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Here’s a train of thought that would plague me from time to time:

‘If I ever went bowling, I’d get an ok score.  In terms of singing, I can carry a pretty tune but I’m no Whitney.  I can write music too but you know, just for me.  And oh, I can easily strike and maintain conversation with people, until someone else steals my thunder.’

When you marvel at people who are just so darn good at what they do, it makes you wonder - where do you shine?

It’s a startling and beautiful sight when your eyes land on a young, gifted artist who creates lifelike sketches.  Some people can dance and evoke emotion without any formal training at all!

The question is where does this come from so you can tap into it too?

What Are Your Tendencies?

-Does the manipulation of money make complete sense to you (i.e. “Oh please Bob all you need is to gain .3% percent on the capital..It’s so simple - that equals..)

-No matter what, are you you’re that person people call when looking for guidance/a solution/a clue because you’re married to Google and you love solving problems?  Plus you’ve got that great listener thing going for you?

-When you watch the History Channel, are you THAT guy? You know- the one that remembers the names and times and spews them during regular people talk over beer and wings? 

-Your idea of a really good time is under a tree…Ok, maybe sitting in Starbucks writing into your journal - and it never, ever bores you?

-High School sucked but secretly, nuclei always made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Some of your every day tendencies are like huge chunks of your talent in its natural form waiting to be cultivated and defined.  One reason it’s so easy to miss is we take what we do every day for granted.  If it’s never been difficult for you to, say, make a delicious feast from scratch - even that day when there was barely anything in the house - you may not be thinking you have the knack to become a talented chef.  You may think it’s just one of those things you do because it’s just so simple.  But my friend, frozen dinners aren’t a booming business for nothing.

Listen to the People around You Talk about You…to You 

If you’re talent isn’t terribly obvious to you at first, you may be left feeling like you have nothing particularly special about you.  You may feel like you’re destined for the sidelines.  But how many times do you wave off the things that you are a little better than ok at without looking further into it?

For instance, InMyHeels.com is my first official blog.  The dusk of 2007 finally brought me the eureka moment as follows:

“Heyyyy!  I … I should write!   For.. the Public!”

….

Yes, that was it.

The thing is I’ve always been someone who enjoyed writing.  I would always swell in pride (on the inside) about another piece well written, or another A under my belt.  Countless times, bits of my writing would surface because of a thought I just HAD to express on MySpace, helping with a speech or an assignment, or wandering eyes landing on my musings that would lie all over my room.  Countless times, I’ve been told I should write a book and quite honestly, I would just yes people to death.  A modest smile, a nod, and I’m back on my merry way looking for my talents.

Any of that sound familiar?

When your family or friends say “Hey, you should _____!  You’re really good at that!”, listen.  Really listen.  Sometimes, they just might be on to something.  After all, they are on the outside looking in - and with that objectivity they may see something you stifle with your own self doubt.

Explore Those Little Things You Ignore

So you’re convinced the people around you have lost their wits in their deep love for you as you watch (for example) the Best Chefs do their thing in the kitchen on television.  Don’t forget, people don’t (usually) come out from the womb knowing the finest recipes for Crème Brule.  They learn.  They learn and it turns out they are just better at making them than you and I.

The clarity and definition of your talents will come from exploring the possibilities.  If you chase an instinct to the nearest beginners’ class or to the biography of someone in your field that you admire, you’re halfway there.  The only way for you to find out if you’re good at something is to actually do it. 

You’re Talented, Just Deathly Afraid

Fear is one of those clinchers and will definitely prevent you from personal stardom if you allow it to consume you.  With the fear of failure, all you can see is “If I Don’t Do It, I Can’t Fail” and it trumps its good twin ”If I Do It, I Can Win”. 

It’s worth it to explore your possibilities even on a small scale rather than avoid them altogether.  So the recommendation here isn’t quit your day job.  It’s get excited and figure it out! 

The beauty of dipping your toe into new things at first is you get a real taste of your abilities in the real world.  You get to look around with a new and liberating clarity and you get to learn.  You get to observe other people’s mistakes and their own successes.  When you remove the mental block that states You Don’t Belong Here, you come to find that you can fit right in and very possibly set up shop.  Only after a visit to that world can you honestly say “This is/isn’t for me”.

You never know ’til you try.

Try New Things

Speaking of trying, if you still can’t pinpoint what it is you’re good at based on your current life, then it’s time to go out there and discover new things!  Discovery is a part of life - not every answer will come to you in the form of a cable box.  Seriously, there are many many ways you can get into new possible hobbies or even careers. 

If you look around you in your town or city, there are clubs you can join.  There are classes you can take a local community college or organization.   There are locations where the talents you admire perform or commune and those just may be the places to look for related gatherings or ask questions to people who can actually answer them.

Granted you may not get a chance to walk up to the president and ask him how he got there but there are many other leaders on the rise to where you want to be.  If an internship is your key to proximity, get to applying!

Welcome the challenges that come with exploring your talent.  Talent by definition separates you from the usual and the norm because of your natural ability and aptitude.  If what you were doing was something everyone could do, it would be called breathing.  So naturally, you will have challenges that will sharpen the skills you already have and develop the ones you may lack.  The very same challenges that seem to repel you from the goal are the very ones that may propel you towards it.

Last but Not Least - Know What You AREN’T Good At

It’s ok to not be able to do everything under the sun better than the next gal.  So the American Idol thing didn’t quite work out for you BUT you were dressed to kill!  That rejection gives you the room to focus your energies on the things - or reality shows - that MAY work out for you!

If you know that numbers just isn’t your thing, you won’t spend half your life pursuing careers that have to do with numbers.  Respect that fact and look for vocations that are much more up your alley.  Even in your desperate need to be practical or corporate, if you know you would fare well in a company that focuses on art, then leave the bank alone!

I personally believe that even the everyday things like really great conversation can be spun into gold in your life if you look for an angle that allows it to work for you.  This is a big piece that belongs in the life of contentment so if you want to be happy, dive into the talents skills that make you special.  It will bring you fulfillment.  It will bring you, you.

Photo by:  Rayced
Photo by:  Andre-Batista

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