The talent we have the hardest time recognizing is our own.

That simple truth often keeps many of us divorced from what we’re really called to do in life.

We can’t see that we’re interesting or different or talented. So we hide what we’re capable of under the pretext that it’s nothing special. I confessed my own tendency to do that on page 37 of Quitter.

“I had discounted my dream. I was afraid to give credence to those often frightening feelings that come with wanting something fervently.

In a contrarian version of the ‘grass is always greener,’ we tend to discount the value, importance and urgency of our own dreams. In a subtle form of self-preservation, we find ourselves rejecting compliments people give us for doing what we love. When someone notices we’re good at something, we respond:

‘Oh that, that’s nothing. It’s just something I like to do in my spare time.’

The soundtrack we play in our minds is that our gift is nothing. Our dream isn’t that meaningful. It is just a bit of gossamer we play with sometimes. Don’t think twice about it.

The longer you play this soundtrack, the easier it is to believe it, especially if someone who matters to you tells you that your dream doesn’t matter. Teachers, bosses, sometimes even parents will tell you that you’re not good enough to pursue a particular dream. The more we develop the muscle of doubt the stronger it becomes. But the doubt is still a deception.”

I was thinking about that passage and that problem recently because I saw someone express it in an absolutely beautiful way. Derek Sivers is an author I’ve mentioned before. He also does amazingly creative videos and says things in 4 words that take me 400.

If you have 1:37 today, spend it watching Derek’s video, “Obvious to you. Amazing to others.” And, if you’re so inclined, post a comment with the answer to this question:

“What’s a talent you have that you’ve downplayed?”