Ignite Your Genius!
By Christine Gutierrez
What lights your spirit? What fires your juices? What gets you chatting it up? What lifts you up like no other? This is probably one of your geniuses. My genius is healing, helping, talking, writing, connecting, inspiring. I am a dreamer, a visionary. Let’s get the juices flowin’.
I feel most ignited when I am holding space for people to explore themselves, heal the wounds that live within them, ignite their inspiration and their intuition and live the life that is in their highest truth. That is when I feel most alive. This is my genius. At times, I thought that because my gift wasn’t tangible that it wasn’t genius enough. Sometimes I would fantasize about being a singer so people could hear my voice or a painter so people can see my art. I felt ripped off by the cosmic team out here that they would give me a gift people couldn’t see. I am sure we all have these “fear ninjas” that come to attack our genius … that make us doubt our genius … that minimize its shine. Then I gave a karate chop to the fear ninja and told him, “Thanks but no thanks.” We don’t have to wait till the fear goes away, but instead use it as a catalyst to put the fire in the culito (slang Spanish word for your tush) and just go for it. Here are some of my “karate chop the fear” ninja moves.
What Is Your Genius? Take a moment to be still. Everyone has something that they are genius at. Something that makes them so joyful. Something that makes them happy, inspired, feel alive.
Your genius is your special gift. Or, if that sounds too cutesy tootsie for you, it’s the shit that gets your ass off the couch, that is like orgasms in your heart. Your genius can be baking cupcakes, or writing poetry, or dancing your ass off. Your genius can be making people laugh, or touch, healing, or all of the above.
How to Tap Into Your Genius:
Sit your tush down. Set the mood for you to be still. Play some music, light some candles, quiet your mind and take a li’l adventure into you – a vacation to your desires. Allow them to flow to you.
Write down all the things that make you happy. Go hard or go home! Every little itsy-bitsy thing that brings you joy, write it down – talking on the phone, being in the sun, helping disadvantaged children, helping people make money, drawing, acting, microfinance loans, journaling, singing, fashion, electronics, social media, green energy, spirituality, women. Write it all down.
Desire. Go back to your list and see what really ignites your desire, what gives you energy and makes you feel so effin’ inspired. What we desire is sensual and is creative. All that gets us ignited is rooted in what we desire and how we desire to impact the world around us. Check your desire-meter.
Put That Genius of Yours in Motion! Whatever gems you find, put them into motion. Commit to giving some love to your genius. Be in your genius. Play in your genius. Experiment in your genius. It is only in putting ourselves out there and giving a big “F you” to fear that we can really expand the genius we are meant to express.
Post your genius here. Let’s hold space for eachother’s genius to shine!
Christine Gutierrez is a trained counselor and holistic health expert. She is the founder of Sacred Space NYC, a women’s wellness company that offers holistic life coaching,healing, private consultations and workshops. Known for breaking stigmas, Christine is taking therapy to the next level, fusing ancient wisdom with modern psychology.
Photo credit: Hoola Tallulah
42 Comments
LOVE it! Love it! LOVE it!!! Thank you Christine for inspiring us to put the fire in our “culitos” and really go after our genius. You are a crazy, sexy, genius!!! Amazing. Xx
LOVE it! Love it! LOVE it!!! Thank you Christine for inspiring us to put the fire in our “culitos” and really go after our genius. My genius is intuitively connecting with people and helping them re frame their life into one that they love living in. We do this through a REAL and fun way and it is cathartic and deep and always a unique experience for everyone involved. You are a crazy, sexy, genius!!! Amazing. Xx
Love this Christine!! Love the visuals of karate chopping our fear ninjas so we can have orgasms of the heart – just awesome!! Thanks for this beautiful inspiring post!!
Beautifully written!
Suzanne
Well put. And I’m with you on this one….
“a big “F you” to fear that we can really expand the genius we are meant to express.”
