"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God."
-Leo Buscaglia
Do you truly know yourself? I mean really know yourself so well that you have clear boundaries between what you do and what you don't? While you might have a good sense of who you are, taking a deep dive into understanding your unique strengths and gifts can be transformative and honestly, plain wise. Often times, we fall into the trap of mimicking others or chasing the latest trends or hot money-making strategies out there, only to find ourselves exhausted and unfulfilled ( are you that surprised?!). It’s easy to get caught up in what seems like the “next big thing,” but this can lead to disappointment when it doesn’t align with who you are and, well it's pretty pointless to show up in life as someone else right? right. In this blog, I want to encourage you to show up in this one life you have as YOU. Keeping things simple, I'm sharing a few ways to identify your gifts and strengths, what you love to do and how you can potentially generate some income ( side hustles over here!) through them. Take note my friend and know how exceptional you've been created to be.
I've spend many years and a whole lot of moola trying to figure out my strengths and gifts and how to use them. I also spent way too long worrying about what others thought about me and what people would say if I really walked out my authentic gifts. Fear paralyzed me greatly and my big God dreams scared me to share with the world. I'm not sure why we do this to ourselves or why we feel the need to water down the incredibleness ( that's the word I'm using) God has so graciously instilled us with. It's a disservice to ourselves and it's a disservice to the many people around us that could actually reap from it. Reflecting on my own experiences, I’ve learned that attempting to please others or hide myself in fear of others only lead to frustration and I've witnessed others experiencing the same. Through prayer, reflection and intentional awareness, I instead, found that embracing and nurturing my authentic self is far more rewarding, freeing and life changing than I imagined. Each of us has inherent gifts that are meant to shine through us everyday. These gifts don’t just disappear; they are a core part of who we are. So, why not explore them and see how you can use them to enrich your life? I want to to live a purposeful, full and exceptional life so, grab that coffee or tea and let's get serious.
How to Identify Your Personal Gifts
First things first, What activities do you naturally excel in or find joy in? Think about the things that people often compliment you on or seek your help with. I promise you that identifying your gifts and strengths is a lot easier that it's sought out to be. It's literally the you, you wake up with everyday! It's the person that can't help but think of new recipes and culinary creations. It's the person that can't help but research the market and analyze chart after chart. It's the person that can't help but sketch, design or create! When I started evaluating my own gifts, I made a list of things I loved and revisited my childhood passions & this is exactly what I want you to do too. For instance, I always loved writing and creating, despite a brief period of doubt influenced by others’ opinions of me. No matter what, my hands always held notebooks, pencils and pens to jot down thoughts and ideas and write down titles of books and future creations I prayed to develop. It came effortlessly for me. What is that for you? By reflecting on what you genuinely enjoy—whether it’s cooking, writing, speaking, or working with your hands—you can uncover your true strengths. When you start to spot it, embrace it, shout about and smile from ear to ear because you are discovering how AMAZING you truly are!
Action step: Take a moment to jot down ten activities you love doing. Imagine if you had to do them for free; what would you choose? This exercise helps you identify where your passions lie and where you might shine the most.
The Importance of Knowing and Using Your Gifts
Ok... I have to share something with you that I'm not the proudest of. I have a few items in my home that I purchased in hopes of using it but...they are still tucked away in the closet with no signs of usage. I can have this habit of keeping items I think I'll use but finding that, despite my initial efforts, I don't use it for different reasons. Sometimes I honestly forget and other times, I get swayed or confused into thinking something else is better- either way, I held onto something of value but didn't take the time to use it. Have you ever bought something and never used it? Yeah. I think we all have and just like our unused items, our personal God-given gifts, strengths and talents can also go unused and ignored. Many people go through life without fully recognizing or using their gifts and it's a hard reality when you are no longer able to do those things you've always wanted to do. Imagine your potential if your gifts were embraced and utilized. What would you really do? Who would you really become? It’s often said that the greatest potential is buried in unfulfilled dreams or in graveyards ( yikes!). By acknowledging and using your gifts, you can avoid this pitfall and live a more fulfilled life that not only blesses you but directs you right into your purpose on purpose. It's worth finding out and its worth walking out everyday.
Remember, you have unique gifts that are meant to be used.
Action Step: Affirmation time ( yes, the coach in me is coming out!) and time to say it with me: “I have incredible gifts I am meant to use. I will discover what they are and start using them today!” Need help uncovering your gifts? Check out Clifton Strengths to find out more about your top strengths or contact me today and I can walk through it with you.
Exploring Side Hustles and Business Ideas
This is my fun part! Not only do you have gifts and strengths that need to be utilized and recognized but you can actually make an income ( really good income) from it too. I don't suggest making everything your side hustle as that can get overwhelming, but picking 1-2 side hustles you could try utilizing your gifts, is worth giving a real shot. Side hustles are booming and creating fantastic revenue for people to explore while working their regular jobs or maintaining their businesses. The key is not to do everything nor do what everyone is doing but it's to identify the side hustle that aligns with your strengths, passions, access or interests. Your strength is what you do naturally; your passion is what you love do regardless; your access is what you currently possess such as an item or tool and your interests are the things that you take delight in. If you’re curious about what’s out there, you can read this article "Best side hustle ideas to make more money from home in 2024 (30 ideas)" by Teachable. If you simply want to put pen to paper and think on your own, try my simple activity below for ideas on lucrative side hustles that align with you.
Here’s a simple method to brainstorm side hustle ideas. Simply fold one piece of paper into three section. Be sure you have three vertical columns to write in. Title the first column "Passions" and number it 1-5. Title the second column "Strengths" and list 1-5 and title the last column "Ideas" and list 1-5. As you go through each thing below, match the passion with the strength and think of an idea ( or type ideas into Google) that matches with them both.
List Your Passions: Write down five activities you love and would do regardless of payment.
Identify Your Strengths: Use a strengths assessment tool to discover your top five strengths.
Match Strengths to Ideas: Create a list of potential side hustles that align with both your passions and strengths.
For example, if you love writing and are a strong communicator, consider freelance writing. If you enjoy creating and problem-solving, you might explore course creation or consulting.
Take Action
Once you have a list of potential side hustles, take action. Research your top choices, reach out to people who might benefit from your skills, and apply for opportunities. Remember, action is key to turning your ideas into reality.
I hope this blog inspires you to discover and use your unique gifts. Don’t let your talents go to waste—embrace them and make the most of them! If you need guidance, contact me here to set up a coaching call.
Your coach and friend,
Zenobia
Comments