How can we tap into our gifts?

How do we tap into our gifts? What steps can we take to uncover them and make them more apparent?

To hear my answer to Dave’s question, tune in to episode 458 of the podcast Living the Next Chapter.

I share my thoughts on this from 6:55-9:55.

Direct link to the podcast session:

https://pod.link/1607392975/episode/7d35acf28ff2b47132a258f6025c5d50

You can also read a summary of my answer below. 

Dave: You possess a gift, and it almost seems as though everyone has this gift, but in truth, not everyone does. They look at you and think, there's something special about you, and you're left wondering, I thought this was a normal thing everyone has. The key is that we could all benefit from recognising those gifts that seem common to us but are extraordinary to others. Someone listening to this may have never taken the time to identify their gifts and understand what they possess. So how do we tap into our gifts? What steps can we take to uncover them and make them more apparent?

Annika: It's easy to assume everyone is the same, which leads us to downplay our own talents. Sometimes it helps to ask others because we might not see it ourselves. Questions like, what do you think I do that seems special? can be enlightening. In addition to writing, I also coach people, particularly leaders. One exercise I do with them involves reflecting on what you excelled at as a child, what you loved doing, what you achieved with ease, and any awards you won.

Another intriguing question is, what do you never stop doing? Life can be challenging and overwhelming at times, but if something is truly important to you, it will keep resurfacing. For me, stories always come back; I can't imagine a time when they won't. When we consider musicians, for example, they likely don't stop creating music regardless of whether they publish it or not. Similarly, people who love crafts or excel at being great friends continue their pursuits despite life's challenges.

So ask yourself these questions: What do I never stop doing? What makes me uniquely me regardless of life's circumstances? It's worth figuring out by asking both yourself and those around you what it is that you do differently or unusually well. You might be surprised by their responses.

Dave: I recently had a conversation where we discussed what people in your life—friends and family—say about you. You might realise things about yourself that seem natural but are actually noteworthy to others. Listening to such feedback can be incredibly valuable on your journey, especially as an author.