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Healthier Habits blog – November 2021: Hidden Talents

Healthier Habits blog – November 2021: Hidden Talents

What’s your talent (secret or not-so-secret)?

Do you have a hidden talent? Your first instinct might be to say ‘No!’ but we want you to stop and think about it. Some talents like drawing, cake decorating and athletic ability are apparent. But what about the not so obvious ones? You may have a talent for generating great enthusiasm for different work projects or ‘staying calm in a crisis’. You may not even know this is something others see as a talent and wish they could cultivate in themselves. You may be skilled in assembling a piece of flat-pack furniture, but it’s not something you’ve ever thought of as a ‘talent’ before – you probably just grab the Allen key and do it!

The conversation around hidden talents arose from a visit from a regular patron at one of our library branches. He had seen information on Book Folding and thought to himself, ‘I can do that!’. The perfect example of ‘giving something a go’. He set to work creating his own paper folding design and then hand-painted covers for the books. He brought the books in to show our team, and we loved that the patron decided not to hide his talent and share it with us as we found it really inspiring. It truly made us think about our own skills and passions.

How to find your ‘hidden talent.’

Like the patron in the story above, you’ll never know until you try! Maybe you could ask a friend or loved one what they think you are good at. Perhaps you could try something new every week until you find something that resonates with you. And remember – you don’t have to be perfect at your talent. All things take practice, and making mistakes is all part of the process. Don’t get disheartened.

Nurturing your talent

When we asked the question “Do you have a hidden talent’, was your first instinct to say ‘No?’ If you immediately knew what you are passionate about, we think that is fabulous! Keeping nurturing that passion. If you answered ‘no’, that is ok! Sometimes it’s not immediately apparent. Think about things that interest you and commit to learning more about them.  If you find yourself constantly doodling on scrap paper, look at some online art classes to develop your skills. If your talent is organising things, find a local community group or sporting team to volunteer your time. Turn your singing in the shower into singing in front of real people, not just shampoo bottles!

Nurturing your talent doesn’t have to be expensive. Your MYLI membership gives you access to a range of resources that will help you on your journey. Try a course on Universal Class or follow along with the tutorials on CreativeBug. Brush up on your coding skills with Coderz (it’s not just for kids!) And of course, we’ve got a HUGE range of books about every subject conceivable! Just spend some time browsing through our catalogue.

Making your talent not so secret.

Sharing your talent with others can be nerve-wracking! Sometimes the little voice of doubt can creep in. Push it aside! You don’t have to share your abilities with the entire world – show a close friend, share a photo on your social media, or enter a competition anonymously.  You can always share your talents with the team at your local library – we would love to hear all about it!

November Recommendations

We are reading – Atomic Habits by James Clear 

Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour, starting now. People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits. This title is available in paperback and on BorrowBox.

We are listening to – The Jordan Harbinger Show podcast 

The Jordan Harbinger Show digs deep into the untapped wisdom of the world’s sharpest minds- from legendary creators to intelligence operatives, iconoclastic writers to visionary change-makers. 

November Events 

Extra Support

The opinions and recommendations in this blog do not replace advice from your doctor or mental health practitioner. If you feel like you need further support, you can access many free mental health helplines, support websites, online counselling, web forums, interactive toolkits, one-on-one counselling and group therapy sessions. Please visit the Better Health website for a  comprehensive list of services.

Mental Wellbeing at MYLI

The Healthier Habits blog is adapted from the Myli – My Community Library employee ‘Page Break’ program. Page Break is an initiative from our Manager Volunteers & Community Participation, Kathie Olden. Kathie sends out regular updates to staff inviting them to participate in simple activities and conversation starters that focus on making small changes to their mental health and wellbeing.

 

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