Each and every one of us has a vocation, a special talent, a meaningful purpose why we are in this world. But sadly most of us never find it, choosing to live up to someone else’s expectations (e.g. parents, peer pressure etc) or accepting our limits. What is a calling and why should we strive for it?
A calling is when you feel drawn to do a certain type of work and you feel personally and strongly attached to it.
There is evidence that those who have found their calling have greater job fulfilment. Those who have a calling have a sense they are doing the work they are supposed to do. This is where I think passion comes into play.
Finding your passion is a discovery process, and you need to foster this understanding of yourself. I am not talking about a epiphany moment of self-understanding but rather the kind of self-understanding that grows over time as you mature into who you are to become professionally - the deep ease that comes over time as you progress in a career path that seems more and more a perfect match.
Research[1] on passion suggests that we need to understand three key things: (a) passion is not something one finds, but rather, it is something to be developed; (b) it is challenging to pursue your passion, especially as it wanes over time; and (c) passion can also lead us astray, and it is therefore important to recognize its limits.
Finding your calling that you are passionate about is never straightforward.
Maybe the following set of questions might help you in narrowing it down:
Become aware about what fascinates you.
What excites you, or angers you? What raises instantly your energy levels, or drains them?
Reflect on your life.
Make an inventory list about your life. Do a lifeline exercise exploring which events or moments have impacted you as a person the most?
Brainstorm about topics you feel passionate about.
Do a mind mapping exercise in order to collate your ideas. This is not a one-off exercise…it can be something you keep in your drawer, a list on your phone or laptop that you keep on extending when a curious thought crosses your mind.
Ask your family, close friends, co-workers or partners what they think.
Notice which responses provoke a feeling of “yup, that could be it” in you.
What are your values and affirmations?
Make a list of your core values and affirmations (these are qualities that make you, you; they aren’t who you think you should be, but rather who you already are). How are you honouring those values in your life right now? What information do your values give you about your calling?
I truly hope you have already found your calling. If not, then my set of questions might help you on your path to find your purpose in life?!
If you would like to tell me about your experiences with the topic of “finding your calling”, then comment on it - I look forward to reading from you ...