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TRAITS OF THE CREATIVE GENIUS

 

 

A creative genius is a person who is operating from the full spectrum of his/her creative abilities at the physical level. As human beings, we all are creative. But, creative geniuses have greater access to their creative abilities and are ahead of the game in terms of how they express them. 

PURPOSE

“I cannot handle not a having a purpose everyday.” L. Armstrong

“I wanted to be different. I wanted to be somebody. You’re either hungry and determined to make it, or you’re not. I know a lot of people who, when they were rejected, they accepted what people said about them. I never did that.” Madonna


Creative geniuses know their life purpose. At the very least, they know what they love to do and they go after it. From an early age, they know what they are here to accomplish. Everything that they do is to fulfill that purpose. They have a dream, a purpose, a vision. They have a sense of destiny that they must fulfill. They are driven to succeed. They devote their lives to the fulfillment of that dream even in the face of criticism and risk.


QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Creative geniuses want to know. They want to learn as much as possible and to accumulate knowledge as much as possible. They never are satisfied with the status quo, but always seek to expand, to go beyond, to know more. They are seeking to manifest fully as beings no matter what it takes.

CERTAINTY

“…I truly, honestly believe that if I chose to be the President of the United States, I could. You know, there’s this wonderful delusional quality that I have that, I think, most successful people have to have. You have to believe in the impossible.” Will Smith

“That is why you fail.” Yoda to Luke Skywalker in response to his comment, “I don’t believe it.“

"Believe while others are doubting….” William Arthur Ward


Creative geniuses know that they will fulfill their destiny. They have a lot of certainty about their abilities and their purpose. They absolutely believe that they will realize their vision. Even during times of extreme adversity, they know that they will do it. They cannot be dissuaded.


NO LIMITS

“We trifle when we assign limits to our desires, since nature hath set none.” Christian Nevell Bovee

Creative geniuses place no limits on what they can accomplish. They dare to dream the impossible dream. They know that they are capable of great things. They do not limit themselves by what others consider realistic. Just the opposite. As mentioned above, creative geniuses constantly test their limits as well as the limits of society. In fact, this is what separates them from the rest of society.


DIRECTED
 

Creative geniuses create a straight line, or an almost straight path, to success. They do not meander through life wondering what they are going to do. They do not waste time choosing a major in college or going from job to job after graduation without any direction. Rather, they know what they want to do and they do it. From start to finish, the progression is logical and sequential. As Will Smith said, the creative process “is like mathematics.”
 

REALISTIC


Creative geniuses are realistic in their outlook in life and their approach to challenges and problems. They are very grounded in reality. They can differentiate what is fantasy from what is real. They stay in the realm of reality. And, their focus is on the present, not the past or the future. They do not dwell on what was or what is to come. But, on what is. They have an uncanny ability to assess a given situation, get the facts, and make decisions accordingly.

INDIVIDUALISTIC

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” Henry David Thoreau

"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. It is better to make your own mistakes and suffer from them than to make the mistakes dictated by another and surrender oneself to dissolution in outside forces." Emerson

"Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." Emerson

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

“…I make my own choices and live with those. I like that. My mistakes are my mistakes. My wins are my wins -- that I can live with.” Brad Pitt

“I choose my own choice.” Character of Charlotte, Sex in the City


Creative geniuses chart their own path to success. They march to the beat of their own drummer. From an early age, they are very in tune with their own information. They do things with a unique flare that is all of their own. They have their own voice. They do not succumb to peer pressure or the ideas of others, including the ideas of their parents. They are nonconformist. Much to the consternation of those around them, they often do not follow the rules. They question society. At times, they resist it and even undermine it. This is what makes them unique. It is through their willingness to exert their individual creativity on the world that they contribute something new that moves things forward. This is how they leave their mark on society.


PASSION

“It sometimes seems that we have only to love a thing greatly to get it.” Robert Collier

“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on kind of a track that's been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. And in following your bliss, you will find your own fullest potential and serve your community to the greatest possible extent.” Joseph Campbell


Creative geniuses are very passionate about what they do. Whether it’s sports, entertainment, business, or technology, they instinctively are driven to do it. It’s an impulse within that needs to be expressed. It’s in their blood. It is something that cannot be turned off or ignored. They get an adrenalin rush from it. It’s what they love to do. They do it at every opportunity even if it means creating the opportunities themselves by performing for their families, school and church events or in seedy clubs, or working in the garage or the school‘s computer lab until dawn. It’s all about doing it.


TALENT

Creative geniuses do it extremely well. They possess an innate talent for their chosen activity. This is because they came onto the planet already equipped with these creative abilities. For them, it is just a matter of expressing their unique gifts in present time. A clear example of this is the child prodigy, the child genius, and the early achiever. From an early age, they exhibit a particular talent or an ability at which they excel.

CHARISMATIC

Creative geniuses also are charismatic. They have cultivated a great deal of charm which they use to accomplish what they want. They are natural born leaders, extremely capable of persuading others to their cause. They are great communicators and full of energy. Can you say, “Steve Jobs?”

COLLABORATION 

"Surround yourself with people who believe in you.” Brian Koslow

“…He develops such strong partnerships that you believe what he believes. Jamey is successful because he is passionate and believes he can make a difference.” Linda Shetina Logan


Creative geniuses are individualistic, but also recognize that the creative process is a collaborative endeavor. Creative geniuses make agreements with others to work together (to collaborate) for their mutual benefit. They encounter similarly minded people and create friendships, alliances, and partnerships to help them manifest their vision into reality. People with this level of awareness, recognize that they cannot do it alone. Creation is a collaborative process. Spirit creators create strong friendships and alliances with people that

they can look to for help. Sometimes these friendships are short lived only lasting through the duration of a specific task or project, but most of the time these friendships last a lifetime.


