In some cultures, children are asked to consider a profound question at a very early age:
Why are you here?
The question is meant to get the child thinking about their purpose in life. I think this is a great idea and I really wish I had thought to do that when my kids were younger. As we mature, we all develop filters that obstruct our thinking and our imagination. These filters do not inhibit the minds of young children. What better time to ask; why are you here?
When we ask ourselves that same question later in life, it becomes a very complicated issue to address. A tactic many might use is to ask a different question. What am I good at? Perhaps this can help but I think we need to go a little deeper.
Without getting into semantics, let’s consider the differences between skills, talents and gifts.
Skills:
All of us can learn and develop skills. In fact, to survive, we have to develop a great many skills. To name a few, driving, cooking, walking, writing, reading, computation, organizational, interpersonal, jumping, singing, memorizing, drawing and running are all skills.
Talents:
As we develop them, most of us gravitate towards certain skills. Some might become chefs, athletes, dancers, teachers, artists, musicians or scientists. I believe we gravitate in certain directions because we have specific talents. It is easier for some people to do certain things than it is for others because they have an innate talent. I believe that with effort and determination, within reason, it is ‘possible’ for anyone to do just about anything. However, it is far more ‘probable’ that the individual with talent will achieve that same goal.
Gifts:
I believe we are all born with at least one special gift and that there is a difference between our talents and our gifts. For example, if we were to take the top 100 classically trained pianists from across the nation and ask them all to perform, we would undoubtedly hear 100 virtuoso technical performances, but, a few of them would stand out. Somehow, those few are able to apply their talent in a unique way and touch a part of us that none of the others could. The same is true of writers, artists, public speakers and dancers. The most gifted of these can touch our hearts in ways that the others simply cannot. I have met musicians who were so highly skilled that they could play just about anything with very little effort. Technical monsters we call them, but they really don’t move me that much. I have met far less skilled musicians who with just a few simple chords could sing a simple song and bring an audience to tears. That’s a gift!
I think that to find our purpose, we are better served to ask; what are my unique gifts? I believe that young children inherently know this. Unfortunately, our education systems do not usually recognize individual gifts. It is only through the interventions of people who might notice, perhaps a special teacher, a parent or a friend that we are presented the opportunity to pursue what we are best suited for.
In conversations with my friends and family members, many have told me that as kids, they were great at certain things but life’s interventions and obligations prevented them from pursuing these passions. This leads me to believe that at an early age we know what our gifts are and what we gravitate towards. I am a firm believer that it’s never too late. I don’t believe that our gifts have an expiry date. Clearly, as we get older, it is more difficult. Sadly, most of us consider the idea of re-engaging our gifts or our passions as, impractical.
With all of that in mind, I will now ask a different question.
If we already know what our gifts are, but for whatever reason, are unwilling to develop them, then why even ask the question, why am I here and what is my purpose?
If you are not using your gifts, you should consider doing so. Embracing them will bring you much joy and fulfillment. Sharing them will bring that same joy into the lives of others. Think about it, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Photo Credits
Kids In A Doorway © Gilabrand
A man and a woman performing a modern dance © Barry Goyette
Chick Corea in concert © Roland Godefroy
© Gil Namur, 2009
Gil,
I thoroughly enjoyed this article and wholeheartedly agree with your take on the subject.
I LOVE receiving your newsletter – the articles are always meaningful and touch me.
Wishing you all the best, always
Hope 000
Hi Hope,
Thanks so much for taking the time to make a comment and for your kinds words :- )
I hope that your day is filled with light and laughter!
Cheers,
Gil
Hi Gil —
Great article. You said it so well — everybody has “it” to a certain degree, and often the thing we choose to nurture and love is the our talent or even our gift. I particularly enjoyed your distinction between technical mastery and artistic spark. We see it all the time in really young songwriters (7-year-olds) who know very little about form or chord progressions yet compose songs that are truly moving and open a channel into the experience of being a little kid.
Please keep the inspiration coming and thanks for mentioning Little Kids Rock on your site.
All the best,
Gina (at Little Kids Rock)
Hi Gina,
Thanks so much for you comments :- ) I really appreciate that you took the time and also your encouraging words.
I am hoping to be able to do much more for Little Kids Rock at http://www.synapticstudios.com. I have some ideas that I will e-mail to you when I am ready.
I am still ramping up that site but its already starting to get almost 3 times the page views that this site gets! Lots of guitar players out there.
I sent David W. a CD of mine. Have a listen sometime 🙂
Again, thanks for your kind words.
Cheers,
Gil
Great story Gil.
Here’s something else to consider I think. Often there are many circumstances which come into play to help or hinder us in the development of our natural talents. Considering that it takes some 10,000 hours of practice at some craft to be considered an expert and for those who aspire to greatness a lot more hours…it can be a challenge for many people to find that time if they come from lower soci-economic backgrounds for instance and need to work, haven’t got the right connections so miss the opportunity for a great teacher to notice them, missed the right timing for the talent, have a dysfunctional family support system, born in the wrong country or suffer from prejudice.
All of these are challenges to overcome for sure and many great people have done so, but these challenges have probably stifled more Mozarts and Kurt Godels than we can imagine…which goes to the necessity of having a school system and family support system which identifies talent and gifts and as a society stimulates and supports (fiscally) the genius in us all. But we don’t do that based on misguided notions of equity and leave it up to circumstance to sort out who rises.
Just a thought.
Hi Chris,
Great comments! Thanks. I totally agree with you and its one of the reasons I think that “Little Kids Rock” is doing such a great thing.
As for the 10,000 hours, we are told in Karate that it will take 10,000 kicks before we really start to have it down! That’s per leg and per type of kick .. ends up being a very big number!
Thanks again for taking the time to post 🙂
Cheers,
Gil
Just to say thank you, Gil, for your post. Your words are a blessed confirmation to me. 🙂
All the best to you, friend. 🙂
Thanks ‘feelingdaluv’!
Appreciate your feedback!
Cheers,
Gil
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appearance. I must say that you’ve done a excellent job with this. Also, the blog loads super fast for me on Safari. Exceptional Blog!
Thanks Nestor 🙂
Appreciate your kind words and feedback!
Cheers,
Gil