Finding Your "Sweet Spot" in Life

As you know, I'm participating in The Influence and Impact Summit. 

During his interview, Michael Hyatt bluntly states, "I have a stewardship obligation to use [my talents] for the benefit of other people." 

We all do. 

As a result of his increased influence, Hyatt has received emails and letters telling him that he has changed their life and made it better in some way. To him, that is what he finds most rewarding. It makes him feel as if he's fulfilling his purpose, that he's in his "sweet spot" and doing the thing he was created to do.

If you haven't noticed already, I absolutely love using basketball as a metaphor to describe life, so when he used "sweet spot" to describe his purpose, I couldn't help but want to add to that. 

In basketball, your "sweet spot" is the spot on the court you love to shoot from because you know you'll make it. It's often your go-to during a game of Horse because you know the odds of you missing are very slim. You can shoot from that spot all day long. The biggest mistake your opponent can make while playing defense is sagging off of you when you're standing in your spot on the floor. 

My "sweet spot" is the 15-footer. I can vividly remember standing in my "sweet spot" during a playoff game against Harleton when my opponent suddenly sagged off me. 

"OOPS!" is right.

I looked her in the eye, took a step back, and let it rip.

Nothing is more satisfying!

Everyone's "sweet spot" is different. Some may be at the top of the key, some may be a baseline shot. It varies according to each player but the sense of satisfaction one feels after shooting from their "sweet spot" is one in the same.

As mentioned earlier, I would like to take what Michael said about having found his "sweet spot" in life and discuss it further because my faith was heavily influenced by basketball and I will jump at the opportunity to compare the two.

Just as we each have a "sweet spot" on the basketball court, we each have a "sweet spot" in life. 

It's different for every individual, but the purpose is the same: to point others towards Him. 

Your "sweet spot" in life is the gifts and talents God has given you to help advance His Kingdom here on earth. When you are a good steward of your gifts and talents, when you use them for the benefit of other people, nothing is more satisfying. Your "sweet spot" gives your life meaning. It's part of your calling. It's why God created you and it's how He will fulfill His purposes through you. 

For example, one of my spiritual gifts is exhortation, or encouragement. I feel the most alive when I am encouraging others to have faith, trust God's plan and timing, follow their biggest dreams, reach their highest potential, etc. - this is my "sweet spot" in life.

Finding your "sweet spot" takes time. Yours may be leadership, teaching, administration, discernment, wisdom, evangelism - the list goes on! No gift or talent is better than another. You may have one, you may have many. Regardless, they are all important, they are all needed. 

If you're not sure what your "sweet spot" is, here is a Spiritual Gifts Test you can take that names your top three. Be honest and be confident. God wants to use you just as you are. 

You will know your "sweet spot" by the satisfaction it brings when used for the benefit of others. It's how God is going to use you to glorify Him and make disciples of Jesus Christ!

Find your "sweet spot" and then let it rip!