---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're having a hard time recognizing…"
description: "\"If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look to someone else you know who's been resourceful. You may be surprised by how your own strengt..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png"
---

#  If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look…

![“If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look to someone else you know who's been resourceful. You may be surprised by how your own strengths rise to the surface by watching someone else.” quote by Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png)

> “If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look to someone else you know who's been resourceful. You may be surprised by how your own strengths rise to the surface by watching someone else.”

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Recognize your gifts by observing resourceful people; their strengths can inspire your own.

**In simple terms:** Watch others to discover your strengths.

Key Takeaway

Learn from role models.

Themes

selfdiscovery rolemodel resourcefulness growth inspiration

Mood

motivational hopeful

Type

advice personal

When to use this quote

- career planning
- education
- leadership
- self‑improvement

Key Concepts

personal development mentorship

Questions to Reflect On

- Who exemplifies the strengths you admire?
- How can you apply their tactics to your life?

A Different Perspective

Comparison can cause self‑doubt.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts/) [Gifts Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts-look-2760048/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Having a hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-a-hard-time/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-know-815951/) [Recognizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognizing/) [Recognizing Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognizing-gifts-2760047/) [Strengths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengths/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching/)

## Related quotes

> [We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/we-should-learn-to-be-patient-with-ourselves-recognizing-our/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [I think that everybody needs somebody to really look up to and know that even though you're going through a tough time, you'll get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-thorne/i-think-that-everybody-needs-somebody-to-really-look-up-to-and-know/)

[Bella Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-thorne/)

> [“Never look down upon yourself, for you never know how many people look up to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/never-look-down-upon-yourself-for-you-never-know-how-many-people-look/)

[Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/)

> [“If you want to look you have to show. You know nothing, Jon Snow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-look-you-have-to-show-you-know-nothing-jon-snow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don't look at your back because you never know what will you faced in front .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-look-at-your-back-because-you-never-know-what-will-you-faced-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [They do not see what they look at, hence they know not what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-franck/they-do-not-see-what-they-look-at-hence-they-know-not-what-they-do/)

[Frederick Franck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-franck/)

> [Sometimes I see you look at me. At least I know for a couple seconds you thought of me. And that makes my day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz/sometimes-i-see-you-look-at-me-at-least-i-know-for-a-couple-seconds/)

[Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz/)

> [“I might be smarter than I look, and I might even know more than you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-gayle/i-might-be-smarter-than-i-look-and-i-might-even-know-more-than-you/)

[Emi Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emi-gayle/)

> [“If he were to look up at her now, he’d know exactly how stupid she was. She couldfeel her face go soft and gummy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/if-he-were-to-look-up-at-her-now-he-d-know-exactly-how-stupid-she-was/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [I know that you know but you do not know that you really do not know - know yourself. Look within and get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-that-you-know-but-you-do-not-know-that-you-really-do-not-know/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Stop, let me get a good look at it. So thick, now I know why they call it a fatty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/stop-let-me-get-a-good-look-at-it-so-thick-now-i-know-why-they-call/)

[Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/)

> [I know if I need a shot or get a look, I know where I need to go to get one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-know-if-i-need-a-shot-or-get-a-look-i-know-where-i-need-to-go-to/)

[Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/)

> [With my family, all they have to do is look at me and they know what's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/with-my-family-all-they-have-to-do-is-look-at-me-and-they-know-what-s/)

[Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/)

> [ When I'm \[playing\] a character, I can look at it and know it's not me and not be concerned with how it looks. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/when-i-m-playing-a-character-i-can-look-at-it-and-know-it-s-not-me/)

[Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/)

> [“We usually end up finding what we are looking for, but we only look for what we already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-junger/we-usually-end-up-finding-what-we-are-looking-for-but-we-only-look/)

[Alejandro Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-junger/)

