone else out there want to comment on genius? I’d love to hear your thoughts …
Giulietta
December 4th, 2008 10:09 pm
To me, genius has always been too big a concept to aspire to. I always considered myself good at what I did but second best to more talented or so-called geniuses. But after reading what you wrote and the comments, I can see how we can summon our own genius to help us overcome self doubt and accomplish great things.
Pennie
December 5th, 2008 8:35 am
Giulietta - GREAT word! (You even LOOK like a genius!) Here’s one of my favorite Abraham-Hicks quotes: “Genius. It is just attention to something specific. That’s all it is. Law of Attraction makes it happen, and so anyone who gives attention to any subject for a period of time will evolve in the direction of that understanding.”
December 5th, 2008 3:18 pm
Hi Julie - The older I get the easier it is to learn to like and follow my genius. It is, as you said liberating - and wonderful to see others have that experience or to help them see it in themselves - it is one of the upsides to getting older! Cathy
December 5th, 2008 10:02 pm
Bravo Julietta! Genius comes in so many forms… I’ve always admired this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson —
“To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all – that is genius.”
December 6th, 2008 2:45 am
So is that “The Hair” Unruly Julie?! Its fantastic.I think it must be great to discover your inner genius; Problem with us Brits is we are so reserved and proper-emotions kept locled inside; follow the norm and you are ok.If I were to talk about inner genius they would think I had finally flipped (many think I am already in Cloud Cuckoo Land!)For the moment I still live in my world “The Show”.Kisses. Kate
December 6th, 2008 9:53 am
Genius continues to be revealed in all these amazing posts.
Nancy, “Genius On” is one cool term.
Pennie, I love “summon” our genius!
Christine, pure genius to ask us to blog about our words. Thank you for the opportunity.
Cathy, liberating is a great way to describe what I’ve experienced.
Rick, a fabulous genius quote. In fact, the entire Emerson essay “Self Reliance” is about releasing genius.
Kate, your British wit is pure genius!
Thx all … G.
December 7th, 2008 3:11 am
Love the largesse of the word, the scope if you will. Inspires me to be ambitious and think BIG in the year ahead — and right this very minute.
Jean
December 8th, 2008 4:51 am
Genius - How lovely!
When I loved myself enough, I found courage to release the genius in me and life has never been the same. Gunius.
Thanks Christine.
Lisa
December 13th, 2008 3:27 pm
Giulietta, Thank you for posting and for mentioning the book “Women Who Run With the Wolves.” I found it at my library and I have been working my through it, though not necessarily in the presented order.
I too have been one who was, and still can be, told I am wrongheaded about most things. The reality is that the path my own words led to this year has been illustrating that I was wrong less in the past than I realized and that in some areas I have genius qualities.
I don’t know what this will mean to my future but until I get out of the wrong tribe I can’t accomplish the work I was designed to do.
Christine, thanks for Giulietta’s guest post.
December 14th, 2008 12:21 pm
Jean, congrats on thinking big. Am going to build on your comment and think HUGE this year!
Lisa, I like genius described as lovely …
Deb, I’m glad you found the book. It absolutely set me free — enough so to run with my own inner wolves!
Thx G.