For decades, motivational speakers have told us to follow our passion, well I say follow your gift and here's why.
What is this a God-Given Gift?
The definition of God-given refers to something, usually a talent or ability, that is either innate (not learned) or that is so extraordinary that it could only have come from a higher power.
My definition of your God-given gift is
Something that you can do that gives you the maximum impact with the most minimal input or the maximum effect with the most minimal effort.
Something that you can do so well without thinking, without much effort, it appears to come to you naturally. When you do it, people immediately see how good you are at it and appreciate you, or quickly recognise you for it.
Our gifts are the abilities that come so naturally to us, we are born with them, often they are so natural to us that sometimes we don't even realize that we have them. In many instances, it is often the people around us see the gift in us better, so they tell us that we are good in a particular area or at doing a particular thing. It's what you just know how to do right on the inside of you, you didn't really learn it, you just do it.
We sometimes take this ability for granted because we didn't pay any price or go through any pain, effort or training to acquire the ability or skill.
Now, this gift is natural and raw so you do have to work on it, which will involve effort and discipline. You need to use it, grow it develop it, learn more about it and most of all explore your ability to use it to its full potential.
It is your superpower!
We have all watched superhero movies where the hero just discovers his powers but doesn't know how to use or control them? That's you with your gift if you haven't explored it yet.
What Then is Passion?
Your passion, on the other hand, is what you have a deep desire to achieve or become in life regardless of the pain, blood, sweat and tears you have to experience to accomplish it. Websters defines it as an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction, a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept, an object of desire or deep interest.
Passion is developed, while your gift is discovered. Your passion is a product of interest, while your gift is innate.
There is absolutely nothing in life that you cannot achieve if you are determined and you put your mind to it. Your ability to accomplish anything at all in life is based on an equation;
Accomplishment = Time + Effort
If you pursue anything that you are not naturally gifted for you are just going to spend more time and more effort, i.e more blood, sweat, pain and tears. The distance between your passion and your gift is directionally proportional to the amount of time and effort it will take you to eventually accomplish success.
You will eventually breakthrough if you are determined and push hard enough, and your success story will be emotional and interesting, but why go through the trauma when you can simply follow your gift?
Finally, the Bible tells us that it is your gift that will make room for you - not your passion.
"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men" Proverbs 18:16
When you follow your passion, if it is not aligned with the gift you will find yourself struggling to make room for yourself. You will eventually make it, but it would have been a very long, tough road. So follow your gift wherever it leads you, it will create opportunities for you and open up doors you never knew where there. Your gift will lead you to your destiny and ultimately to your divine purpose in life.
Follow your gift - Not your passion!
Written by Lady Shayo Imologome
Business Growth Strategist, Management Consultant, and Keynote Speaker
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