Dismantling Beliefs: How to Move into Your Zone of Genius

I am endlessly fascinated with stories of people who followed their wildest dreams and created unique lives that don't follow the norm.

A few years ago I came across a book that provided structure for how we can think about the choices we make, the lives we build, and ultimately what we choose to invest our limited time on this planet on.

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks introduces the concept of the "Upper Limit Problem" which he describes as a self-imposed ceiling that prevents us from stepping into our full potential. This ceiling is always present in our lives regardless of where we are on the path. There is always a next thing that is standing in the way. And we tend to cling to that and believe it to be true.

Central to this concept is the importance of understanding the four zones in which we operate: the Zone of Incompetence, the Zone of Competence, the Zone of Excellence, and the Zone of Genius.

I found these to be helpful when thinking about how I choose to spend my time and energy. For my clients who I often meet as they are trying to get unstuck and figure out where they are going in their lives, this can also be helpful as they work through the Clarity Plan I provide to figure out what their purpose is and what they desire in their lives.

Here are the four zones described in more detail:

Zone of Incompetence - These are activities in which we lack skill, and others can do better. Spending too much time here drains energy and takes away valuable time you can spend somewhere else. Bring awareness to what these might be and find ways to either delegate them to someone else, pay for them to be taken care of, or not do them anymore. In the workplace, leaders often focus on the weaknesses someone has, encouraging them to get better in those areas. While sometimes that is necessary because those tasks are truly part of the job, there are many times when it would be much more helpful to think of someone else on the team who can do that and instead have the person focus on what they are uniquely qualified to do.

Zone of Competence - These are activities that we can do, but others can do them just as well. Again, with awareness, we can notice and slowly let go. Often this requires that we become more comfortable with asking for help. When you realize that your spouse is capable of going to the grocery store or making dinner, you can step away from this task. At work, pay attention to what others are doing and let them do it. You don't always have to be the one offering to organize the next social event or put together an agenda for the meeting. We often assume that things are expected of us when in fact, the people in our lives believe we love doing something in particular or we don't trust them to do it. How would it feel not to jump to do the thing others can do just as well?

Zone of Excellence - This is it. For someone like me who uses the word "excellence" to describe my goals and my standards, this is dangerous territory. These are the activities you do extremely well. This is where you make a good living and this is where your family, friends and organization believe you bring the greatest value. By all accounts, you made it when you reached the Zone of Excellence. As the author says, "The problem is that a deep, sacred part of you will wither and die if you stay inside your Zone of Excellence". Where else should you go then?

Zone of Genius - This is where your unique talents and passions align, allowing you to work effortlessly, creatively, and at your highest level. This is where you will make the greatest impact. This is your Ikigai. What is fascinating is that Gay Hendricks specifically calls out the fact that around the age of forty, many of us have turned off the alarms telling us there is something more, reminding us to spend more time "feeding our natural genius and letting it do its magic in the world".

Now, the question becomes: How do you know what your Zone of Genius is and if you have figured it out, what's getting in the way of living in it? Of course, reading the book is a good starting point. If you are not interested in that, here are 5 points to consider from my personal and professional experience:

1. Recognize the Upper Limit beliefs

   What is it that you think is not possible for you? And why? What evidence do you have to support that? Can you be truly honest with yourself and examine where those beliefs come from? We all carry around a backpack full of beliefs, most of which we have not consciously created. How would it be if instead, we choose to create a belief with intention?

   
   

2. Live in the present

   Can you let yourself fully experience your life? Can you be present more often in it? How would it feel if you observe what is happening without judgement? Would you be more likely to recognize that you truly don't enjoy spending hours writing reports, but you love leading a team meeting and bringing clarity to the problems the organization has? How would it be if you allowed yourself a quiet 30 minutes to paint? Would that be joyful and remind you how much you loved art class in school? What would be possible from here?

   
   

3. Commit to spending time playing

   Yes, play in the Zone of Genius. Allow yourself more time to paint and to experience that in your body. Who made up the rule that the only activities you can engage in are those that make you money or that are expected of you? Start dedicating time to rediscovering yourself.

   
   

4. Reframe success

   You are excellent in your Zone of Excellence. However, stepping into your Zone of Genius will very often feel foreign. While you might feel that it is your Zone of Genius, that your unique gifts and talents, along with your passions meet there, you very likely lack the skills and the experience to be "great" at it. Can you reframe what success looks like and instead focus on growth? How can you become more skillful in this area? What are you learning? How have you improved from yesterday? Progress is far more important when you start living in your Zone of Genius.

   
   

5. Decide

   There is no other way to put it: all it takes to live in your Zone of Genius is a decision. You don't need to give up your Zone of Excellence, you simply need to decide to start moving slowly into your Zone of Genius. I know with certainty that anything we accomplish needs to have three elements: Clarity - Belief - Action. You can read more here. Get clear on what your Zone of Genius might look like, believe it is possible for you and you are worthy of living in it and take one small action toward it. Step in it. Experience it. What does it feel like?

   
   

   If you enjoyed this post, I'd love to hear if you are living in your Zone of Genius or what prevents you from doing so.

   
   

   I will share my experience of moving into my Zone of Genius in tomorrow's newsletter to my community. If you want to receive it in your inbox, subscribe here.