Christine-
So true and so well put! Great job and thank you for a beautiful reminder!
love love love
ter
The thing that has really inspired me is letting people know about the power of a plant based diet. It just doesn’t seem right that American’s are suffering from chronic diseases that can be prevented and reversed by eating the right foods. Our culture makes it so diffcult to live a healthy life – so I am doing my small bit to help.
Christine, in days when it’s so easy to lose, to forget our vibrant genius (and this has been one of those days), thank you for reminding me where my inalienable aliveness resides. It’s so meaningful to me because we have similar geniuses, too.
@ monica thank youuuuu sooo much! heal real love it!
@Terri thank you it’s cause of you that I am able to believe in my genius thank you being a fab mentor
@suze woo hoo! you are SOOO ALIVE! and so genius!
@mark I love that genius will help make the world a happier healthier place
“Commit to giving some love to your genius.”
YES!! I love this. I’m all about self-love practices and this is exactly what this is about. Thanks for the reminder!
Melody
yes yes! melody what is your genius!?
Christine, thanks for inspiring us to get our juices flowin’. My genius is listening, synthesizing, brainstorming, laughing, writing, guiding, healing, inspiring, creating beautiful art forms.
<3
Candle – check
Cool music – check
Favorite pen – check….
Just did this exercise and loved loved loved it!
My genius is in ….
• having a bust of Einstein on my desk to keep me inspired ( hehe – seriously )
• slowing down – for myself and others – to allow my and their genius to show up
• moving the world from victim mentality into VISIONARY MINDSET moment to moment
• being gentle and nurturing to those that I love, and those that I have just met
• wandering around NYC with no agenda, and connecting with like minded souls
• being as present as possible when I am with myself and others, to allow life to unfold magically
Grateful to your post Christine – looking forward to more!
@ali! loveee that
@tancie victim to visionary is the way to go with candles even sassier! :)
Thanks for your reply, Christine!
My genius is in finding magic and awe in everything, bringing breathtaking-ness to every moment every day.
It’s also in listening, holding space for fun and transformation, and fun transformation.
And, as I mentioned above, it is also found in my guiding others as they reconnect with themselves and their body through self-love practices, and get out of their endless mind-chatter and insecurities to create flow and self-confidence that brings about a deeper intimate connection with others.
My genius is to inspire and motivate people to create the orgasmic life they deserve.
;)
I love this! It’s sooo true! I feel most alive and energetic when I’m working with the youth, supporting them in realizing their potential and being okay with the unique person that they are :). I also feel most alive when I’m doing something physically active, so whenever I find myself feeling lost I know I can always go to these things to re-align myself w/ myself!
Christine, I love that how you expressed that our genius can be intangible. In the dying patriarchal paradigm the emphasis was on “proving” your success through the material realm. When we really sit and listen to our hearts, we discover that what moves us most is intangible. For me it’s the laughter that pours from my son’s soul when I make time to play with him, or the gratitude of a sister when I hold her hand as she cuts through one of her fear Ninjas. We have entered the new paradigm where Royal weddings of such Romantic Renaissance represent our global inner beauty and the collective consciousness that created the Bin Laden’s of the World is extinct. Celebrate Love! Hugs, Kiovanna
Christine, I love how you expressed that our genius can be intangible. In the dying patriarchal paradigm the emphasis was on “proving” your success through the material realm. When we really sit and listen to our hearts, we discover that what moves us most is intangible. For me it’s the laughter that pours from my son’s soul when I make time to play with him, or the gratitude of a sister when I hold her hand as she cuts through one of her fear Ninjas. We have entered the new paradigm where Royal weddings of such Romantic Renaissance represent our global inner beauty and the collective consciousness that created the Bin Laden’s of the World is extinct. Celebrate Love! Hugs, Kiovanna
[CORRECTED POST w LINK] Christine, I love how you expressed that our genius can be intangible. In the dying patriarchal paradigm the emphasis was on “proving” your success through the material realm. When we really sit and listen to our hearts, we discover that what moves us most is intangible. For me it’s the laughter that pours from my son’s soul when I make time to play with him, or the gratitude of a sister when I hold her hand as she cuts through one of her fear Ninjas. We have entered the new paradigm where Royal weddings of such Romantic Renaissance represent our global inner beauty and the collective consciousness that created the Bin Laden’s of the World is extinct. Celebrate Love! Hugs, Kiovanna
Perfect timinnnnng my genius makeup it inspires me to make people look and feel their absolute best I can sometimes forget but even writing this I remember this really is my gift thank u for this
This article has inspired me tenfold to proceed ahead with full force and cosmic faith in my genius :) my art is my purpose and what motivates me to be great! Thanks Christine, I swear I needed this little umph to move me in the right direction.
