“I believe that you are a genius and the world is worthy of you and all that you can contribute to the world to make it a better place, a safer place, and a more inclusive space to live.” That is what I have told my students since we began Genius Hour around 2012 from the first day of school. Now, I am a retired teacher after 31 years and I still belie
ve in the potential for humanity. The quest to find your unique genius is up to you. First, let’s define what genius is. Genius is the intersection where your passions and compassion intersect. Secondly, let’s acknowledge that there are times in everyone’s life when they don’t know what to do next or face moments that lack clarity in one direction. They feel like a kite in the wind going here and there because they are not tethered to their genius.
In classes with me, we would do an activity called heart mapping. It is simple really and anyone can do it themselves or in their journal. All that is needed is an 8 x 11 ½ plain paper and writing utensils. In the middle of the paper, draw a heart. Then setting the timer for about 20 minutes, start to draw lines in the heart creating 20 or more puzzle pieces. In each puzzle piece, write down something that you love (passions) or something that breaks your heart (compassions), alternating between the two as you go.
From there, we would analyze what we discovered about ourselves and look for the crossovers and intersecting lines that our passions and compassions create. Then that would be the catalyst for the Genius Hour project. The project would involve new ideas, bouncing forward-thinking, believing that FAIL actually stands for First Attempt In Learning as we wrestle with what we want to see in the world and create a new program, system or activity to address the need. I wrote about this a bit in the book by Jimmy Casas, Culturize.
Finding your genius is not just for students in my classroom, it is a journey of self-discovery for all of us as our life ebbs and flows, and there are several ways to navigate it. We can reflect on what moves our spirits deeply. What excites you so much that you lose track of time? What breaks your heart or makes you feel a deep sense of injustice? Write these down and look for connections.
We can also pay attention to what our natural strengths are. There is a book about that but there are also online resources as well such as this strength finder from Gallup. (StrengthsFinder 2.0 Gallup)We can also take into consideration what people naturally come to you for. Ask yourself, “When have I felt most in my natural element while helping others?” We can also evaluate what skills or gifts you have that feel effortless but meaningful because it is just so natural for you.
The thing about humanity, you and I is that we will each have to overcome some painful times in life. Often, we want to push that away, far away to a corner or into a box that we don’t want to open ever again. I believe that our greatest purpose is born from our deepest wounds. How have your struggles shaped you? Could your healing journey help others facing similar struggles?
Another way to think about your genius is to bravely step out into acts of service because passion and compassion become clear when put into action. We can volunteer, mentor, create, or serve in different ways to see what resonates, what sticks to our hearts and what makes us feel fulfillment, not just excitement. It is also helpful to have conversations with people who know you because others sometimes see our gifts more clearly than we do. Ask them this brave question, “What do you think I’m uniquely good at? What do you see me light up about?”
Whether you were a student in my class or if you are home reading this today, it is vital to embrace discomfort and growth. That is going against the grain, against cultural norms. Cultural norms say to look for the fast and easy route, to look for the shortcuts. The journey to discovering your genius isn’t always comfortable. It should make you feel very uncomfortable, however, being willing to step into the unknown and take risks is where the magic is, where the growth occurs. When we step out of our comfort zones, we can find ourselves operating in our truest form of genius. Your genius isn’t always revealed in a lightning-bolt moment; it often unfolds in small steps, conversations with others, time in mediation, brave action steps, unraveling your soul, and falling apart only to have serendipitous moments that open doors and things that feel “meant to be.”
This journey is deeply personal, but when you find that intersection between what you love and what breaks your heart, what your passion is and what your compassion is, you’re stepping into a life of meaning and purpose.
You are invaluable. You are irreplaceable and because of that, it is critical to protect your mental health. The world is so worthy of your ideas, dreams, laughter, and light. You are a genius. Go change the world.
About the Author:
Kimberly Koland is a writer, speaker, educator, mother, daughter, sister, and friend and advocate for mental health and suicide prevention. You can follow her on Instagram or Substack at @hopefullykimberly