Find Your Talent, Enjoy It and Put it to Great Use

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I wouldnot have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything yougave me.”  ―Erma Bombeck

I often ask people to tell me what their personal talent is and ifthey’re putting it to work. The most common first reaction is a look of bemusedresignation. They’ll say things like “Mine is insignificant,” or “I’m not sureI have any,” and then go ahead to compare themselves with people they know tohave ‘real’ talent.

The most surprising response I have heard, however, is from a youngman who sought to meet me not so long ago.

“Talent?” he asked with a flinch. “Mine is completely useless.”

The statement stung.

Is there such a thing as a completely useless talent?

On an online forum, people were asked what interesting but uselesstalents they possess. One person revealed an ability to mirror write, so thatwhatever she writes can only be read when it is viewed in a mirror. Anotherdisclosed an ability to repeat fluently even the most difficult tonguetwisters, while yet another proudly revealed a talent for barking, quite convincingly,like a dog! Yet someone else chimed in to let the world know about their talentsolving Rubik’s cubes.  

It’s amazing how people discover that they can do some unusual things.It might make you wonder what you are able to do that you’ve never thought of,or had the opportunity to discover. Even more puzzling is whether the seeminglypeculiar talents have any purpose. Odd as some talents may seem, even morestrange would be a person without any talent whatsoever.

But then, everyone has potential. And that includes you. The common phrase ‘God-given potential’ rightly suggests that potential is innate. We are all born with it. It’s a wonderful gift that comes inside each 'package,' free of charge or merit. Just like we all have fingerprints, everyone has potential expressed in at least one personal, unique talent or ability. Some have more than one.

Let’s take a quick journey back in time – when you were ten, ortwelve. When you believed that you’d make a unique mark in the world using yourpersonal talent. Back then, you weren’t distanced from your talent. And thoughyou may not have called it ‘talent’, you knew it and sought it out.

Take a deep breath.

Between then and now, how did your childish clarity fade? When did youstart listening to the world around you, and ignoring the voice within? How didyou start becoming suspicious of your talent, and mindful of the ‘need’ to keepit under tight leash?

And there’s no such thing as a useless talent. Perhaps just a talentwhose purpose you have not yet discovered.

Here’s my appeal to you: find your way back onto your talent path –the place where you can give your best, and where you have the best to give.

Chase your talent, develop it, enjoy it, and be proud of it. Know that if you hone it long enough, it will not only make you outstanding, it will also be the means by which you contribute something special to the world.   I hope you flourish.

Copyright ©2020 David Waweru · Photo Credit: Gabriel Sanchez on Unsplash