My genius is and what gets me going is helping kids to learn and make an impact in their life I am also thinking to write educational books for kids and I loveeee being a mom and planning kids events any event really lol I love kids alot clearly this is my genius
I like to help people feel comfortable I consider myself a people person and enjoy helping people. My genius is my heart I am very caring
So…there’s a secret garden that harvests mini geniuses deep inside. Often I find myself looking for the fruits of my harvest in areas of life that may seem desperate, but just require a little perspective. My lil geniuses shine bright at the most unexpected times, reminding me of the genuine qualities im able to contribute at the most necessary times. For the simple fact that my genius comes through when least expected, I am constantly flourishing.Ninja fear don’t like flourshing ;)~
This is cool new to this whole community and have recently dove into spirituality through and feel like things are opening up to me I feel like the universe is Opening up to me Through this I realize I do deserve the best and This post reminded me of that I have a genius I use to forget sometimes my genius is public relations I want to work in entertainment
Yet another beautiful post from Crazy Sexy Life! THANK YOU! I’ll definitely be pondering and writing down my geniuses soon. I’d do it all right here, but I’ve got to do something I love right now and that’s sleep, ha! One thing I know for sure is that I love to help animals and that’s why I’m looking harder than ever to find the best way for me to do that.
So “effin excited” you are on Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Life, Christine! This post is inspired & inspiring (love how things work that way). I can’t wait to tweet all about it…
No doubt, I’m finally getting in touch w/my genius after 45 years (I’m no spring chicken, more of a fall peacock!). While I’ve worked from my heart for over decade as a community activist and full-time lead volunteer (of all trades, you could say), it’s getting in touch w/my soul that has been the turning point. And, I’m planning on taking that spiritual center and going activist with it! I just made up new business cards and redid my twitter profile and my genius is lining up with all the social need out there in the world. No question, a key piece of the puzzle for me has involved just what you are talking about, Christine, so thanks for putting it into words! Tonight, I’m embracing and celebrating those qualities I have that collectively make up my genius.
The amazing miracle (change in perception, ACIM, baby!) of my story is to realize that my greatest strengths are EXACTLY what I once thought of as personal weaknesses. For so long, I thought I was too sensitive and too philosophical, wearing my heart on my sleeve, feeling the pain of others to the core of my being, and finding deep meaning in everything (Seriously, I got all deep about “laughter” today on one of Simple Steps Real Change facebook videos ~ honored to be one of a handful tagged on their videos given their 30K followers). Props to Pema Chodron (American Buddhist Nun ~ I love telling people that!) for Awakening Loving-Kindness teachings that taught me to treat myself with the same compassion and acceptance I extend so readily to others and to embrace my many traits that make up who I am rather than trying to change them…
So, putting it all together, and given my sense of true purpose to expedite major change in the world (how bold of me…I used to not admit that was what was driving me), there’s literally just no time for playing meek and small. I humbly serve the universe with the task before me and will use my realized genius and passion to expedite social change by empowering people to be a part of that change ~ because that’s the only way it’s going to happen! (Can’t have a paradigm SHIFT reach a tipping point and catalyze real social change by staying on the fringe or just sharing the message with like-minded souls.) Time to take the message of inspired and active change mainstream. It’s all about the wonderful Marianne WIlliamson quote about “Our greatest fear” http://on.fb.me/ARTLfear . . .
