Our Gifts Are Meant To Be Given
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Pablo Picasso
Though I’ve read the quote above many times before, there was something about my hearing it spoken by one of the plenary speakers at the recent AAFP Physician Well-being Conference that spoke directly to my heart. In a world that is too often driven by competition, accumulation, and achievement, these words provided guidance for a more worthy path: a life not just lived, but offered.
Indeed, early in my medical career, I was focused on excelling—driven by a need to prove myself worthy of a title, a position, a reputation. But over time, as I began to pay closer attention to the moments that brought me life—and that seemed to energize those around me—I discovered something deeper. I realized that one of my unique gifts is encouragement. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of sharing that gift through leadership, teaching, mentoring, coaching, and writing. When I engage in these activities from a place of joy, helping others thrive, I feel most aligned with my purpose. In those moments, I know I’m answering the question, “Why are you here?”
That is what was happening for me at the conference, and with so many other things I’ve been fortunate to be part of. Why is this important? Studies show that healthcare professionals who connect their daily work to a sense of meaning and purpose experience greater job satisfaction and lower burnout rates. The gift each of us carries—whether it’s clinical expertise, compassionate listening, or the ability instill a passion for learning into others—is most powerful when it’s shared. In fact, the neuroscience of altruism reveals that acts of generosity light up the brain's reward centers, showing that giving yourself away can potentially contribute to your own long-term well-being and fulfillment.
You can bet my brain’s “reward centers” were fully lit during the conference and, even better, they were lighting the way for others too. No book, course, mentor, or guide could have taught me more about my purpose than seeing it reflected in the glowing faces of those impacted by my presence and words. And really, that’s no surprise. When we treat our gifts as personal assets, measuring our worth by what we achieve or accumulate, we often end up feeling empty, no matter how things appear on the outside. But when we begin to see our gifts as tools meant to serve others, everything shifts. The fatigue doesn’t vanish, but it’s accompanied by a deeper sense of meaning—a kind of “good tired.” The challenges remain, but we carry them differently, with clarity and purpose. Somehow, the work transforms and becomes so much more than a “job.”
So, what is your gift—or gifts? If you're not sure, ask someone who knows you well, like your PeerRx partner. Chances are, they’ve seen it in action. Whatever your gift may be, it wasn’t meant to be kept to yourself. It was meant to be shared—freely and generously—with your colleagues, your patients, your team, and your community. This week, I challenge you to find one intentional way to give that gift away. It doesn’t need to be grand. It just needs to be genuine. And as you do so, be listening for a delighted voice from somewhere inside you exclaim, “That’s why I’m here!”