One of the most energising things for me is to experience aha moments, when something I knew connects with something I just learned and creates a beautiful richer shape in my mind.
This time it is about genius. And I want to thank to the podcast "Yeni Haller" (in Turkish) for the inspiration.
What is genius? Who do we call genius?
The definition of the term changed over years but the origins of it dates back to the word genie or in Arabic it is jinn (We say cin in Turkish). It means a spirit - without body who has powers and who can possess you.
In the Greek mythology there is something similar called daemon. This is a spirit, a protective deity watching over a person and protecting them.
Socrates announced that he had one - which was said to be his reason of his death.
he said
“You have often heard me speak of an oracle or sign which comes to me, and is the divinity which Meletus ridicules in the indictment. This sign I have had ever since I was a child. The sign is a voice which comes to me and always forbids me to do something which I am going to do, but never commands me to do anything, and this is what stands in the way of my being a politician.” — Socrates, Plato’s Apology
In religions, there is the concept of angels, who sit on your shoulders and write your good and bad deeds.
These concepts all point to some voices that guide us to act in wise ways. So genius is hearing this wise voice.
Whose voice is this? Is it a spirit outside of us? Is it the wisdom of the world? The god? Our collected wisdom? Our angels?
Whatever it is, the notion that there is a wisdom we can access right now has lived till today.
And actually what we do in coaching is bringing this wisdom to the life.
What feels right? What is important? What will do good? What can you hear deep inside your soul?
You have this inner wisdom.
You have this genius.
