The Woo In You
Writing is not one of my gifts. For me, writing is an ability of compensation, not a gift of genius. Knowing that, you can imagine how writing this column challenges me! This month it required many showers, a film, and a written passage to prompt my prose. The result will be a three part series.
To begin, I invite you to consider your unique gifts. In my experience, these talents often seem ordinary to the person who possesses them. The ability feels so completely natural and easy, you might not even consider it special because the assumption is that "everyone has/can do that!"
My husband, Mark (pictured above), possesses the gift of "Woo" (StrengthFinders 2.0). He's the "Hey, howya doin'? Great to see you!" chat-you-up-for-a-few-energetic-minutes-guy and then he moves on to the next person on the other side of the room to spread a little more Woo. It boggles my mind. How does he do that? He makes it look so easy!
I believe, for Mark, it truly is that easy. Wooing others is one of his gifts. Even if he tried to stop himself, the capacity is within him and springs from his essence. This gift provides him with incredible support to blast through any possible limitations, and allows him to live in his "Zone of Genius" (The Big Leap). Conversely, when the talent is used as a protection - a defense from intimacy - it becomes the limitation.
Each of us has within things we can't help but do - genius in our essence that simply emerges. A list of examples would know no bounds, and the combination of an individual's gifts (ie: baking talent, intuitive "common" sense, compassion, and an ability create comfort), is as exceptional as each of us. The challenge is appreciating the fullness of what we have within us. Discovering one's gifts is such a richly charged topic, we spend an entire day identifying and celebrating them during the What's Next?! Workshop series!
So, what's your Woo? Allow yourself the time and space to bring attention to your uniquely personal gifts. Begin by noticing what the things are that you cannot help but do. You've probably always done them in some way, since you were little. It will be something easy for you, so absolutely obvious, that you may have a moment of doubt as to whether THAT could possibly be considered a gift. Appreciating what you have within you is a powerful step on the path of self-awareness; plus it's fun and may give you a little boost to recognize just how special you truly are!
With my gift of genuine curiosity,
Joanne Lutz