Latent talent activation is one of many things we require as humans to put our hidden talents to profitable use.
As many as the number of Creatives there are in the world, there are still a lot more who are potentially ingenious but are yet to discover some or any of the talents, talk more, putting it to beneficial use for ourselves and the world in entirety. Talent discovery and activation is directly linked to, and interconnected with our personal discovery as well as an apt understanding of what talent itself really is.
Talent refers to a remarkable natural ability to do something well, especially in artistic areas which can be developed through adequate training and constant practice.
Talent can also be described as the abilities that we are born with, which lead to an effortless, satisfactory performance both in learning and in the accomplishment of tasks. For example, the talent to draw and create graphic patterns, dance, sing, negotiate, invent or innovate and communicate. In simple terms, anything you can do excellently without struggle is your talent.
In as much as talent can be likened to skill, there is a difference between possessing a skill and having the talent to perform that skill.
Talent like grace is a free gift to us all. Every being is endowed with a measure of one talent or another however in varying amount or proportion. While it lays untapped and undiscovered (which I call latent) in some, others who realize and activate theirs gain immeasurable benefits from it.
Latent talent is talent that is, unexploited, undiscovered, and inactive most times as a result of a lack of self awareness or self confidence and fear to explore what lies within. Even the most talented people (famous musicians, athletes, dancers, artists, writers, public and or motivational speakers) we know all around the world have some latent talent in them, which they ignore after finding the one that fetches them money and sometimes, that could turn out to be a learned skill and not their actual natural talent.
In as much as you might want to chase the paper and do what pays more, there is grave need to activate your latent talent so you don’t end up dashing it to the graveyard.
Below are a few tips on how to discover/identify your latent talent and make the best use of it.
1. Introspect And Find Out What Makes You Feel Strong.
It is highly necessary to delve into your mind in the quest to self discovery. When you’re attempting to identify who you really are, basic things such as asking yourself questions, making a list of what your favorite hobbies are and peering through memories are crucial steps to begin with. Try taking a character quiz or Personality Test too to understand yourself better.
You should learn to keep track of how you spend the next three to five days: have something like a journal wherein you take note of all you do, feel and think about daily? Write down everything that energizes you and makes you feel strong. It could be a particular physical or social activity such as working-out, meeting up and going dancing with friends or a mental activity such as finding a solution to a difficult problem. At the end of the week, you should have found a few things you repeatedly do and love, dig deeper and see what part of that particular activity made you feel good.
2. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone.
Stepping out of your comfort zone might seem like a grievous burden but trust me, it’s worth the attempt. It’s high time you ditched your fear of the unknown and explore the world rather than get anxious, angry and apprehensive or live in oblivion. The worst situation is being oblivious of your very own self.
Resist fear and go out of your way to test your strengths and improve your abilities. Whether you want to facilitate the nourishment of your mind or transition into a different career with a new talent, you need to take risks, make time that is just for you; self-discovery requires only ‘you time’, build on a current skill you have, try an activity you have never experienced, enroll in a class that teaches you a subject you’re interested in, volunteer to help in community service, meet new people and become passionate about something.
3. Travel And Explore The World
Sometimes it pays to damn the cost, time or responsibilities and just take a break from your own environment to explore the vast world we live in, this is especially important in the journey of self discovery. When you're away from your usual comfortable environment, is when you learn the most about yourself You might not necessarily have the resources to journey far and wide, but try as much as possible to visit a different location and see exotic sights, learn new cultures even if it's just a holiday vacation tour. Trust me, the feeling is rejuvenating. If you are one of those people who get nostalgic when you are away from home, you can just spend a few hours of your day or one day of the weekend somewhere within your State or a neighboring state to explore different sights. A day away from home will definitely not kill you. It could perhaps make you stronger against the hysteria you feel being away from home. If you want to take a tour but don't know how to go about it, contact Travelwaka Tours for adequate guide on pocket friendly tour sites and activities.
4. Identify Your Strengths And Weaknesses.
You may not be able to accurately identify your capabilities if you don't do an SW (strengths - weaknesses) Analysis. Take out some time either in the start of the day or at night before you go to bed to critically reflect on your strengths and weaknesses; write down your positive traits and your inadequacies. Do not trivialize anything you do well and don't live in self consolation with things you know are negative. As simple as multitasking can be for some people, it's a huge struggle for others. Eagerly strive for improvement and strike out your faults.
A personality test is a popular source for self-discovery. A simple Google search will yield dozens of free, accurate and reliable personality tests that utilize a diverse display of measurements, theories and algorithms. Knowing your personality type theory to elementary questions that dive deep within your mind, a character quiz can assess your strengths, help you find a hidden talent and even employ a desire to improve yourself.
5. Revisit Your Past Achievements And Interests And Ask Your Family What Your Childhood Interests Were.
Checking your high school Report Cards is one apt recommendation because High school is the bridge between childhood and adulthood, a time when we are exuberant and keen to try our passions with all intensity. Even though life experiences and desires could sway us different directions along the way, teenage aspirations are some of the surest things that define our truest desires. Your high school report cards are artifacts that offer a historical account of what you were most interested in or what courses were easier than others. An A1 in English suggests you are a natural at reading and writing, while a C4 in mathematics proves numbers are not your strong point. You could also have been a genius in Arts bagging all the A(s).
Perhaps you won a medal or two in some games, think about what motivated you and that could be a great guide to helping you redirect your steps towards activating your talent.
6. Ask Others What Qualities They Admire Or Dislike About You.
Oftentimes, how you see yourself is very different to how others see you. Find out what others value most about you. Ask your friends, partner and family members what they love most about your personality. The great thing about asking people who know you well about your qualities is that you’ll get consistent replies although you can’t rule out the possibility of variations. It’s quite enlightening to hear different people see you in the same light and this is definitely an indicator of talent. The trick with talents and strengths is that they seem so normal to us that we tend to take them for granted and don’t realize that they exist and that they are your biggest asset.
7. Determine What You Willingly Spend Your Money On Without Persuasion.
Take note of what you spend your money without any marketer coming to persuade you because our core values are closely linked with what we spend our money and time on. I don’t mean basic or necessary secondary needs. Things you buy to give yourself a treat or make yourself feel good. There’s a high possibility that your talent is inclined to the fashion world if you spend most of your money buying clothing and accessories. If you like spending money on hanging out with friends, then you definitely like bringing people together and starting a show-business or events management and hype-personnel will be great for you.
8. Look Out For And Appreciate Talent In Others.
Rather than throw tantrums and jealous feats, you should appreciate the talent of other and even help those who are yet to discover theirs to realize and activate it. That way, you could gain some inspiration to fuel yours. If you are a writer and you read something that absolutely connects with your soul, try to define what exactly lit you up. You can also ask for mentorship from people whose’ talents are in tune with yours.
9. Embrace Change and Engage In Healthy Competitions.
Talking about healthy competitions, Eastern Hub Talent Competition is the best you can think of and auditions for the next edition is ongoing. I bet you don’t wanna miss it. You can slide into our social media handles for exclusive pix on the previous one. Seeing, they say is believing.
Don’t allow yourself to be complacent by telling yourself the same story over and over again. If you say, I’m not athletic because I didn’t play sports in high school, you’re not giving yourself a chance to identify new talents. Be open to change and let go of rigid perceptions and in good conscience, absorb the world around you in order to discover new talents and prepare yourself to tackle any challenge life throws your way.
10. Stop Procrastinating and start performing.
I don't think I need to say more on this. Just get up and go get your talent working for you.
Don’t you think it is high time you activated that talent that lays latent within you and LET IT SHINE?
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