Sorry to go on, but like I said, your post inspired me! Meeting & being energized by people like you, Gabby, Kris and all these crazy sexy women who have posted here has been just one of many unexpected gifts on this journey I’m on. Thanks so much for all words, tweets and posts of support along the way. Keep ‘em coming!
Love/Light/Laughter/Joy/Strength/Hope/Peace ~ Nancy xo
wowww looking through all these posts are getting me tingly inside just knowing that there is all this magic inside of each of us all this raw potential of pure genius and gifts to share with the world how DOPE is that. So powerful we just have to keep reminding ourselves when the fear ninjas come to try to shake us :)
you did a wonderful job at expressing what most of us feel. you hit it on the nose this is what most of us have not overcome with this challenge within us and sometimes it gets to the point where u say too much money is involved or too much risk in taking new direction with love or career. and superb insight that makes me think how am I living my life super inspiring.
my genius is I like to teach people prevention..healthy living. how to prevent dental issues and overall health and eating healthy more organic and fresh foods and natural treatments, holistic lifestyle. I like to teach people about what work’s for them specifically based on their genetics and based on overall healthy eating.
@kiovanna love that this shift is happening that we don’t need to prove it, igniting spirit is just as deep and perhaps even more powerful :)
love to u @jen, @justine @jessy @taina @tancie @alison SHINE THE GENIUS woot woot!
@ evelyn this is the perfect place for you to be how inspiring and its never too late, love your genius keep spreading your prevention the world needs more of it :)
My genius is learning and solving problems. I feel at my best when I have a complex problem at hand. The satisfaction of solving it and learning new things in the process gets my juices flowing.
@hippie shop wow that is SUCH AN awesome genius I heave genius jelly (jealousy) :) I def. need some of that genius to hang out with my genius get some tips. THis is the genius of sharing our genius’ hahah :) right on to juices flowing LOVE IT!
such a great post! anything that inspires me to act, literally. a skateboard and a clear road, an outdoor pool in the sun, an inspiring blog post that i want to respond to, fun music i can dance to… all these things get my ass off the couch! xxoxo
@sarah! thank you so clear and rejuvenating love it! get that culito off the couch :)
Nancy! Wow what a cosmic warrior you are seriously you inspire me! This post is gorgeous I can feel your heart gushing through the screen. What a beautiful genius indeed. And what a powerful observation that what you perceived as weakness’ are your strengths! RIGHT on mama!
Peacocks ps are a mystical animal for centuries a mystical spiritual symbol :) so right on to that too.
Keep rocking it out!
@ kt thats a super intuitive way of looking at it the mini genius that arise in the perfect moments. delicious.
@eva thank you!!! love helping the animals :) there was a guest blogger on here before named Liz (shes in the comments above somewhere) and she helps animals she might be a good resource :)
xoxo sending LOVE AND LIGHT TO IGNITE ALL OUR GENIUS’
You are a-mazing. This is amazing. THANK YOU!
thank you @VALERIE! you are amazingggg too. What is your genius! share it girl xoxo
Wait! one more – just remembered my genius also lies in teaching others to ride bikes! http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=209101159111509&oid=127777457276696&comments
WOW- so inspirational. want to spread this on a ritz cracker! so down to earth and refreshing! :D
Finding my GENIUS is something I’ve been working on… that DREAM, that excitement and fear and peace all at the same time. I think I got it
My genius is to teach parents how to have fun with their young children! To enjoy the moment and not just wish them to grow, and move past the stage they are in. Teach parents its ok not to know and find comfort in an environment of non judgment and community.
I am working on a new kind of parent/child class/environment that supports the caretakers and enlightens the enjoyment children bring our life. To enjoy every moment of the silly and the hard.
hhaha thanks TANCIE! everyone feel free to click the link before a week ago tancie and I went to hamptons and I learned to ride a bike haha I literally just learned to ride a bike. true story video to prove it :)



















Love it! Love it! Love it! Thank you Christine for inspiring us to truly tap in to our own personal genius and get off our “culitos” and DO it. You are amazing, you crazy, sexy genius!!! Xx
May 4, 2011