I've been working on a novel for over a year and a half. As is the nature of the creative process, I have gone from believing in myself wholeheartedly to being paralyzed with fear and indecision and back again a dozen times. Lately, though, the words have just been pouring out of me. I've been relishing telling this story. Not, and this is an important distinction, people reading this story. Just the act of telling it. Sometimes, when I successfully quiet the part of me that craves recognition and demands accomplishment, I find that storytelling is its own reward.

Storytelling is one of my greatest gifts. Gifts are more than just things we excel at. Sharing your gifts means connecting with something larger than yourself. Gifts are meaningful, purposeful, even spiritual. I often conflate achievement with purpose (hello, perfectionism!) but the purpose I feel when I am writing a story runs deeper. It makes me feel like my highest self. It makes me feel connected with something divine. And it enables me to touch the lives of others.

I am lucky to have discovered this gift relatively early in my life. Purpose does not always fall into place so quickly. How can each of us discover and utilize our unique gifts to bring purpose to our lives?

For starters, and it might seem obvious...find what captivates you. Notice what puts you in a flow state. Have you ever started an activity only to look at the clock and realize hours have gone by? That's flow. Doing something that transcends time can feel like connecting to a higher consciousness.

Once you understand what elevates your own vibrations, ask yourself how you do the same for others. Imagine a scenario in which you are the one person best suited to offer your help. What are people coming to you for? Are you always being asked to stand up for someone else, to take on conflicts that scare others away? Do people come to you to better understand the relationships in their lives? Do you brighten people's days with your sense of humor? Do people come to you to be comforted and taken care of?

Know that not all gifts have straightforward labels. Don't just try on butcher, baker, and candlestick maker. You might have to get creative in how you characterize that one special gift. That's why I prefer 'storyteller' or 'communicator' over 'writer.' For one thing, I tell stories and communicate ideas in more ways than just writing. I am a gifted conversationalist and entertainer. I am great at consolidating many threads into one theme, whether I'm weaving a plot of a novel or just constructing a yoga class. And I think someone would come to me if they needed help expressing a complicated idea. Your gift might not be a job title or a succinct little nugget. Mine your vocabulary to accurately describe what makes you tick.

The wonderful thing about gifts is that everyone has one. If you haven't identified it yet, that doesn't mean it's not there. It doesn't even mean you're not already sharing it! Only that you haven't named it. Just keep pursuing what lights you up, keep giving back to your community in whatever way you can, and keep listening when the universe speaks.

💞 In love and light,

Jo-Jo