Sasha, what a brilliant question, and incredibly common! In all my years, I haven’t met a single person without gifts, but I’ve met countless who doubt they possess even one. I think part of the issue lies in the word “gifts” itself. When we hear ‘gifts’ or ‘talents,’ our minds immediately jump to virtuoso singers, incredible dancers, or savants who can perform extraordinary feats.
So, the first and most crucial step is to broaden our understanding of what a “gift” truly is. A simple yet powerful shift is to start thinking of them as strengths. Suddenly, claiming you have no gifts becomes much harder, right? And Sasha, I’m willing to bet you have strengths you’re not even aware of yet.
Now, the million-dollar question: how do you uncover these strengths? The best place to begin is with one of my all-time favorite books: Marcus Buckingham’s “Now, Discover Your Strengths.” Sasha, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone on a journey of self-discovery. Inside, you’ll learn that every single person, yes, including you, is born with a unique combination of strengths. The book also includes a unique access code to take a fantastic assessment that pinpoints your specific strengths.
What exactly are strengths? They’re essentially abilities that feel natural to you. They energize you when you use them. They’re activities you can envision yourself doing repeatedly, happily, and successfully. Often, we overlook our strengths precisely because they come so effortlessly. We take them for granted!
Think about it: Are you a naturally quick learner? Do you possess deep empathy for others? Do you thrive in competitive environments? Are you skilled at envisioning future possibilities and inspiring others with your vision? Can you easily connect with and persuade people, even strangers? These are all examples of strengths, or yes, what we can absolutely call special gifts. And yes, they are incredibly valuable and useful, even if they aren’t spotlight-stealing talents.
Imagine someone like Jams – maybe their strength is in spatial reasoning and problem-solving. They might walk into a room and immediately see solutions others miss. “Hey, if you just shifted these chairs an inch, you could fit another whole row in here!” That’s a strength in action!
Once you identify your strengths, the key is to actively use and develop them as much as possible. This is a major key to happiness and fulfillment, both in your personal life and career. And here’s a crucial point: don’t get hung up on finding the “perfect” job or business right away to express your strengths. Your strengths are inherent to you and will be with you throughout your life. In today’s world, most of us will have multiple career evolutions, so you have ample opportunity to apply them in different contexts.
For instance, two of my top strengths are positivity and communication. I utilized these strengths when I worked on the New York Stock Exchange, when I was a bartender, during my time as a Nike athlete, and I rely on them every single day in my business and here on MarieTV.
There’s so much more we could delve into, as this is a vast and fascinating subject. But for now, remember these two crucial steps: Firstly, recognize that you absolutely possess special gifts – start reframing them as strengths. Secondly, commit to discovering what those strengths are and actively using them as often as you can. Because truly, the world needs them.
Let’s wrap up with one of my favorite quotes – and yes, it’s tweetable: “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” Beautiful, right?
That’s my answer to your question, Sasha. I truly hope it helps. Now, I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever doubted whether you have special gifts? Did you have any “aha” moments during this episode? Or, if you’ve already discovered your strengths, how did you figure them out? Share your thoughts in the comments below at marieforleo.com.
Did you enjoy this video? If so, please subscribe to our channel! And if you found it valuable, share it with your friends. For even more resources to create a business and life you love, plus personal insights from me that I only share via email, head over to marieforleo.com and sign up for email updates. Stay on your game, keep chasing your dreams, because the world genuinely needs that special gift that only you possess. Thank you for watching, and I’ll catch you next time on MarieTV.
