Compartmentalized Brilliance

You, like me, have met people in your life who have demonstrable brilliance that seems to be regulated to one, maybe two areas of their life. Even people frequently referred to as ‘idiot savants’ exhibit extraordinary skills in oftentimes a creative area of their lives that provides an ironic juxtaposition to what has been defined as their developmental limitations. The ability to masterfully play the piano, but be unable to read music; the gift of etching life on a page, yet being unable to define colors; the stealth to hear a concerto and repeat it verbatim, without the ability to spell c-o-n-c-e-r-t-o; compartmentalized brilliance.

The compartmentalization of brilliance is not relegated to those with savant syndrome. It happens in those who have not been defined in terms of operating with developmental limitations who have a hot spot of brilliance. It happens to the best of us. To be able to cook a savory meal without a recipe; measuring in the chef’s hand without using the contemporary tools of a chef; determining tastes by how the ingredients feel; versus perfectly measuring out to ensure that not too much of one thing and not enough of another are imparted into the dish. The ability to dissect a mechanical problem, determined by the inappropriate sound the engine is making; ears tuned to the rumble of the components, and peeked when something doesn’t sound quite right; correcting the problem, with oil stained hands, worn out tools, and no written instruction or the reassurance of a trained mechanics watchful eye. Even something so simple as calculating the cost of groceries as one shops in the store; not writing it down, but balancing the checkbook – adding and subtracting, down to the penny, so as not to go over budget.

These are all things that ordinary people do everyday without giving it a second thought. This bisected brilliance is taken for granted by some, and is often unrecognized by most. They are lovingly referred to as the meanest cook in the family, the shade tree mechanic, the frugal one, ‘the one with the good credit’.

It has oft been said by those with extensive research credentials, and multiple letters and commas behind their names that most humans only use 10% of their brains capacity. What if, because we know this and accept it as fact, we individually decide to stretch the parameters of our own compartmentalized brilliance? What if there was a collective decision to use 20%, 30%, God forbid, 50% of the magnanimous power that has been given to us in the form of intelligence. What difference would that make in our lives? Would there be limits to the feats we could accomplish, the tasks undertaken and conquered, the depths of dreams no longer deferred? Most importantly, the compartmentalization removed, eliminates all excuses of what one can’t do; it decreased the comfort of staying within the knowing; forcing the widening of the eye, and the expansion of the mind to heights unknown.

If this decompartmentalization process was then broadened to every facet of our human selves; not only intelligence, but feelings, emotions, physicality, spirituality, what then? What then would be the result of decompartmentalized brilliance?