Know Yourself and What Your Gifts Are…

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Written by Jimmie Burroughs –  Email this article to a friend

Socrates said, “Know Thyself.”  What great advice!  We could add to that, “To thyself be true and love thyself even as you love others.” When we begin to explore who we really are, we come face to face, to who God and his creation are also; it answers the questions about what makes us tick and respond as we do; it enables us to take into stride the events of life without fear. It washes away the doubts and negative feelings of life. “You are your own raw material. When you know what you consist of and what you want to make of it, then you can invent yourself.” – Warren G. Bennis.

To understand yourself is to understand what you are made of, what your properties are and how to develop them to the image you desire. Often parents make the mistake of not understanding that each person is a unique, individual creation of God, with different desires and gifts and so they sometimes try to direct their children into the same career in which they are involved. That is okay, if that happens to be the interest of the children, and they are also gifted in that same area, but otherwise it could be a sentence of misery and failure.

Understanding ourselves, and what our particular gifts are, is crucial to finding the purpose and meaning in life that brings satisfaction. Ask yourself, what gives purpose and meaning? When you know the answer, then that is the direction you should go with your life and not what someone else may prescribe.

It may sound to you as if I’m talking just to young people, but I’m also talking to you if you are older. It’s great to discover ourselves when we are young and then begin early in life to pursue our purpose, but it does not always work out that way. For me, it was much later in life, but later is better than not at all.

How does one gain both an objective and subjective understanding of themselves? Subjectively, we search our own heart for specific, unique interests. It was easy for me to rule out any kind of medical career because it had no appeal to me. The thought of being a surgeon, and cutting another person open was something I could not handle. I understand the great services doctors and surgeons perform, but it is not a profession for everyone; it is for those who desire it and who are gifted for it. That is true with any direction in life. Deciding to pursue something because it pays well, or that is a family tradition is a poor way to plan your future.

It does take some soul searching, and some knowledge of the creator to uncover the deepest desires of the heart, but in time, it will become clear. Objectively, others will tell you, from time to time, what you are good at, and from that, you can consider if it is true and if it is something that you want develop.

I had a friend in high school, who was the best football player on the team, and he had a chance to play college football, but that was not his interest, even though he was gifted in that area. Instead, he decided not to attend college at all and became a police officer. Was that a wise decision? For him it was, because it was something he was interested in and at the same time was a public service that he wanted to contribute.

Conclusion:

Learning about yourself and your desires may not always lead you to something that is glorified by society or has a large income potential, but it will lead you to where you belong. It is far better to earn less and get less recognition, if what you do is important to you and is something you enjoy doing. Improving yourself and your gifts is always the right direction regardless of what you choose to do in life.

Do you have a plan for your personal development? If not, right now is the best time to put together a plan and getting started. It will greatly enhance your chances for success. I always like to quote what Jim Rohm said, “We attract success by the person we become.” On my personal development website, there are over 600 articles to help you in your personal quest for success. There is no excuse for not getting started today!

About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who have been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. He is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ and considers helping others his calling in life. His website contains over 600 articles on preparing yourself for success through personal development and the things that accompany personal development.

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