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The world can be a bit chaotic sometimes, and the hard part is it’s so easy to get lost without an ounce of idea which path we’re leading.
Yet, amidst the confusion, we have ideals and visions we want to pursue, one of which is finding a career we’re truly passionate about.
To have a job that doesn’t feel like work — isn’t it a dream?
So in this post, we will explore this topic deeper. What I’m about to share isn’t just another piece of generic follow-your-passion advice but rather a realization from my life-long experience focused on finding that “passion.”
Ready? Here we go!
Passion and Core Gift
First, let’s clarify the difference between passion and an innate gift.
As we know, passion ignites our inner fire. It’s a career or a hobby that involves deep emotions and a sense of fulfillment in what we do, driving us excited and motivated.
When we’re working on something we’re passionate about, time seems to fly, making us feel alive. And you’d easily notice that passion in yourself. You’re on fire!
Personally, I would even feel butterflies!
Meanwhile, your core gift is something more intrinsic. It’s so ingrained in your nature that you don’t even pay much attention to it. You didn’t pay for training or what, but you do it out of your own will and poof, it naturally flows.
It’s an ability that’s always been with us. But because it’s so natural to you, you might not even realize it’s there. Pretty tricky isn’t it?
And that’s why many can feel lost in this “find your passion” game.
They’re focused on the feeling, rather than the true element that makes them who they are.
Simply put, think of passion as the output—what you express and feel. But your core gift is the input—the inherent ability working in the depths of your heart and mind, that can manifest into reality in different shapes and forms.
Here’s an example to further differentiate the two:
In my early 20s, it drove me crazy because I didn’t understand my direction and purpose. I called myself a jack of all trades, but a master of nothing.
It’s only now, in my late 20s, that I’m realizing who I really am.
After much reflection, I’ve realized my passions stem from something deeper.
My passion isn’t just in writing. It goes beyond wielding a pen or being crafty with words. There’s a greater depth to it.
Why would someone enjoy writing? For me, it’s a result of my core gifts—my insatiable curiosity and capacity for self-reflection.
These core gifts are the roots, while passions, hobbies, and careers are the branches.
Because I’m an introvert, the only medium I knew back then was to write. I would jot down my dreams and daydreams for fiction plots, document my experiences in a journal, and publish my self-reflections on blogs.
This is how I became a passionate writer.
However, becoming a teacher was a game-changer. It trained me to express my thoughts more coherently. And voilà! I learned to express my thoughts more clearly and discovered a love for engaging others and provoking thought.
Now, I almost never shut up with topics I find amusing. Just ask my partner, who thankfully, is a deep thinker, too. Give us a life topic to start with and we’ll be talking for HOURS.
Going back, my nature — and my core gifts — has blossomed into various forms: writing, teaching, acting as a personal therapist to friends (breaking down their mental breakdowns is my specialty, lol), and becoming a jack of all trades, open to exploration.
So is writing my passion? Yes.
Teaching and helping others see other perspectives? Yes.
Trying out concepts? Yes, very passionate.
But my core gift? It’s the large storage for curiosity and self-reflection.
We didn’t notice it at all, but all our lives, we find ways to cultivate these strengths, maybe in forms of personal projects or weekend hobbies.
Unfortunately, many feel lost because they don’t realize how these strengths can be transformed into a passionate career and a main source of income. It’s heartbreaking to drift through life without ever finding our true purpose.
That’s why we must take the journey to recognize and cultivate our God-given talents so we can share it with other people, too. Here’s how to identify our core gifts.
How To Find Your Core Gift
I firmly believe that many of us want to live up to most of our potential, but one thing that hinders us is not knowing our true strengths and capabilities.
People get so lost about their purpose, working just for paychecks. It’s not wrong to be a responsible person who pays the bill.
But I believe there’s a greater plan for you, and the first thing to do is understand your core gift and go hard on your passions.
1. It’s something easy for you but hard for others.
A core gift is a talent you’ve naturally developed over the years, something that comes effortlessly to you. You might even think that people are naturally as talented as you. But surprise, surprise, it’s not always the case.
While you effortlessly match colors for painting, you discover that other people are ridiculously unskilled at it.
While your hand carves beautifully made ink strokes, other people like me couldn’t make a straight line even with a ruler (but I’ve made progress!).
This is the same for me, too. Not to sound braggy, but I was a quiet kid with a vivid inner mind.
From a young age, I was a visionary, often surprising my teachers with unexpected ideas. Ha! Always got high grades for doing that.
