3 Ways to Identify & Unlock Your Strengths

“I believe every one of us is born with a purpose. No matter who you are, what you do, or how far you think you have to go, you have been tapped by a force greater than yourself to step into your God-given calling. This goes far beyond what you do to earn your living. I’m talking about a supreme moment of destiny; the reason you are here on earth.” – Oprah Winfrey

Maybe you tense up a bit when you read this quote. Yes, it’s great to know that there is a unique purpose placed on your life. But what if you don’t know what that purpose is? Don’t panic… you’re not alone. In fact, most people don’t.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret... When you identify your purpose, you can start moving towards it by making small changes in your day-to-day life. These small changes produce small wins. Over time, these small wins turn into bigger wins. And eventually, you’re spending a lot of time doing what you love while simultaneously bringing good into the world. And maybe even getting paid for it.

Don’t beat yourself up if you have no idea what your purpose is. It comes with time, life experience, and introspection. I’m still figuring mine out too, and I’m sure it’s a lifelong process. But here’s one thing you must understand: your top priority right now must be discovering your purpose in this season of life. When you do, you’ll be excited to spend your free time stepping deeper into who you’re created to be.

Finding Your Purpose in Your Strengths

There are clues hidden away that can help pinpoint why you’re here. These clues are your strengths. Your unique talents, giftings, and abilities… these are yours for a reason. They act as tools in your belt, enabling you to step into the life that is calling your name. Like any toolset, you must understand what each one does so that you can properly utilize it.

And if you’re afraid you don’t have any… go ahead and nip that idea in the bud right now. That’s a lie which has held you back from your destiny up until this point, and we’re going to work together to prove it to you right here, right now. When you understand your own strengths, you begin to take action, and you become unstoppable. Here are 3 ways to find them:

1.    What do you like to do?

This one is quite obvious, and it might be the one you’ve thought through before. The pastimes that you enjoy are great indicators. Many people have a go-to, like cooking or painting. Others haven’t found a hobby yet, which is totally okay. Think about the following questions:

• What activities make you light up?
• How do you spend your free time?
• How would you like to spend a day off with friends?
• When you work on a group project, what role do you like to play?
• What do you look forward to?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Some you’ll like, and others you won’t. But you can’t find your passion if you don’t give any passions a shot. Go to a dance class. Try writing in a journal. Go on a hike. Get a coloring book. Go to a networking event. Give yourself a chance to find what you like to do, and your strengths will start to reveal themselves to you.

2.    What aggravates you?

This one is a little different, but it’s honestly my favorite. It’s unexpected. Think about the last time you were aggravated by someone. Maybe you were in the office and someone did or said something that got under your skin. Or maybe it was in the classroom or on the court.

Oftentimes, our feelings about others show us more about ourselves than they do about that person. Think about why you felt upset. What does it show you about your own standards for yourself and for others? For example, in college group projects, I would get frustrated when people slacked off and didn’t pull their weight. When I think about why that is, I realize it’s because I believe every person should contribute their strengths to help the group achieve the common goal. With that thought process, I set my standards high for myself, and I recognize my strength of contributing to a team.

Really think back to the times you’ve recognized yourself getting frustrated, and try to trace those feelings back to a strength of your own.

3.    What compliments do you shrug off?

Many of us feel uncomfortable receiving compliments. Sometimes we feel like they’re unwarranted, and sometimes we feel like they’re just flat out wrong. But it’s important to recognize when you’re getting similar compliments over and over. To you, it may seem like everyone can do that thing as well as you can. But the fact that you’re receiving compliments about it means that other people notice you’re taking it to the next level, maybe even subconsciously.

And if you’re sitting there thinking, “I don’t really get compliments…” I’d ask you to pay a little bit more attention. I’d imagine there are people in your life, whether it’s family or friends or the friendly lady at the supermarket, that point out your strengths every once in a while. That’s the tough thing about shrugging something off… you don’t remember that instance as significant. But especially for compliments coming from people that you trust, you’ll want to start paying more attention. Understand what strength they’re pointing out, why they realized it in you, and then begin to take steps to develop it.

How to Maximize Your Strengths

It’s one thing to know your strengths. It’s another thing to really strengthen them. If you only skimmed through the beginning of this post, go back and read through it. Get out a pen and paper, and write down at least 5 or 6 of your own strengths. It might be uncomfortable, but this is the beginning of a new chapter for you. One where you own who you’re created to be. With your list at hand, start seeking out opportunities to flex those muscles.

Join Facebook groups or find a Meetup in your city to connect with likeminded people. Volunteer in a way that lets you hone that skill. Research opportunities to put yourself out there and get feedback (like Medium for writers, or an open mic for comedians).

There is No Silver Bullet

DeVon Franklin says, “Success is not an elevator, it’s a staircase. That means there are no shortcuts.” Instead of searching for that elevator button that will take you to the top, take the step right in front of you. You wouldn’t survive the altitude at the very top right now anyways… you don’t have the endurance. Start building. Start growing. Start becoming. It starts with baby steps. We all start with baby steps.

In our instant-gratification culture, it’s even more difficult to grasp this concept, but that also means that less people than ever are mastering their crafts. That leaves the door wide open for you. So, go do it.

Take the class. Give the speech. Make the art. Build the program. Start the business. Fail. Try again. Give yourself grace. Do better the next time. Keep going. You will get better, and you will surprise yourself (and others) with your progress.

PS – Thank you to Tourè Roberts for the inspiration. This man is such a solid, dedicated servant of the Lord, and he speaks so much truth into my life. Check him out if you’re looking to get inspired.