7 easy steps to help you find what you are good at (and help you be good at it)

I don't understand why the things I am naturally good at can't also be the things that are formally recognized as useful skills. For example: sleeping in.

Yeah, whatever!

Hitting 'snooze' on my alarm clock, rolling over and falling back into the deepest of slumbers is hands down one of my best skills.

This is an area where I thrive. I didn't need lessons or an instructor or even a mentor to perfect my ability to stay asleep for hours after I am expected to get up. But noooo, sleeping too much is frowned upon. I hate to say it. But hey, I didn't make the rules, I just follow them.

Tell me about it!

So I am forced to find deep within myself, a talent I actually possess, that is at the same time...good? I remember my mom always used to say she hated this quote about choosing a career, "Find what you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

"But I love watching TV!" she would say.

Mom. Relax.

You're taking this whole love thing entirely too literal. They don't really mean what you love to do.

They mean, out of the things that you can actually stand to do some of the time, do any of those happen to produce some sort of revenue? Yeah? Ok, that's it. That's the one.

You got it, ma. Now go for it.

So if you have a friend group, or you at least have a couple of people you follow on Instagram, who you would love to someday hang out with, you have probably experienced the feeling that you have to be good at something.

So look no further friends (and Instagram people dying to meet me) (just kidding.) Here are 7 easy steps to help you find what you are good at and help you be at good at it.

• • •

1. Broaden your list of possible skills.

Classic, man.

But seriously. There are other things to do besides being a:

• photographer
• singer
• musician
• dancer
• make-up artist
• hair stylist
• graphic designer
• model
• actor
• minister
• business owner
• rapper
• Youtuber
• blogger
• digital media-er
• clothing designer
• a finger nail designer
• writer
• skateboarder
• or a painter.

I can't think of any right now because that list was extremely long, all-encompassing and exhausted just about every skill I've ever heard of ever.

But don't be fooled. There ARE others.



Ok. Here we go. I got one. 

A babysitter.

2. Don't overlook your gifts.

Don't even think for a second that being good with kids comes easy to everyone. Uh-uh. YOU are ridiculously good with children for a reason. Some people are terrified at the thought of changing a diaper. You think it's all cute, you baby sitter, you.

I remember I used to really want to write, but I was ashamed to be a writer because "everyone can write," I thought. My sister was like

No "they" can't.

She said I only think writing is so easy because it comes naturally to me. She was basically like- "Holly, you're all like...

this."

And we're all like-

Um...nah.

3. Stop comparing yourself to the best of the best.

Do you think I'm as good of a dancer as Michael Jackson?

Of course you look up to the experts in your field, but do you honestly expect to just come out the womb thriving like they thrive?

All together now!

I would know. In that same conversation with my sister, I told her that I am no where near as good as other writers. And because she knew what shows I watched at the time and was already familiar with what impressed me, she asked, "Who are you comparing yourself to? Mindy Kaling?"

"Of course not," she said. "Look how much experience she has." She reminded me that I can't put a limit on what God wants to use me for. And more importantly, I can't put a limit on God.

Thanks Joy.

4. Remember the reason you have great skills in the first place.

God gave us gifts so that He may be glorified.

 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[1 Peter 4:10-11]

If something you want to be great at feels like a burden, maybe you're not doing it for the right reasons. 

I heard someone say (and this is probs in the bible, but I'm too lazy to look it up) once you boast about something, God cannot reward you publicly, because you already received you reward when people said, "Wow, you're so good at that."

Spare us.

God's desire is for us to bring honor to Him, not ourselves. He desires this because He is much better at rewarding than we are.

5. Don't copy anyone else.

Last night at bible study my pastor was talking about how, when you get in someone else's lane you are automatically working under an insufficient amount of grace. God gives you supernatural, appropriated grace to do just what he called you to do, not for you to complete someone else's assignment.

Besides, people will notice if your new skill is an exact replica of that other person's skill, who y'all both know.

Especially if your thing just randomly pops up right when they were doing their thing.

Just stay in your lane, ok?

6. Stay away from pyramid schemes or tying to sell something you didn't create.

I'm not sure why but I have a feeling that your thing is not tricking people into paying $99 for a protein shake so that you can earn back a portion of the $99 you lost when you bought the dream.

God has more for you, seriously.

7. Be obedient.

I never write a blog post, without consulting God first. I don't want to just pull something random out of my hat and release it into cyberspace then all of y'all are doomed. Lol.

Sometimes God will even tell me to wait before I post something, because there is more He wants to reveal to me before I try to just piece things together as they make sense to me. This can even be hard at times because I feel like I could post something everyday if I wanted. But I have to remember to be obedient and ask God what he wants me to do.

Well I hope you feel motivated to channel your unique, especially designed for you, one-of-a-kind skills. If you have any questions, just ask. You can probably guess what I'll be doing...