When working with people and helping them discover their next direction, I often talk to them about finding their “gift”. What I mean by finding your gift is finding the uniqueness in you that makes you different from everyone else, it’s your voice, your vision.
I’ve had clients tell me, “But there’s nothing really unique about me.” Internally, I have two reactions to this – first, it breaks my heart, because I see that they view themselves with limits. Secondly, I get excited because I see the potential for terrific growth and discovery that will move them forward towards their desired outcome.
Here are 5 ways to find out what is unique about you:
1. Ask your close friends and family members. It may sound odd to actually ask someone else, but you’ll be surprised by what they will tell you. Often times they will see qualities in you that you would never imagine to be “unique” yourself. They might be qualities that you have grown to take for granted or that you are so accustomed to identifying with that you no longer see them as something unique or as a gift. It’s enlightening and eye opening!
2. Make a list of your skills. 25 entries is a good number, this seems like a lot to some people and not many to others. The more creative your list, the better. Your list might include everything from being able to type, to knowing a martial art, to fly fishing, to making the best cheesecake. The point is to list as many skills you can think of. From this list, what skills demonstrate unique qualities about you? If you fly fish, do you tie your own flies? Which skills express the uniqueness that is you?
3. Ask yourself, “If time and money were no problem, what would I do?” How would you spend your time? What choices would you make? Would you use your uniqueness in some way? How?
4. Is there anything that you do in your life that when you are doing it, you lose all track of time? This is often a clue to when you are expressing the uniqueness about yourself, time just goes by and you don’t even notice. You become so engrossed in the moment and you are in alignment with that uniqueness. See if you can think of times in your life when this happens for you. What are you doing when it happens? What can you learn about yourself and what’s unique about you from these experiences?
5. Think about the times in your life when you have experienced the most fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction. Write them down, list them on a sheet of paper. Next, see if there are elements common to these experiences. Is there a thread that is similar in all of them, something that each experience possesses that is consistent? Find that thread and it may be a clue to one of the many unique qualities about you.
I encourage you to try these short exercises and see what you learn about yourself. We are each unique. We each have our gifts. When we find our uniqueness and our gifts and we incorporate them into our lives, we feel greater fulfillment and satisfaction. That is my wish for you!
© Susan Harrington All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Susan Harrington is a Career and Life Coach who works with clients throughout the world. She helps forward thinkers make successful careers. You may want to download her free Special Report, "5 Steps to Finding Meaningful Work" (a $27.00 value) at her website http://www.susanharrington.com Contact her at (503) 372-5097 or email susan@susanharrington.com | 
