Strength = Talents + Knowledge + Skills

Strength = Talents + Knowledge + Skills

I am reading the book, 'Now, discover your strength'. It's very thought-provoking. The author feels that strength is a combination of Talents, Knowledge & Skills. If one does not have an innate talent in something, he/she will never reach excellence, no matter how much practice he puts in, how much reading he does or how many workshops he attends. Marcus & Donald brings the focus and starting point into the inner self, instead of the usual 'what the world needs' mentality.

What constitutes Talent? According to them, it is an activity that is repetitively carried out by an individual. (i'll need to double check to see if i recall the definition correctly.) And how can 1 identify his/her own talent(s)? There are 3 ways:

1. Observing
2. Yearning
3. Learning

1. Observing: Observe how we make decisions & the decisions we made

The decisions here refer to the small little decisions that we made each day instinctively. Decisions such as shall i do Task A first or Task B, should i reply email or call the client directly, etc? These instinctive decisions are made from deep within, so deep that we are not aware but it is so real. The decisions are not affected by our rationality/intellectuality. It's our true self and observing these actions will help us discover our personality/inclination/inner directions.

I had been trying to observe my little decisions since yesterday. This morning, i made a little discovery. I realize i tend to avoid contact with someone who i have a problem with. Problem not as in outright argument but problems like unhappy feelings which i don't know how to voice out or got no solutions for. Specifically, rz did not come to work for the past 2 days. She claimed she was sick but I am finding it real hard to believe as she had been on CNY break since 15th Feb! Furthermore, i just saw her on Sunday and she was very well. So I don't know if she's really sick or she's just faking it because she could not finish her tasks on the stipulated deadline. i'm disappointed with her and today she finally returned to work. I realised i came into office, hoping that i don't have to deal with her unless very necessary. i don't wish to ask her about how's the work, i don't even want to ask her about her sickness. I have such same kind of reaction whenever she failed in her work performance. Why do i tend to avoid whenever i have 心病 with someone? Is it because i don't know how to handle whatever reasons that will be given?

Avoid contact whenever i have 心病 with someone... that's what i often do... what does this mean for me?

2. Yearning

3. Learning: When you pick up things real fast, without people pointing out too much, you might have a talent in that.

The last time i learn things real fast was Volleyball. And i believe i have talent in the game and i can excel. But very sadly, i started on the game too late. and i lost the courage to learn how to play at the end of A division competition. The courage is lost... i don't know how to find it back again. But i really wish to pick up the ball again and play the game. But i am afraid of embarrassing myself....

where else do i learn fast??

This book can be said to be very cleansing... empties out all the life's wants & needs, demands & influences, to examine the nature you. I believe their stand is to first discover the nature you and then apply the nurturing part. As you observe about yourself, you will find many questions. like my bugging question now: i avoid people i have a problem with... what does that mean for me?? There will be books & gurus out there to ask me to face my fear, to teach me how to go and strike conversation and clear up the misunderstanding/problem. This is external... how do i apply this tendency of mine to a positive area? how??