“Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
Often, creative skills are seen as true talents. Singing and acting celebrities are judged based on talent and recognized for it.
This is largely due to the performance aspect, where the qualitative aspects that resonate with our emotions are immediately visible.
The word talent simply means that you have a natural aptitude for a certain skill. However, the spectrum of ‘talent’ is much broader than that. Everyone has talents, whether hidden or apparent.
Take your time to find your qualities
Especially if you’re unsure about your talents, the insights below can show you where you secretly have a lot of aptitude for.
Do not get discouraged by searching hard for your qualities, because the things you try may not come easily to you.
You will need to give skills more time to truly determine if you have an innate aptitude for them. For example, the same applies to gaining muscle mass. To know if you have the right “genes,” you will have to work hard for several months.
To begin with, it’s important to know that there are 4 major categories where most innate abilities are hidden:
Talents overlap
These skills often overlap. We, as humans, are no robots. Someone can be technically skilled and also have a great imagination. This means that you have multiple innate qualities and skills that you can discover and later develop
To unlock your hidden talent, there are a number of crucial steps:
1. What interests you and energizes you > 2. experimentation phase > 3. feedback from your environment > 4. growth and development > 5. an unlocked talent > 6. fulfillment and success
1. Difference between what you like and what you’re good at
It seems logical that what you are good at is something you also enjoy doing. The ease and spontaneous aptitude also contribute to the enjoyment. But does it work the other way around?
What you like doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an innate talent for it. However, this should never stop you from pursuing it. In fact, discipline and consistency can surpass natural talent, as the person is willing to invest the time and attention required.
By testing this, you take something that you have some interest in and that seems reasonable.
- In terms of creativity, you might think of: writing stories, drawing, or acting.
Do you find yourself coming up with ideas spontaneously and having the urge to develop them? Do you envision a picture in your mind of what it should be? Can paintings or films truly touch you and inspire you?
If so, you likely have a natural inclination for creative thinking. You are able to harness your imagination and translate it into your own works. The way you express it is up to you.
- In the technical field, finding solutions and absorbing a lot of information are good indicators to see if you have an aptitude for it.
Do you have no trouble remembering information? Do you feel energized by solving and analyzing complex situations? Do you find physics/mathematics/chemistry interesting and excel in them?
If you succeed in all these aspects, you certainly have an aptitude, if not a talent, for technical thinking and execution. You can establish connections and solve intricate structures.
Once you know this about yourself, it is up to you to find a path in it.
The same applies to physical and intellectual talents. By asking yourself questions and honestly examining the process, you can discover what suits you well.
“If you are naturally drawn to something and feel that the learning process comes easily to you, it is an important sign that you have discovered an innate talent.”
Disclaimer: These are all indications intended to guide you in the right direction and discover your unique talents. It requires your own drive to draw a conclusion from them.
2. the art of trying things out
If you simply don’t know which direction to search in, it’s best to take a leap of faith. Challenge yourself by learning a new language or participating in group fitness classes.
Don’t focus too much on whether you’re good at it; it’s more important that you derive pleasure from it and find it highly interesting. This is where your talents also lie.
A more important question is: what do you enjoy and find interesting?
Think about movies, sports, or experiences of others that “ignite” you and that you would actually like to do yourself.
“Because where you want to go, your unconscious qualities will also lie.”
The key is to discover your innate abilities in small skills and determine if you have any aptitude for them. After that, you can start thinking bigger and develop yourself in those areas.”
By trying as much as possible, you will inevitably discover where you excel and where your hidden talents lie.
3. Listen to other people’s opinions?
To unleash a passion to its full potential and radiate expertise, you must be able to develop without fear.
It takes belief in yourself to demonstrate that you are indeed skilled in something. Therefore, never let others tell you not to do something because they don’t see the talent in you.
However, there can also be a positive side to what other people say about your abilities.
“Ignore others” is a popular saying that aims to encourage fearless development despite negative reactions from others. Yet, the reactions from your environment can be the decisive push to develop your skills and discover your hidden talents.
Sometimes, others see potential and abilities in us that we may overlook ourselves.
If you hear from people outside your own circle of friends that you should continue with something, it is a sign that others see a quality in you. This also gives you tremendous confidence and a sense of appreciation for what you can do, which in turn fosters growth in your abilities.
Do not be discouraged by few or negative responses. It certainly does not mean you should stop doing what you love just because no one is paying attention to it.
Many great artists and writers had to try and toil for years to gain a bit of attention before everyone embraced them for their immense talent.
“Ask people who know you well what they envision you doing and what they think suits you.
If it resonates with you, give it a try.
4. Unmasking hidden talents
It can happen that you are placed in a position where you have no prior experience, yet others tell you that you excel in it. This reaction from others boosts your self-confidence and provides a reason to pursue it further.
Think of:
- speaking in front of a group of people
- writing and telling a story
- leading a team or project
- negotiation skills
- strategic thinking
- helping others in difficult times
- being able to negotiate easily and therefore closing good deals.
The reactions of others and your own abilities will tell you if you have an innate talent for it or not.
Feelings of insecurity and fear can very well hold you back and keep your talents hidden.
If you are drawn to something because of your enthusiasm, your mind will also overflow with ideas and inspiration. This is an indication that you possess innate qualities for it.
Your talent is measured by your success
A talented individual is often determined by what the general public thinks. If a large group of people tells an individual that they are good at something, we are more likely to adopt that belief.
There is some truth to this because success stems from someone’s distinctiveness and their ability to stand out from the crowd. However, financial support and marketing play a significant role in the emergence of this success, while talent does not necessarily have to be a factor.
Are some people more talented than others?
The geniuses of our times sometimes seem to have been gifted by the gods, giving them a tremendous advantage over everyone else. Their originality transforms the foundations of entire art movements and inspires generations to develop their talents in the same way.
The idea that some people have more talent than others is somewhat true. However, you often don’t know how much time and effort someone has put into developing their skills.
There are also other factors that someone has little control over, yet they contribute to a range of qualities:
- someone’s upbringing
- innate privileges
- the chance for an opportunity
- the will to develop it
- the (financial) means to cultivate talent
To become good at basketball, it is undeniably necessary to have a minimum height. The same goes for having a good voice for a successful singing career.
These innate characteristics that give you a significant advantage in a particular field are necessary for certain professions and skills.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who has the most talent.
The most important thing is for you to discover your own qualities and utilize and develop them to the best of your ability.
The importance of sculpting your qualities
“There are many talented lazy people in the world. Without consistent hard work and improvement, talent is worthless.”
Knowing that you have a quality is one thing. Many people stop there and become disappointed when things get difficult and the initial excitement wears off.
Know that an unlocked talent requires the same attention as someone who doesn’t possess that talent.
Think of a songwriter. There are days when ideas for new songs seem to flow effortlessly, and other times when you struggle with a massive writer’s block.
It may feel like you can’t do it anymore, and you become discouraged as a result.
A talent is the starting point or “seed” that needs to grow and can reach its full potential with a lot of discipline and attention. Therefore, don’t give up if your first attempts fail and you make as many mistakes as you did a week or month ago.
Final Thoughts
Finding a talent may take some time. It’s good to know what your qualities are, but it doesn’t have to become a life mission. Instead, find passion and enthusiasm in what you do. That’s where your qualities will lie, and it will enable you to unlock your hidden talent.
Know that having qualities only has potential if you’re willing to grow in them and learn new things.
