"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" - Benjamin Franklin
The most exciting place to discover and actualize your talent is in
yourself. What does it mean to realize your talents, and how do you do
it? When you actualize your talents you understand them clearly and
bring them forth out into the world. Understanding and expressing your
talent is an active, continuing process of knowing what you can do and
who you are, at your deepest level.
People who actualize their talents actively participate in the ongoing
process in which one's abilities are fully, creatively and
enthusiastically expressed.
"Self actualization means working to do well the thing that one wants to do." - Abraham Maslow
The roots of developing your natural talents are in your learning and
coping skills. Do you seek opportunities to learn and grow, stretch
beyond your current abilities even if part of the process includes
mistakes and criticism? Or do you keep safely within limitations that
allow you to evade judgment and vulnerability? Authenticity,
self-confidence and self-worth development is an important to the
expansion of your talents as is the mastery of actual skills and
knowledge.
Emotional intelligence, the mind and other aspects of
being human can impact how you relate to the world and other people,
and express your talents. Living authentically with passion and purpose
instead of though the well-meaning 'should-be and suppose to'
directions of others is essential to your growth as a creative person
in all areas of your life. How you react, and your awareness level of
your reactions, to the events of your life shape your ability to
express your potential.
"We are all master inventors, creating our experience in every moment... create what is authentic to you!" - Peter Boyd
As with suppressing emotions, suppressing your natural creative talents
ultimately results in dissatisfaction and depression. Simply put,
holding yourself back is bad for your health, emotionally and
physically. Expressing your creative talent is not just about splashing
paint on canvas or writing or performing at a world-class level.
Full creative expression involves the application of certain
attitudes, such as curiosity, metamorphosis, playfulness and
experimentation, to any aspect of life.
"Authentic treachery is found when we abandon ourselves, becoming deaf
to the whispers of our spirits and blind to the powerful potential
therein" - Joaquin Mariel Espinosa
To live creatively, actualizing your talents, is to live your life in
the moment and at full-blast. If your ego, that woefully misguided
Inner Critic, has held you back from living out loud in your creative
expression, disarm it; take away its power to be aware of your choices,
actions and that which you experience.
There's an easy way to determine whether or not you are expressing or
suppressing your natural talents. Be aware to how you feel. If
you're tired, unmotivated, or unfulfilled you are holding yourself
back. You have given your personal and creative powers over to your critical mind. If you feel good, productive and full of energy then you
have tapped into the vast resource that is your birthright, your
personal power, your inborn talent.
Actualizing your "authentic awareness" (you) is a process felt in the heart, knowing your truth,
purpose and passion in life. This is the voice of your intuition and
inspiration, your muse. Acknowledge, honor and nurture your talents that are your birthright to maximize your full potential.
"See, speak and act in the direction of your dreams."