Yet, I didn’t think highly of myself because I can also enumerate my classmates’ strengths, and they’re awesome in their own ways. (Is it weird enumerating people’s abilities??? I hope not.)
I assumed my peers were simply shy about expressing their thoughts, but it turns out my way of thinking was unique, which posed challenges as I grew older.
It’s difficult to fit into society when you’re a little “weird,” you know?
What about you? What skill do people praise you for, but for you, it’s just something that comes naturally? List the skills that, when mentioned, people automatically know you’re the person fit for the job.
Related Post: How To Focus When You Have Too Many Goals in Life
2. People around you scold you for doing it too much.
Now, here’s another sign that you’re tapping on your core gift. People start to scold you because you’re doing it too much!
Say you almost forget to eat your meals because you hide inside your room, engrossed in reading books. (You’re probably an intuitive!)
Maybe you’re always off on new adventures, whether hitting the beach, mountain biking, or hiking, just to satisfy your craving for excitement. (You’re kinesthetically awesome!)
Or perhaps you vanish into your mini studio, and your family sees you no more as you spend days crafting your diorama, even if it’s just your personal project.
You just do it too much and still do it anyway despite the people nagging you for it. If you can point out these skills you have, then consider the probability that it’s displaying one of your core gifts.
3. You feel shy when accepting payment for it.
When in college, my batch mates and old high school classmates asked me to write their essays and research papers.
While I knew I loved writing, I felt scared that I was not really good enough, so I did the work, but I refused the payment.
Even during financial slumps, I would undercharge for my services because I’ve always thought of myself as mediocre even if I’ve been passionate about it all my life.
I consistently undervalued myself.
It’s sometimes troublesome to carry a high standard for our craft. Others see us as good at it, but we, who’s been doing it for almost all our life, feel shy about it.
If this is you, it’s time to wake up! The passion you’ve been downplaying could be the key to a fulfilling, passion-based career.
4. It’s something innate in you from childhood.
Core gifts are usually something we’ve cultivated from childhood. Because it’s an intrinsic gift, it’s probably one of your defaults where you unconsciously use it daily.
To better understand these gifts, we can refer to Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which categorizes people’s Intelligence beyond just IQ or EQ. According to Gardner, these intelligences include:
- Linguistic Intelligence (word smart)
- Logical-mathematical Intelligence (numbers and reasoning smart)
- Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (body smart)
- Naturalistic Intelligence (nature smart)
- Spatial Intelligence (picture smart)
- Musical Intelligence (music smart)
- Interpersonal Intelligence (people smart)
- Intrapersonal Intelligence (self-smart)
To understand your core gift, you can learn about Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences and evaluate which intelligences may seem to fit you. You can then build a foundation based on your strengths.
I first encountered this theory in university, and it was a pivotal moment in my self-examination journey.
Which of the following has been innate with you since childhood? Start from there.
How To Find Your Passion-based Career
1. Understand your strengths and core gifts
Many people live their lifetime spending their years on a job that they loathed, and never ever finding a path where they utilized their true strengths.
But once you take the journey of learning yourself, it’s a huge step toward finding your true purpose. You’ll start seeking jobs, careers, and tasks that align with your innate gifts.
Even when faced with challenges, you’ll find yourself returning to these pursuits because they are not just passions but intrinsic talents ingrained in you.
2. Find the confidence to reveal that passion
The next step is finding the confidence to share your passion with the world.
If you’re like me – an introverted, private woman – who kept her passion and plans to herself, then I know that showing what you really have can be difficult and can trigger even anxiety.
However, if you know it’s your calling, you must take one step at a time to bring it into the open. This is the only way we can grow further.
3. Offer your services
When I started blogging, I was terrified of criticism, especially in the early months.
I feared people would judge me for quitting my job as a college instructor to pursue writing, freelancing, and creating websites. My irrationality seemed to shoot up the roof; I was earning nearly nothing.
For two years, I was embarrassed for anyone to learn about my profession.
But now, I’ve been more confident and constructive about it. I outgrew my fear and realized how amazing it is to be free and offer your services confidently.
If you want to make a career path based on your passion, you must be thick-skinned and committed.
While you will learn much on your own, offering your services through employment or your business will teach you even more.
Serving others with your talents not only benefits them but also nurtures and grows your God-given abilities.
Remember the parable of the talents? Much will be given to those who can grow and multiply their skills.
Use your talents wisely. Because if you don’t use it, you lose it.
That’s it. I hope this post gave you insights! 🙂
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