door #13: your gifts

I just started knocking on this door about 4 months ago. I came across this door after I began opening others and this question would come up "what are your gifts?" and I couldn't and still can't really answer it. Huh? Come join me to figure the gifts that we were born with so we can put them out into the world. These gifts are totally free but take time and intention to try to figure out.

We are ALL have gifts  - some figure it out early because they are obvious (music, art, IQ, athletics) yet most of our gifts are subtle. Typically, we just chug along in life, meeting everyone's expectation, getting busy and life just goes on. The trigger to discover your unique gifts may be some big life event that forces to you consider what you are doing and why. But, how great would it be to discover them intentionally so you can start using them immediately? Let's do it.

Gifts = Strengths and Talents = your Purpose

It takes lot of experience (jobs, relationships, decisions) to figure out what you like and don't like. It takes time to figure out what brings you joy and what doesn't. Once you start to get really, really curious about these things, you'll begin to align yourself with what you were born to do.

What would you do if time, money or other people's expectations were not a consideration? Your answer may come quickly or it may take a REALLY long time to figure out - usually the latter. Until you know the answer, you can't align your life with your purpose for being put on this earth and you'll always be searching even if everything on the surface seems great. I know, I'm experiencing this right now.

Discover your life's purpose. I asked my husband last week, 'what's your life purpose?' and he replied, 'to take care of my family'. Really sweet and thankful for this and said, 'when you were born you didn't have us. The desire to take care of us may be a responsibility but it's not your GIFT'. The conversation didn't go much further! :)

Maybe my trigger was hitting my mid-forties and thinking what the heck am I going to be doing for the next 5, 10, 15 years. You can ask yourself this at any point in your life. Many do but are driving full steam ahead to the future or just achieving goals versus getting quiet and getting curious about why we are even here in the first place. We take it for granted, really. Hanging behind Door #13 requires reflection, patience, digging deep within ourselves, asking questions, trial and error, discovering 'flow' (when you are doing something that seem effortless), seeking help....

I want to get clear of my gifts/talents/strengths so I can live the rest of my life in the most meaningful way. So I can be AUTHENTIC in everything  that I do. So I am doing what I love and loving what I do.

With some self-discovery and opening other doors, here my unique gifts, I think:

Compassion - I don't care who you are, where you came from or how much you have, I care about you.

Big picture and little details - I can quickly figure out how to connect dots and understand a story and how to get from point A to B.

Heart - In everything I do, I must lead with my heart/love or else it's not authentic and feels really crappy.

No resentment - It's almost impossible for me to resent anyone or anything. I might not forget something but I never hold a grudge. I believe we are all trying to do the best we can.

What unique gifts did you bring into this world and how are you using them? This is our *foundation* and everything we do must come from this place. Discover them with me, please. I'm delighted to welcome you to come through Door #13, plus it's my favorite #! 

With love,
Katie