When you think of a photography genius, who comes to your mind first? Do you think you can reach his or her level of brilliance? Well, according to an encouraging video from The School of Life: you can. We are taught to admire the ideas, minds, and works of geniuses. We are also taught to believe their thought process is mysterious and beyond our reach. However – it isn’t as complicated as it seems. What’s more, you are most likely a genius, too.
One of the definitions of genius in a Merriam Webster online dictionary is extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity. However, one of the American geniuses, Ralph Waldo Emerson, describes it this way: In the mind of geniuses, we find – once more – our own neglected thoughts. And here lies the key to you being a genius. The people we describe as geniuses don’t have different thoughts from us – they just take them more seriously. We often even have our own “sketchy, hesitant version of their ideas.” This is why their works are appealing and why they leave an impression on us. At the same time, their ideas may seem obvious and right, once they are pointed out.
Why do we throw away our ideas?
The main reason behind throwing away what might be our most promising thought is, essentially, the feeling of anxiety. We’re afraid of seeming strange to ourselves and to the others. We tend to overthink and over-process our ideas. We censor ourselves because our thoughts and ideas might not fit the standards, rules, and general opinions. This comes with growing up, and this is why children are so much more interesting and self-expressive than the adults.
So, how to become a genius?
Well, to put it in a bit cliché sentence: you have to wake up your inner child. In other words, train yourself to become more aware of the thoughts that flow through your consciousness. What makes a difference between us and people we call geniuses: at the moment when we reject our thought and censor ourselves – the genius starts taking notes. Be aware of your ideas and embrace them instead of censoring them. Try to let yourself loose from the shackles of common rules and norms, and express yourself freely. I know it’s tougher than it sounds, and it sure takes some courage, but it’s good to know we can all get there. So, next time you try and censor yourself, take a paper and pen (and the camera) instead and don’t let the idea get away. [How To Be A Genius via FStoppers; image courtesy of Library of Congress]
