Each of us is born with gifts: the skills and capacities at which we naturally excel. For some, they are intellectual. For others, they are artistic. For others, they are interpersonal or simply in their humor, compassion, patience, etc. But everyone has gifts.
We usually think of these as gifts from God, life, or the universe. We call them gifts because we know we can’t really take credit for them. We were simply born with them. They were gifted to us.
But I like to think of it a bit differently. Yes, they were gifted to us. We can’t really take credit. But these gifts are not meant for us. We are just the middle man, the delivery mechanism. They are not just gifts to us. They are ultimately meant as gifts from us.
Sometimes sharing our gifts feels like an indulgence. Many of us hide them away because we don’t want to take up too much space or come off as egotistical or showing off.
But what if we truly saw ourselves as simply shepherding them to their final destination? From that lens, it’s not at all indulgent to share our gifts. In fact, we might actually think of it as selfish or unethical to hold them back from the world. The world needs these gifts. It’s up to each of us to make sure they get delivered.
What are the gifts you are meant to deliver to the world?
Peter Schulte
I help aspiring changemakers do good in the world and feel good in the process.