My Talents

We are at a point where we examine our skills, abilities, talents. We are examining the things within ourselves that can be of positive use in our lives. Using tools within our grasp, such as meditation, reflection, making lists, asking acquaintances, we can build a list of the areas in which we possess talent. This list will be a useful item as we go about our regular business of living, as a guide for areas in which we can excel right now, areas in which we can excel in the future, and as a way to see where we can learn new skills, thus expanding our possibilities.

One of the interesting aspects about mindfully reflecting upon our talents, is looking at new ways to use skills we already possess. Perhaps we have a knack for getting stray cats to allow themselves to be petted. What is it about us that speaks to the cat? How might we apply that to situations involving people at work, in education, at the store? Can we take the talent we possess, and use it in such a way so as to increase our wealth, ease another human's suffering, improve the environment, take a stand in politics?

Some talents are praised and awarded by society with a large amount of fanfare and publicity-- Athletes, actors, politicians, peace workers. People who move in highly public circles of life are placed upon pedestals and held up as examples of Talent. People who start their own business and succeed. People who give to the community, such as firefighters. Often many people with great talent go unrecognized, often because what they do is a quiet background action. Perhaps it is an elderly woman who visits other invalids weekly, or the postal workers who get your mail to you regardless of weather. Kindness, compassion, responsibility.

You may be looking at yourself and your life and doubting you have any talents whatsoever. If this is the case, talk to the other people in your life. Ask co-workers, teachers, fellow students, relatives, friends, neighbors, ministers, etc what they consider your three strongest talents or skills. You may be looking at yourself and your life and thinking that all your talents are in areas considered negative by society. For each of these things, come up with three ways in which you can adapt that talent towards something socially harmonic.

Skill and personality tests are a useful tool in helping us narrow our focus when we are feeling overwhelmed with either a lack of direction or too many potential routes to travel. Many government-run employment agencies offer these tests as a part of their services, often for free, sometimes for a nominal fee. Some can be found online as well.

When you have an idea of what your talents are, you can then research ways and areas in which you can use them. Making use of things we are good at, gives us a better chance at succeeding in our efforts, whatever they may be. Success at something gives us more confidence, higher self-esteem, and translates into presenting a more desirable image to other people. Our inner sense of self-worth projects outward, influencing others to place a higher value on our skills and involvement.

Whether you are a mover of mountains or a creator of cookies, without your presence and use of your talents our collective experience would be poorer. My cookies may not move mountains, but they may give you the strength to do so.

“Be equal to your talent, not your age. At times let the gap between them be embarrassing.” - Yevgeny Yevtushenko