Inspiration

3 Key Questions That Will Help You Identify Your Gift

“Your whole life will have new meaning and direction when you recognize your gift and decide upon the most valuable way to use it.” Steve Harvey, Act Like a Success, Think Like A Success

A gift is not talent.

Everyone has a gift, but not every person recognizes what his or her gift is. Being able to identify it is the key to fulfilling the unique purpose of your life.

However, don’t confuse a gift with talent. Anyone can learn a talent, but a gift is something you’re born with.

Think of it this way: can any person take singing lessons to improve her voice? Yes, she can develop a singing talent. But can anyone sing like Whitney Houston? No. Whitney’s voice was her gift, and no one else (no matter how many lessons they take and how dedicated they are to furthering their talent) will sing quite like her.

If you’re not sure what your gift is, ask yourself these three questions:

• What can I do that I’m best at, with little effort on my part?

• What is the one thing that other people associate with me?

• I’ve listened to others connect this gift with me, so how have I used it?

Write down your answers and think about what you find. When you identify your gift, you now have the opportunity to live your richest life. The success you experience will be connected to that gift, but you have to figure out the most valuable way to use it.

Find yourself and reflect.

If your gift is writing, how can you use it in the most valuable way? Your way might not be in writing fiction—it could be motivational writing instead. Or, if your gift is listening, think of all the ways you could use it to benefit the most people.

To live your most fulfilling life, identify your gift by asking yourself the questions above.

What did you find?

30 Comment

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

  1. Just to say, I love watching the Steve Harvey show although most times its in the early hours of the morning, (I work during the day), I have been a loyal fan from his very first show and I love how he keeps it real. Now here is where I’m keeping it real and what I’m saying about the New Steve show. Well the show is fine, but as black woman who likes a black man to be well dressed as you always are, I must say that I am not liking the full bearded look. I would love to see Steve with a goatee, I’m sure that he would look more handsome. I’m happy that he has embraced the grey, but the full face makes him look older. Also, Steve, I know loves to be fashionable and I’ve purchased items from his clothing range for male friends of mine, but the skinny pants. No Steve, you are a tall guy those pants make your legs look like pencils!!! Not saying he should wear the balloon pants, but grown men past 50 don’t need to follow all the new fashion trends. I like grown men to look handsome in appropriate clothing. Just saying!!! Marjorie is a fine woman and always dresses wonderful and I know she wants her man to be trendy like her but not every fashion is for everyone.

    Not sure if my comment is in the right place, I was looking for somewhere that I could write to Steve or at least those who handle his messages. I would honestly love to hear from Steve, let me know what he thinks.

  2. I think my gift is to listen and motivate others.

    I often want to help others forgetting about myself and the life rules.

    How can I start my own business with this gift?

  3. Can a gift from God be modeling?

  4. I’m still not sure what my gift is and I’m not sure what I am best at doing with least effort but I think it might be to listen to who are felling down and to help them to not only feel better but to also motivate them. If my skill is to listen to and motivate people, how can I turn it into a business?

  5. I am a good listener and motivater which comes natural. A lot of people also say I’m funny and a good rhyme writer. Now I’m trying to figure out how can I put that all together or which one is my gift.

  6. I found your explanation of gift vs. talent spot on.

    My natural ability to easily connect and communicate with others has been evident since childhood. Striking conversations with the mailman as a kid brought smiles and laughter. My gift has open opportunities as a motivator, children ministry pastor & global trainer.

    With 25 years in the Travel Industry now terribly impacted by COVID-19, I find myself in a crossroads. 2020 was a year to better understand gift vs. talent and seek God’s plan for my next steps. All this is occurring, as I welcome a half century in 2 weeks, 30 years marriage with three children (two adults, one teen).

    Thank you for sharing your personal experience and depth of wisdom.

  7. I like to workout and helped people lose weight and helped with healthier eating habits… love , love dancing and helping people in any way I can and have for many years. But I also have had business tand investments that I failed at. But one thing is that I never lose hope.

  8. I believe my gift is writing. No not poems or stories, eventhough I have written a little booklet. But it is actually writing, the actual alphabets letters, I fell in love with writing over twenty years ago, the first person that inspired me was my mom, she would write the (cursive) letters exactly the way they would be on the bulletin boards in school. I discovered calligraphy and the letters are captivating, I’ve practiced down through the years, and profected many of them, the flourished letters. I do believe it is a gift. I only wish I could use it more.

  9. Mine is not comment but rather a question!!
    Can one person think about his talents and dreams while he is living in an unstable life?
    Looking forward to your advises!!

