Last week I wrote a post about finding your gift, embracing it, and sharing it with the world and I wanted to go a little deeper into those three pieces.
I have come across many people in the world who don’t believe they have much to give in this world and are honestly blind to the wonderful gifts they have and use everyday. Sure, they have interests and hobbies, but nothing they deem is of value to the world.
If you are one of those people, know that you DO have a gift to share and if you aren’t sure how to find it, read on.
While traditional society can make a big deal about doctors, lawyers, famous musicians, and artists, the truth is most of us don’t fall into any of those categories. In fact, each gift we have, even if it is similar to someone else, is unique to us because of our life experiences. No two singers, actors, dancers, writers, editors, boat-makers, professional golfers, or anyone else has the same experience to share with the world. Each perspective is unique and beautiful and adds amazing value to the world because no matter how hard we try, we can’t all reach every single person with our gifts.
So how do you find what your gift might be?
- Think about what you do naturally. What comes easy to you? What are you known for in your social circles? Maybe it’s communicating, organizing, styling, fixing things, etc. It doesn’t have to be one single thing. It can (and is likely to) be many things.
- Think about what you enjoy doing. Many times our thing is something we love to do. For me, it is inspiring, writing, and helping people get unstuck along with many other things I enjoy doing. What is it for you?
- Ask around. See what your parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, and employers say about you. Many times other people can see your gifts much more clearly than we can because of our perspective and sometimes the lack of confidence that comes with it.
- Get rid of the “shoulds”. Far too often we have an idea of what we “should” be doing in life. “I should do something more professional, worthwhile, more important” etc. Let go of what others believe you should become and think of who you are. Who do you want to become?
My last bit of advice is to be easy about it all. The joy of life is that we can pick and choose and revamp and edit our lives as we see fit. If one thing doesn’t feel right, we can try something else. If we make a mistake, no biggie, we can try and try again. Don’t allow these exercises to be so big and scary that you find yourself intimidated. Just go with the flow and see where your thoughts take you.
Also, remember that as human beings we grow, change, and evolve, so the passion you had two years ago may not be the same. You may also find you have many things you enjoy doing, but to different degrees. For instance, I was once a part-time choreographer/dance coach for competitive high school teams. It is something that is near and dear to my heart and while I am not doing much with that particular gift at the moment, that doesn’t mean I will never tap into it again. I am simply allowing another part of myself shine and that is totally ok.
Take some time to answer the questions above and feel free to share in the comments section. I would love to know what gifts you discover!