Dog's Genes Unlock Human Potential

Do you every wonder what your contribution to the world is going to be?  What standard are you destined to shatter?

I was surprised to learn recently that the genetic code of dogs holds the key to understanding exactly how much potential each of us humans has in life.

Dogs retained the basic genetic structure of the wolf down to the present day.  From the Siberian husky running the Iditarod to the chihuahua that peeks out of a Louis Vitton purse, all dogs share around 99% of their genetic code with their unrefined ancestor, the wolf. It’s hard to believe that yappy little dog that trembles like a crackhead going through withdrawal is mostly wolf, but it’s true.  Thousands of years ago, humans began selectively breeding dogs to bring out certain physical, intellectual and instinctual qualities.  This kept happening until the first chihuahua was born and we decided that maybe that experiment should be put on hold for a while (just kidding, but not really).

So how does a dog’s genetic code unlock your ability to play the piano like Mozart, write like Shakespeare, or paint like Van Gogh?

Genetically, you share a lot more in common with the masters of these fields than that wolf shares with the chihuahua.

You’re more than 99% Buddha, Lao-Tzu, Jesus, Benjamin Franklin, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates.  The relatively small differences of time, upbringing and environment (which may not objectively exist, ask any astrophysicist) are all that separates you.  And even if they did, do you think anyone who has moved humanity forward with their passion wouldn’t have found a way to do what they love?  It’s why masters are reluctant to talk about their past – it really doesn’t contribute as much as we non-masters like to believe.

You share the same physical body and genetic code as each master craftsman, athlete, or artist that has ever spent time on this planet.  There is only a difference of 0.1% to 0.4% of any two humans in the history of our species.  The same biological equipment, and the same capacity for abstract thought and creativity.

It doesn’t mean you’ll write the next MacBeth.  Stephen King knows he’ll never produce a Romeo and Juliet, so he focuses on the unique expression of his own talents, and practices until he achieves mastery in his field.  There’s no reason you can’t do the same.

You have the ability to love like Don Juan.

Think like Einstein.

Fight like Musashi Miyamoto.

Lead like General Patton.

And create something so unique, so powerful, so life-changing, that the world will wonder what history would have been like if you had never decided to step up and express your passion.

So how do you begin?

The same way each of the people I mentioned above began – One day they looked around at their environment; the books on their shelves, the instrument that was worn in places from hours of practice, the sketches or formulas pinned to the wall.  Then they thought about what it would be like if they could just do that for the rest of their lives.

Those destined for mastery weren’t worried about how they would pay the bills.

They realized that some people in their lives wouldn’t understand the choices they would make to single-mindedly pursue what they loved.

They knew they couldn’t go another day keeping that creative fire locked inside themselves.  So they let it out.

And the world has never been the same.

Now that you know how much you have in common with every extraordinary human being who ever walked this planet – will you celebrate your connection and express your potential by doing something truly extraordinary?

Or will you be the chihuahua of humanity?