  10. After listening to Bro. Michael Stewart from the Church of Christ Cannan of Tobago it had me wondering about my gift. It’s a bit hard to figure out. But I will pray about it and seek guidance from God

  11. When someone can’t discover his talent what help can you render to them

  12. I like drawing and painting if I draw people alway admiring it please hoeycan I develop it

  13. Hi Steve, my gift is that I know a lot about maps and directions so a job with Google Maps may be in my future.

  14. I’m not sure of my gift. I guess it comes from my grandparents of the greatest generation (those of the World War 2 era), the morals, the very hard working ethic in life. Most things I do must be perfect. I COOK food that is heavenly and home cook tasting, I’m a good cook, I have this gift from my grandparents. I have a “Free-Spirited personality,” I’m that outgoing person, upbuilding, I motivate others, I’m a good listener, I’m a good influence upon others. I make people feel the light and worth in themselves. I put others first but I do not follow the life rules. I do believe everything is interconnected not in a little box, for life is far more valuable than being inside a boxed up world. I see beauty where others see nothing. I respect all of life. So my gifts are hard to come by and hard to point out just one, maybe many interconnected. I can’t point out my single gift.

  15. I don’t just know my own gift..but what I know is that I know how to ask questions…I’m good in it…and people said I’m a questionnaire

    1. That is exactly as good to great interviewer has in common. Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walter’s, Stephen Colbert, Johnny Carson etc. Local TV station personalities etc. Is a much needed and valuable gift. Hats off to you!

  16. My gift is loud deep masculine voice, how can I monetise it pls?

  17. My gift is a loud deep masculine voice, how can I monetise and contribute something to the society with it pls?

    1. I like getting creative and repurposing things I find. I enjoy crafts of all kinds and make some pretty cool stuff. My daughter has come over and taken pictures of my stuff and showed her friends. I’m just wondering if I could make a living off making these things. Will anyone want to buy these things? I make them for fun but now they’re just sitting around collecting dust and taking up space. Wouldn’t hurt to try I guess.

  18. I still haven’t figured out what my gift is. Everything I’ve done so far in my life has been through effort, even with my interests.

    Hopefully there’s a sign or something that can point me in the right direction to what my gift is one day.

    Until that moment comes, I’ll keep on working, and living life the best I can.

  19. I don’t even know what to say my is, am good in composing song and drama even comedy, but I don’t have a good singing voice but I love music with all my life, am not too good in acting a drama, but I also love passing messages through acting and illustrations. The kind of drama I love most is the one I will finish with preaching. Please how can I help my life with all this? Thanks sir .

  20. According to Steve’s advice,I have it hard to indentify my gift, but can the ability to perform well in studies be a gift?

  21. What do I do with my gift presents itself to my conscious?

  22. Now I find. Out 2 of my gift

  23. Your book led me to realize that writing is my gift. I now have nine published children’s books, all about friendship and kindness. Last night I finished writing number 10 and sent it off to my publisher. Thank you for helping me identify my gift!

  24. A gift of listening, encouraging, motivating, writing poetry, helping others see the bright side of things, pressing forward in adversity, intercessions, evangelism, teaching, presenting information to a large group of people, facilitating groups, touching lives through caring. So many gifts and talents, the more I think about it the more I come up with. Others have told me about my gifts. I need to package them in a marketable way. Thank you for sharing.

  25. GOD has given me the gift of Wisdom

  26. I want to divilopment at my family’s

  27. Hello, my name is Judith Barksdale and I reside with my husband in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Unlike him, I am always doing something creative. Not realizing that from a small child, I was frequently fascinated with making things with odd and ends, left over material from sewing, painting pictures, crafting, and so much more. Eventually, my Aunt got tired of me making a “mess” , but to me it was NOT a mess. I was being creative from something that to most was unusable. Due to my overabounding materials, she finally enrolled me in art school which I visited every Saturday. It was wonderful! I discovered another world; paint, fabric, brushes, using different things that others would have or did cast away, I was in my elements. To make a long story short, and not knowing the word for it, I was in my element! My second daughter also has the gift of creativity. She is somewhat like me – but she is not addicted to being “creative.” I am thankful that God, my Heavenly Father, has given me the gift of creativity. I am comforted by it. So, what shall I continue to do? Don’t stop using the gifts that my Heavenly Father has endowed upon me…. of which I am greatly thankful.

  28. I think mine is to think of business ideas in ashort space of time, I mean best ideas but eish ,I love business but I’m an underdog at the moment.
    But one day I will be at Steve’s show that I know very well.

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