Do You Know Your Talent?

Recently, while we were watching the Big Brother Africa reality TV show, captioned “Big Brother Hotshots”, and because most of the housemates in the show have showcased one talent or another, a friend of mine said to me;

“All these talents talents talents everywhere, what’s my talent sef? Do you know I don’t know my talent? I’ve not discovered my talent o!”.

And this is someone in her late twenties. She said that without an iota of worry. To her, she was just being funny to herself and with herself. But I think, that is the worst place to be. It’s as good as not having a focus and vision in life. You don’t even feel peace within you no matter how you may want to pretend about it. Something within you keeps reminding you that something is missing somewhere and until you listen, it will not go away because your talent is for a purpose in life.

Now, how can one discover their talents when they don’t even know what they want out of life? You attend auditions for The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Project Fame, Big Brother Nigeria, Next Nollywood Star, Maltina Dance All, etcetera, year in year out. Can you really sing? Can you act? Can you dance? Why waste your time attending those auditions when you don’t have the prerequisites for the entry? Do you just want to be seen on the screens? Perhaps, you have a blind spot for your abilities, inquire of someone whether or not you can do what.

How can one discover their talents when they don’t get to have some quiet time once in a while? You are always seen in the midst of friends, gossiping, chatting about frivolous things and shouting at the top of your voices. The only alone times you get are either spent on computer games or sleep. Even comedians that we might see as talkative champions do get to have some moments of solitude and reflection. There is time for everything. Once you can devote some time for reflections, you will find your talent.

Finding one’s talent is just one aspect; utilizing it is another. Some people never get to discover their talents in life, some discover it but don’t take it beyond that. The best place is when you discover it and use it successfully. It may not necessarily be acting, dancing or singing but you have something which most people lack. There is something you can do that anybody cannot just do. Yes, that is it! That is a talent or a gift, whichever one you may choose to call it. Be one of the pioneers that will sell that unique kind of gift that you have to the world. Just like comedy, for instance; it was someone that discovered the art of comedy. They discovered that they could make people laugh without trying so hard and then figured how they could earn a living while at it. Today, it has become a profession, and an attractive one at that all because some people used their brains.

Then, ensure that what you do is what you enjoy. God cannot give you gifts you don’t enjoy. So, that should be your first consideration in finding your talent. If you don’t enjoy it, you know it’s not meant for you. Don’t let the craving for affluence lead you to choose wrongly because you would have deceived yourself at the end of the day.

Your success lies in your talent. Could we also re-phrase the statement to mean that you can never be successful until you use your talent? Remember, the reward you get for doing what you love and enjoy is wealth.