That's a good thing! Most of us are. And naturally, it takes time to discover them and then to feel confident and comfortable declaring them to the world. What's more; you may find that your gifts morph and transform over time as you grow and change.

  

There's a common misconception about having a "gift" for something. Having a "gift"  doesn't necessarily mean it is something one must do as a career or vocation. Your gifts are deeper than that! Earning a living by your gifts may very well be your goal, but just know that you can draw out your beautiful gifts and then honor them in many different ways besides your employment. 

  

I've seen lots of examples of this in the coaching work I do with clients. Some of my past clients had a gift for language and writing and they knew they would write and find ways to share this gift with others, published or not. They were just driven to keep on writing! The coaching process helped them to see that the important thing was to uncover their uniqueness and and their power and then put that out proudly in the world.

  

What is it for you? Maybe you have a leadership gift, or your gift is curiosity, or listening, or teaching others, or maybe you are a technical/scientific wizard. Discovering your gifts is a remarkable exploration process that can lead you on many paths, most importantly towards yourself!

So how to begin to tune into your gifts? Try out the following ideas:

• Spend some time thinking back on your life to remember your past experiences when you felt very alive and that you were contributing in a meaningful way. You may have felt very connected to others and you were especially connected to what you were engaged in doing.
   
• Take a risk and ask others to weigh in on your gifts. Pose a question to the closest people in your life; something along the lines of "What is it about me that makes me unique and memorable?" or "What do you see as my greatest contribution?" Asking different groups of people may yeild varying but intriguing results. Your family may have a different view on this than your co-workers do, for example, and you can learn from both.
   
• Your heart has a pull towards certain experiences and activities. Tapping into your courage, listen to this pull and try out something that might be new to you or something you loved in the past that you abandoned long ago. There is a world of opportunity to try things out in classes, volunteering, or just on your own. Get out and discover!

When you shrink into the background or shy away from what makes you feel most alive, we all miss out on the riches of your greatness!  No matter how you express yourself, quiet or bold, you add a spark and beauty to the lives of those around you when you live true to your own unique gifts in the world.

 

And finally, for some extra inspiration on the subject, check out this poem by Marianne Williamson from her book, A Return To Love.