A few months ago, we partnered with the talented Sharlene-Monique, a U.K.-based singer and songwriter to launch #IAmUniqueToo, a self-love campaign. We asked girls and women around the world one question:
What makes you unique?
You all had some inspiring and thoughtful things to say. We took the submissions and compiled your responses into a 15-minute audio. You can download it here.
When we were in the process of gathering submissions, I asked a couple friends if they’d be interested in participating. The responses were mixed. Some said, “Sure!” without hesitation, while others committed, only to later tell me they couldn’t come up with anything to say.
That got me thinking. How much time do we actually spend learning about ourselves and discovering our unique contributions to this world? We all have something about us that is non-replicable. I realized what I thought was a simple 4-word question actually requires more time to develop. We need to get to know ourselves and because most of us don’t take the time to do so, we take the easier approach and say, “there’s nothing unique about me” or “I don’t know what I’m good at.” What I know for sure is that this question requires TIME exploring and discovering who you are at your core. It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I picked up Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life” and dedicated time to really get to know myself and the reason I was placed on this Earth.
If someone has asked you what you’re good at, what your passions are, or what your gifts are and you were stumped, I’ve listed some ways to identify what it is about you that makes you unique.
What do I love to do? / What are my hobbies?
What activities make me lose track of time?
What areas of my life, school, work, etc. come easy to me that most people find to be a struggle?
How would my closest friends and family members describe me using 5 adjectives (ask them)?
What do people compliment me on frequently?
Identifying your unique ability takes time with yourself. What better person to know you than YOU?
It is in your uniqueness that makes you stand out. What are some other ways you could identify your unique gifts? Share them below.