Do I Have 'The Knack' for Anything

LegacyUser

I'm going Unregistered for this because it's the first time I've ever felt strongly enough about a personal problem that I needed to be anymonous.

My problem, I think, is pretty simple. I had a good life and a good upbringing. I'm in my mid 20's and I'm not old by any means. I'm a few years out of college, I have no children and a long term partner, my family is pretty small and despite not getting on with my mother as a youngster I wouldn't say I had a bad upbringing.

The thing is, I am of the opinion that I have wasted a lot of my life, mainly because I do not feel I am of an opinion in anything. Take my choice of career for example, it's a specialist Industry which requires technical knowledge, and I just feel as if I didn't spend enough time paying attention in college. The funny thing is, I got all A's, Distinctions in every project...and yet, when it comes to actually doing the job I feel I know nothing. Then there's computers. I've spent my teenage years on them, reading blog sites, emailing and surfing - but jargon wise, I know NOTHING, I cannot do the simplest tasks. Another example if Music - big fan, never played an instrument

I don't like Sports, I'm brutal at DIY, I can't really cook and this is beginning to sound like the worst online dating application ever!

The thing is, this impacts on me, because I look around and see a lot of people with 'the knack' for a certain thing, my brother for example, and think that I should have a knack for something. But I don't feel I do. It's like that old saying, Jack of all Trades, Master of None. I have never felt that I have been able to identify myself, my personality, or a trait that sets me apart and yet in the same spirit indicates to someone what it is I do better then the next person. There are always going to be people better then me in whatever area I am good in, I fully accept that, but I would like to think that there is something I am good at because I committed a lot of time to it or because it came natural to me. Sadly, I'm not sure there is.

cheesefiend

This is something I can relate to. I often find mysel just wishing that I had something that was mine. My best friend is very talented she wins awards, and does extremely well with her acting. She just got accepted to the Gaiety for a drama course. They're even allowing her to skip first year bcause she's that good. One of my other close friends has an IQ higher than Einstein (and I'm not exagerating she actually does, she was in the top 0.0001 percentile when she was 15 for her age), another can read social situations like abook and can actually tell you exactly why someone is doing something. I am surrounded by talented, intelligent people.


I suppose we just have to keep searching for something we can call our own. Its not about being the best it's just about having a passion for someting you are quite good at.


I am sure if you asked your friends though they would tell you some aspect about yourself that they find extraordinairy. Maybe it's just not the typical things that you are good at. It doesn't have to be an activity that makes you special, being kind or a good person is much more important. I'd rather be an average joe who is honourable and a decent human being than being unbelievably talented and being an a-hole.

Deus Ex Machina

I am stupid and lack any distinct abilities. Initially this realisation caused me a great deal of distress, until I realised that the source of the problem wasn't necessarily my complete lack of abilities or intellect, but rather the tension this realisation created in between my ego and my actual circumstances.

Prior to this acknowledgment, I felt distress because my ego was unsatisfied with the disparity between its desires and my level of achievement. I recognised two approaches to alleviating this tension, satisfy my ego by learning skills and achieving something, or deconstructing my ego and remove that to which my lack of ability and achievement failed to match up. I chose the latter, and I have never looked back. Now, when I see others soaring above in all fields of endeavour, I simply bid them well and get back to whiling away my existence in the unchallenged bliss of my mediocrity.

pwd

"wasted youth" "mid twenties" hahaha
Based on what you say, it sounds like you are used to feeling like you are one of the best at what you do, from your experience in college. Now you are working you are probably rating yourself against people who are a lot more advanced than an arbitrary group of undergrads, and maybe against some of the best people in the world in your field, thanks to the internet.
Everyone reaches this point at some stage. Wayne Rooney seems to be experiencing it right now heheheh.
If you want to be a real expert at something, specialise in an emergent area, if there is one in your field. Even then you'll find people who know more than you though, thanks to the internet.
I think if you change your perspective you might feel better. If you are in an environment where you are the best, you're probably at a lower level than you should be, and are unlikely to learn as much as in an environment where you don't stand out.

Calibos

Deus Ex Machina wrote: »

I am stupid and lack any distinct abilities. Initially this realisation caused me a great deal of distress, until I realised that the source of the problem wasn't necessarily my complete lack of abilities or intellect, but rather the tension this realisation created in between my ego and my actual circumstances.

Prior to this acknowledgment, I felt distress because my ego was unsatisfied with the disparity between its desires and my level of achievement. I recognised two approaches to alleviating this tension, satisfy my ego by learning skills and achieving something, or deconstructing my ego and remove that to which my lack of ability and achievement failed to match up. I chose the latter, and I have never looked back. Now, when I see others soaring above in all fields of endeavour, I simply bid them well and get back to whiling away my existence in the unchallenged bliss of my mediocrity.

I can relate to everything you said and I too revel in my own mediocrity. Other people just have to realise that some people are just happier not bothering their backside reaching their full potential,. I too tip my hat and say Bravo to those of a lesser intellect and ability who have the ambition to succeed despite their intellectual inferiority. Me, I couldn't be arsed.