“Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.”
-Quincy Jones
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
How are you showing up? …Check the energy you bring... What is it saying..?
What drives you? …the things that motivate you... light your fire...
Reading one of my favorite authors this morning, this statement resonated with me: (from Iyanla Vanzant's, Acts of Faith)
We all come into this life with talents, gifts, or abilities, which if we use will be profitable to us and useful to the world.
What gift are you withholding from the world? Sit right here for a moment... Check your personal profit/loss statement...
Many of us spend the greater portion of our lives seeking authorization or recognition, never developing or using the goodness of the things we do naturally.
What were you born to do? the thing you do with ease and enjoy...
If you feel like something is missing, unfulfilled maybe, or stuck, and not sure why, perhaps reconnecting with you hidden talents will change the game.
10 Ways To Identify Your Talents And Utilize Them: (Courtney Romano, lifehack.com)
1. Take an assessment: Life assessments help you to understand your performance in different aspects of life, and help you identify the field of life that requires more of your attention. Personality tests are an objective way of understanding what makes you tick. They can help you determine where your motivations in life lie.
2. Find what makes you feel strong: Ever have those moments when everything feels easy and light? You know that you have the answer or are capable of finding the answer? When we are drawn toward a sense of ease that is usually our inner talent scout speaking up. Notice when you feel your strongest and create more opportunities to feel that way. Let your strengths lead your schedule.
3. Find what you spend the most money on: We often put our money where our mouth is when it comes to what we desire. When you follow the green you discover what you value, and chances are you have a knack for what you value.
4. Ask your friends what your best and worst qualities are: It’s enlightening to hear how different people see you in the same light and this is definitely an indicator of talent. Use your friends’ perspectives here to work on what you’d like to do better. Use your natural talents to improve those parts of your M.O. that might need a little work.
5. Ask your family what you loved as a child: Sometimes the people who have known us the longest are the people who know us the best. Take these recollections as a hint to get busy playing again. See how much of your childhood you can recreate in your adulthood by following your sense of play. Using your talents in recreation gives your brain a chance to play, making you more productive in every other area of your life.
6. Write in a journal: Let your thoughts flow onto a few pages every morning and walk away from them for the rest of the day. Stream of consciousness writing can be very effective at identifying your talents. Use your writing to look for hidden answers. What are you missing? What are you longing for? What opportunities do you wish would come through? Then, use your journal to create a list of your strengths and a list of opportunities to set new goals that are aligned with those strengths.
7. Look for talent in others: Sometimes being inspired by others’ talents makes us realize what we’re good at, too. Try to define what exactly lit you up. If you see talent in others you can use this to your advantage. Ask this person to mentor you, give you advice or simply chat over coffee. Reaching out and seeing talent in others will open up opportunities and connections while helping you define your own.
8. Take stock of your book/music/movie collections: Glance through all of your collections, what is the one resonating idea? This is probably something that lights your fire. Dig further into this, is there a convention, a class, a workshop you could take to use this talent? How can you connect with others who enjoy the same thing as you? All of these avenues lead to connections and potential networking, so go ahead with your talented self.
9. Remember what you have been thanked for: When people thank us for something, they have been helped in some way. Notice what you are thanked for on the regular. Remember that your talents shouldn’t just be in service to other people, but to you as well. If you’re in a constant mode of selflessness, use your talent as a caregiver to take care of yourself. Know that as you give to yourself, you’re growing your ability to give to others.
10. Be open to change: Know that as we age, our tastes change and our strengths grow. Don’t allow yourself to be complacent by telling yourself the same story over and over again. Being open to change means letting go of preconceived notions and honestly absorbing the world around you. This kind of openness will lead you to discover new talents and help prepare you to tackle any challenge life throws your way.
“Remember that our true purpose in life is to take care of one another. Our occupations are therefore tools for taking care of others using our natural talents.” -Ksenia Sein
Now, what are you willing to do?
Don’t miss your opportunity. Be intentional. Encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
#thinkforyourself, #beopentochange, #reflect, #reach, #stretch, #bepositive, #honoryourself, #responsibility, #faceyourfears, #learnandgrow, #accountability, #selfawareness, #selfimprovement, #selfcompassion, #faith, #confidence, #believe, #ittakescourage, #focus, #shift, #trustyourself, #dothework, #shareyourgifts, #releaseyourpower, #knowyourworth, #leadbyexample, #justdoit, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment, #letsgo
References:
10 Ways To Identify Your Talents And Utilize Them
Vanzant, Iyanla; Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
Comments