## More by Chris Gardner

> [Be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about. It might not be what you were trained to do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/be-bold-enough-to-find-the-one-thing-that-you-are-passionate-about-it/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [Others may question your credentials, your papers, your degrees. Others may look for all kinds of ways to diminish your worth. But what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/others-may-question-your-credentials-your-papers-your-degrees-others/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, walk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/walk-that-walk-and-go-forward-all-the-time-don-t-just-talk-that-talk/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [Salespeople are the most important people in any organization. Until a salesperson gets an order, nobody in the company has a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/salespeople-are-the-most-important-people-in-any-organization-until-a/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [You're never too old to do something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-re-never-too-old-to-do-something-new/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [It's ok to FAIL it's not ok to Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-ok-to-fail-it-s-not-ok-to-quit/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [“It’s okay to fail, it’s not okay to quit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-okay-to-fail-it-s-not-okay-to-quit/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [I have one of those old-fashioned mothers who told me every single day, 'Son, you can do or be anything that you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-have-one-of-those-old-fashioned-mothers-who-told-me-every-single/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-know-how-mountains-get-moved-everyone-who-can-move-a-couple-move/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [I had spent years in the United States military. Specifically in the U.S. Navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-spent-years-in-the-united-states-military-specifically-in-the-u/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [I've never been big on sports coats and pants. I'm a suit guy. It makes it clear who's in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-ve-never-been-big-on-sports-coats-and-pants-i-m-a-suit-guy-it-makes/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/still-a-dreamer-yet-more-of-a-realist-than-ever-before-i-knew-this/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [Nine times out of 10, extenuating circumstances aside, I believe that people are where they are by some kind of choice on their part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/nine-times-out-of-10-extenuating-circumstances-aside-i-believe-that/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [(The movie) is the story of my life, but it's not about me. It's about anybody who ever dreamed big and had someone tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/the-movie-is-the-story-of-my-life-but-it-s-not-about-me-it-s-about/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [I had never gone to college. I was not from a politically connected family. I had no money of my own. Who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-never-gone-to-college-i-was-not-from-a-politically-connected/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

[Explore all 120 Chris Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

## More Gifts quotes

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Children give terrible gifts because they are poor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-delaney/children-give-terrible-gifts-because-they-are-poor/)

[Rob Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-delaney/)

> [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/)

[Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/)

> [Valentines Day does not exist in my book. Every year it sucks the same. It is all about gifts, love is jut a cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bognar/valentines-day-does-not-exist-in-my-book-every-year-it-sucks-the-same/)

[Jenna Bognar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bognar/)

> [“Story is a butterfly whose wings transport us to another world where we receive gifts that change who we are and who we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-king/story-is-a-butterfly-whose-wings-transport-us-to-another-world-where/)

[Harley King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-king/)

> [The best gift to our children will be safe and beautiful EARTH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-arora-luthra/the-best-gift-to-our-children-will-be-safe-and-beautiful-earth/)

[Sonam Arora Luthra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-arora-luthra/)

> [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Jesus rejoices in even the smallest gifts to His children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/jesus-rejoices-in-even-the-smallest-gifts-to-his-children/)

[Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/)

> [You have to accept gifts occasionally, because there are some things you can’t give yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/you-have-to-accept-gifts-occasionally-because-there-are-some-things/)

[Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/)

> [I think that's one of the greatest gifts that I have: that I can get someone to open up, and all you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-have-that-i-can-get/)

[Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/)

> [Those with a gift for action, for their part, often express contempt for those whose gifts are more reflective. Men of action like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/those-with-a-gift-for-action-for-their-part-often-express-contempt/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

> [Is it possible Hanukkah doesn't inspire folksy songs? Plot lines may be a part. The Christmas story has a lot of material to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/is-it-possible-hanukkah-doesn-t-inspire-folksy-songs-plot-lines-may/)

[Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/)

> [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/)

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

> [I don't accept gifts from perfect strangers - but then, nobody's perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zsa-zsa-gabor/i-don-t-accept-gifts-from-perfect-strangers-but-then-nobody-s-perfect/)

[Zsa Zsa Gabor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zsa-zsa-gabor/)

[Browse all 933 Gifts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look to someone else you know who's been resourceful. You may be surprised by how your own strengths rise to the surface by watching someone else.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Gardner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing-your-gifts-look-to-someone/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Gifts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing-your-gifts-look-to-someone/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/chris-gardner-3822_gifts_if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing_2704752.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you're having a hard time recognizing your gifts, look to someone else you know who's been resourceful…” — Chris Gardner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chris Gardner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you're having a hard time...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing-your-gifts-look-to-someone/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/if-you-re-having-a-hard-time-recognizing-your-gifts-look-to-someone/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
