Are you ignoring the blow of opportunity?
Most of us have undeveloped talents that lie hidden within us until they are recognized and acted upon. Each of our talents is an opportunity waiting to happen.
Perhaps our natural talents and gifts were not recognized or appreciated when we were young. When that happens, we tend to ignore or stifle them to avoid criticism, or we minimize ourselves by thinking, “Well, if I can do it, everyone else should be able to do it too.”
The great idea about these internal opportunities is that, unlike their external counterparts, they can never be missed. But they can be missed unless you make the effort to discover them and then jump in and turn them into active talents.
Opportunities like these are like muscles you have but never exercise. They work, often poorly and without great results at first. The good news is that, just like unused muscles, these opportunities can be consciously exercised and strengthened. The opportunity becomes a talent!
Many people are surprised when they discover internal opportunities they never knew they had. Others sheepishly admitted that they knew of the ability, but didn’t think it was anything “special.”
Opportunities that are overlooked can rob you of the full potential of your life and keep your natural talents from shining. If you want to do more of what you do best, you must use all your talents to the fullest.
Converting your opportunities into talents is an important step. Take action, do something, try something, get inspired!
Here’s one way to start: Brainstorm a list of at least 7-10 things you’ve always wanted to try. Some items on your list might be painting, playing the piano, learning a new language, whatever. Don’t censor yourself or worry about looking silly. No one else has to see your list. From that list, pick one activity and pursue it in any way you can for the next 30 days. Do something you loved as a child. Try a talent that you have always admired in others. Try something you imagine being terrible at. Do it even if it scares you.
The goal is to find something that gives you clues as to what makes you happy. Discovering a hidden talent can be the catalyst that inspires a career change or introduces a new business opportunity. Others say that nurturing a hidden talent gave them a confidence boost to try something new, pursue something they wanted, or fulfill a lifelong dream.
Finding our talents also helps us discover those characteristics in which we do not shine, those that make us unhappy and leave us feeling unfulfilled. The problem is that when you waste your natural abilities, you often feel trapped doing something you hate. It’s just as important to remove those abilities.
Discovering and nurturing new talent is an opportunity to find what you need to succeed in life and enjoy it more fully. When we are doing what we love, we are often at our best. This leads to a kind of wholeness that allows us to live life passionately and happily.
Lynda Ross-Vega