Passion for Life Requires Using Our Gifts

We learn about competition very early in life. Teachers put us in red, blue or green reading groups. Then they start putting grades on our papers, A, B, C, maybe even a D or F. On the playground we learn who’s the fastest, tallest, funniest, best looking, etc. Later we compete for spots in college or for jobs. We compete on everything. And what we learn from these competitive experiences is to ask questions about how we compare to others.

However, when it comes to finding a joyful life path filled with passion for life and deep personal meaning, comparing our self to others exactly the wrong question. When we compare ourselves to others we quickly learn that there is always someone faster, or smarter, or taller, or better looking. And this comparison changes the way we go about living. We may become frozen with fear because we’re not good enough, or choose do something that we think we’re pretty good at to doing, but that holds no passion for us at all.

Comparing ourselves to others is fairly irrelevant when it comes to discovering our gifts and choosing a life path for a couple of reasons. First, every person is created with a unique set of gifts. And all these gifts are needed by the world. All of them. It’s the way the universe is designed. There’s a place for every gift to be applied. The planet and its’ inhabitants are waiting for you to use your gifts, and when you do, regardless of what others are doing, you’ll change things for the better. So how your gifts compare to others doesn’t matter.

Here’s a second reason that comparing ourselves to others doesn’t make sense. The value of our gifts is relative to context. Let me explain. Our unique gifts are extremely valuable when applied to the path that our calling is asking us to take, and not so valuable when applied to different path. Applied to the wrong path, your gifts may bring you riches or status, maybe even fame, but they will not appreciably improve the planet as they were designed to do. And the wrong path will never bring you the kind of joy that is possible on the sacred path.

So, when you begin the process of discovery, looking for your gifts, looking for your sacred path ask the right questions. Don’t’ ask “how smart am I, or how talented, or how creative.” These questions are rooted in comparisons to others. They ignore context and they ignore what you’re being called to do. Instead, turn these questions around a bit. Ask “how am I smart, instead of how smart am I. How am I talented, how am I creative.” Now these are discovery questions, not comparative questions. Everyone has unique answers to these questions. Everyone has something truly valuable to contribute to the planet. As you explore these discovery questions you can then begin to think about context. Add this sort very important question, “what am I being asked to do with my gifts?” “Where does the universe want me apply my gifts?” This approach will move you toward your sacred path and will result in a joyful, passionate journey. This is a race that everyone can win. This is something to think about.