Natural Abilities: 8 Categories

September 24, 2011 by Steve.

God designed everyone on earth with a set of abilities as part of their unique design. He gave natural gifts to Christians and non-Christians alike.  These abilities are what you are inherently good at without any additional training or experience.  They have nothing to do with your background, education, intelligence, interests or personality.  They are the innate strengths that God hard-wired into your system as part of His purpose for your life.  You are good at your abilities without trying.  They will not markedly improve through practice, and they will not noticeably deteriorate through lack of use.

Your abilities are firmly established by high school, and they don’t change during your lifetime.  Throughout your life you will acquire learned skills through education and experience.   But your abilities are innate, consistent, and unalterable.

Too many people go through life without ever discovering and utilizing their greatest strengths.  In Now, Discover Your Strengths   the Gallup organization surveyed 1.7 million people in 101 companies from 63 companies.  Only 20 percent of those surveyed felt that their strengths are used each day.  Eighty percent of the global workforce goes to work every day and doesn’t use their greatest strengths.  It’s no wonder that so many people are dissatisfied with their careers!

In order to experience personal and professional satisfaction, it’s critical for you to identify and focus on your abilities.  Imagine working in a job that is fun and fulfilling.  Your stress level will decrease and your enjoyment level will increase.  Over a lifetime your potential for making a difference in this world would increase exponentially.

So why do so few people focus on their abilities?  It’s very simple.  They don’t spend time or effort in reflecting on what they excel at and enjoy doing.  Schedules are busy.  Reflection is hard work.  It’s far easier to drift along from one experience to the next without evaluating what it is that we are good at and wish we could spend more time doing.

This series will look at eight categories of abilities one at a time. The goal is for you to identify at least your top abilities, and perhaps your next one as well. Knowing your abilities applies to your career, personal relationships, church involvement, and community activities.  The chart below lists the eight categories and provides a one-word summary of your primary strength. Can you identify your top category now? You may be surprised as each one of the eight categories is unpacked.

 © 2011 Designed to Serve®

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