NO EFFORT

Creative geniuses create from the space of no effort. Creating is a matter of following the natural flow of events. Again, awareness is key here. As Spirit, you already have all the information necessary for your success. It’s just a matter of accessing this information in the body. Creative geniuses have a high degree of Body/Spirit communication and are guided by their higher selves to fulfill their life purpose. They are led in the right direction and guided to meet the people that will help them further their cause. They recognize opportunities when they present themselves to them and they make the most of them.

HARD-WORKING

Creative geniuses are hard workers. Do not misunderstand the term “no effort.“ No effort doesn’t mean that Creative geniuses don’t work hard. Physical activity is an essential part of the creative process. Creative geniuses often work a lot. They keep long hours and are constantly on the go. In fact, many of them are work-a-holics. But, they do it in such a way that is natural and graceful. They turn what they love to do into their work.

PERFECTIONIST

Creative geniuses are perfectionists. Because they love what they do and because they see it as a mission that they must accomplish, they strive to do it perfectly. They do not stand for mediocrity. They always strive to make it better and be better.

DETERMINATED / ABILITY TO PERSEVERE

“The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.” Cecil B. DeMille

“You always pass failure on the way to success.” Mickey Rooney

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” Napoleon Bonaparte


“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge

Creative geniuses know what they must do and they go for it. They see it. They feel it. They live it. They plan every detail in their minds before executing the task. If it doesn’t work, they do not give up. They do it again. They persevere no matter what. If they fail again, they merely get up and try again, and again, and again. They know it‘s what they have to do. Period. Quitting is not an option. They are extremely dedicated and determined. They recognize that they have a particular ability or talent and they dedicate themselves to perfecting it. No doubt, this is what inspired the ancient wheeze about the confused traveler who asks a cab driver, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” and is wearily told, “Practice, practice.” Perseverance is key.


NEUTRAL / COMPLETE

Creative geniuses create from the space of neutrality. They can have both ends of a given dichotomy. In other words, they can have losing and they can have winning. They can have people supporting them and they can have people sabotaging them. They are o.k. with the mind-set of other people. They allow others to be exactly where they are. Because they are secure within themselves, they do not compete or attempt to change the viewpoints of others. They do not compromise their objectives for others one way or the other.

A perfect example is Halle Berry, Oscar-winner for her performance in Monster‘s Ball. In 2004, Halle won a Razzie, the award for the worst actress for her performance in Catwoman. At the ceremony, Halle said, “I never in my life thought I would be here, winning a Razzie. It’s not like I ever aspired to be here, but thank you.” Afterwards, she said: “When I was a kid, my mother told me that, if you could not be a good loser, there’s no way you could be a good winner.” Indeed. Halle has complete ownership over who she is. Her identity is not determined by the opinions of others. Irrespective of praise or criticism, she is who she is.


RISK TAKERS / COURAGE

“Grow up and stick your neck out and get it burned every once in awhile. That’s how things get done.” George Clooney

Creative geniuses are risk takers. They try different things until something works. They are not afraid to jump into the unknown. They try new things all the time. They can do this because they can have failing and they can have winning. They do not limit themselves. They trust their instincts. They have the courage to try the impossible, to push the limits, and to put themselves in the face of danger.


ADAPTABLE

"I know what it's like to wake up a decade later and be single again and thinking you had a plan and the plan got derailed." Uma Thurman

Creative geniuses are adaptable by nature. Many chart their paths early on, but do not follow the road map blindly. They are not afraid to change course half way through. They recognize that life is full of surprises and detours. They learn from whatever challenges life presents them and become better persons for having experienced it. They continue to live as fully as possible. They apply creativity to every aspect of their lives and often turn crises into opportunities. Christopher Reeves is one example. At a time, when many would have retreated into seclusion, Reeves became a spokesperson and advocate for people with paralysis. Lance Armstrong similarly turned a very painful experience into the opportunity to help millions of people. Both were able to reach within, to not become victims of their afflictions, to create something larger then themselves and empower people who may otherwise have given up.


SHARING / OF SERVICE / COMMUNITY BUILDERS

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

“I believe that every human being feels pleasure in doing good to another.” Thomas Jefferson


Creative geniuses are aware of their inter-connectedness to the whole. They realize that Creation is a collective enterprise and that we all are in this together. They share their abilities and successes with the community at large.


IMAGINATIVE / ABILITY TO PATTERN / ABSTRACT THINKERS

Creative geniuses have highly active imaginations. It is the source of their ideas and innovative thinking. They see or imagine things not accessible to the average person.

They see things differently and more completely than the average person. They can see both ends of a given dichotomy and as such have a wider spectrum of information. Their energy is not focused on one side. Rather, they can see both sides. Because of this their energy is free to move between the polar opposites for a much wider range of experience.

Because of this, they can make connections where others don’t see them. They pattern things that appear to be random. They conceptualize in many different ways in as many ways as possible to gain a new perspective on a old situation. They seek answers to problems by deconstruction the problem as well as the answers.


ACTION-TAKERS

Creative geniuses are action takers. They are doers. They produce. They are highly prolific in their work. They don’t just have ideas, they execute them.

COMMUNICATIVE / SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE

Creative geniuses make their ideas known. They communicate their vision through speech, diagrams, pictures, video, etc. 

A BIT MAD

Creative geniuses are considered to be a bit Mad. But, this is because often times they go against the system, challenge the status quo, and at times destroy it. And, they seem to be in touch with a different reality that the average person cannot access. Because they live in highly creative spaces, we see them as insane. But, perhaps they are the only ones that are sane. 

 

 

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