What Are You Doing To Nurture Your Natural Talents?

People often make life decisions based on external societal factors rather than looking inward to their own abilities. They choose careers based on prestige or salary averages. They ignore their inner artist because they do not believe they can make it a lifestyle. They spend their lives trying to meet the expectations of others without ever asking themselves what makes them happy. The truth is that individuals are born with talents that are meant to influence their impact on the world around them. Making personal talent development a priority is an asset not only to an individual, but to their surrounding organizations and communities.

Recognizing Your Talent

Has anyone ever noticed an ability within you that makes you special? Can you do something that few other people can do? Are you innately athletic or musically inclined? Do people tell you that you have a gift? They are talking about talent. A talent is a natural gift from birth. Many people are born with inclinations toward certain specialties, but the true talent is a rarity. It is often not enough to succeed in your craft on its own. Many people confuse talent vs skill. Your talent is your baseline for your potential. A defined skill is more specific and can only be developed through practice. A skill can be learned through education or experience. Your personal talent can influence your aptitude and interest in developing certain skills. Together, your skills and talents can become your superpower, making you an indispensable asset to an organization.

Growing Your Ability

Having talent gives you the aptitude to acquire skill, but skill enhances ability. You may have talent, but gaining the skill requires hard work and perseverance. If you have a genuine interest in your gift, and you want to be successful at it, you must nurture your talent. Depending on the nature of your ability, it can help you in many areas of your life. If you are the fastest runner in your class, then you may be inclined to pursue a career in sports. If you are naturally awesome at public speaking, then you may consider developing your skills in marketing, sales, motivational speaking or teaching roles. Applying continuous effort to build on your natural gifts and acquiring complementary skills to enhance your abilities will make you unstoppable in your endeavors. However, you must put the work in. There is always someone less talented who wants it more and practices harder. They will surpass you if you let them.

Engaging in Hobbies

A good way to pursue talents that you are not engaged with full-time is through hobbies. Perhaps you derive income from a profession that does not recognize or utilize your specific talents. Or, perhaps you currently lack the necessary resources to make your gift your career. It is still important to embrace the activities that energize you from within. Whether you keep a corner of your apartment as your painting studio, attend weekly community theater group meetings, or play basketball with your friends and neighbors, your hobbies help to define you. Having that one thing to look forward to at the end of a long week makes the daily grind more tolerable. Make the time to be who you are and do not let the pressures of life stifle your talent. One day, you may even be able to achieve your version of meaningful success from your hobbies, whether that comes in the form of income, recognition or some other measure.

If recognized and nurtured early enough, natural talent can shape your entire life and you can draw from it to easily build the skills and even the career you desire. Even if you realize your aptitudes later in life, you can still work to develop them. Regardless of your innate abilities, you should continue to learn and acquire skills throughout your life, not just for professional relevancy, but also for personal fulfillment.