Volume 01, Issue 52: Charisma and Your Gift

Listening to the speeches of the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, US President Barrack Obama, Our very own Prime Minister Raila Odinga, we may be drawn to deduce that prominence is only for those with charismatic abilities. You may consider yourself and admit to having no pinch of charisma and subsequently disqualify yourself from greatness. That on the grounds that you cannot draw a crowd’s attention to yourself, you could never be great. But what really is charisma? Is it standing at a podium and addressing people?

Real charisma is not about impressing people but being other people minded. Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic speech "I Have a Dream" was not about impressing people but the expression of his deep felt commitment for the freedom of his people.

It is not charisma that makes you great. It is your gift. Everybody is charismatic when operating in their gift. When you do that which you love to do, that which you are passionate about and best expresses your heart; or that which you are naturally good at, that which you were built for; you cannot help it but be charismatic. The honours is then to connect with your gift, isn’t it?

There’s that one thing that makes you come alive and gives you the greatest satisfaction when you do; that which you do with ease - comes naturally to you; and that you can be the best at. When you discover it, you will realize that you too are charismatic whenever you get an opportunity to operate in it.

The Bible reiterates that your gift will make room for you and bring you before great men. Doesn’t it then mean that we receive the most fulfillment, recognition and reward when we operate in our gift? Due to the dynamics of life it is a given that we do not operate in our gift all the time. But it certainly would serve us well if we took every opportunity to maximize the times we function in our gift.

Lillian Chebosi