A recent ten-year study from Harvard, known as the Zero Point Study, sought to define the concept of genius and how certain individuals access this extraordinary capacity. The study discovered that genius is not an innate trait but a capacity to take in information, synthesize it, and use it in innovative ways that lead to transformational ideas, movements, and social changes.

So, what exactly is this capacity?

According to the researchers, genius lies in the number of modalities through which one takes in information—whether that be auditory, visual, kinesthetic, intuitive, or others. Essentially, the more ways you can absorb and process knowledge, the greater your capacity for genius.

Here’s what the study uncovered about the decline of genius as we grow:

• 99% of babies operate at a genius capacity during their first eighteen months of life.
• By the age of five, only 22% of children are still operating at their genius capacity.
• By the age of twenty, only 2% of individuals are still operating at their full genius capacity.

So, what happens between these stages?

The researchers found that as we age, we begin to shut down these capacities. The biggest culprit? Internal judgment. We start to doubt ourselves, question our abilities, and seek approval from others. This judgment distances us from our inner genius, and over time, we lose the connection to our creative and transformative potential.

But here’s the good news: You still have your genius capacity within you.

Today, make the conscious choice to reconnect with that genius. Trust your instincts, listen to your intuition, and believe in the power of your dreams. You have the ability to create, innovate, and transform, just like the greatest minds who’ve ever lived.