Lots of people get sucked into the current new age wisdom that we all have one unique thing we’re called to do in life.
They spend years, not to mention thousands of pounds, on the next book, coach or workshop that offers the key to the holy grail.
Meantime they feel pretty miserable doing whatever it is they’re doing – or not – right now. And beat themselves up for being a lesser person because, unlike the zealous peddlars of the vocation myth, they haven’t found what work it is they’re really supposed to be doing.
Experiments
In working with clients having this experience, I encourage them to take all that forward-looking pressure off themselves and live in the present.
What if they could allow themselves to find something meaningful in what they’re doing right now?
What if they saw their current work or lack of it as an experiment, telling them something about themselves, their lives, and what they most enjoy?
What would they discover? How could they use that learning to course-correct their current situation, or future work decisions?
Not one calling but several
In my client work, as in my own life, I see time and time again how what we do shifts and morphs over time. The picture of vocation as a static, certain thing into which we can plough ourselves for endless years is misguided.
Sure, some people know early on that they’re called to be a doctor or singer or lawyer or whatever.
But for others it’s a discovery process of finding one jigsaw puzzle piece of ourselves after another in the different things we do. Without valuing the purpose of the bit we’re doing right now, we’ll never get to understand the full picture.
Implications
If you’re someone searching for your one big calling, I encourage you to sit and think about this today:
How might you be diminishing yourself by constantly yearning after some other thing than what’s right in front of you?
I’m not saying that there’s not something bigger waiting for you.
What I am saying is that, if you put yourself back into the flow of what you’re doing right now, you’re more likely to find it more quickly and more powerfully.
What do you think?
photo credit: alicepopkorn
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Good advice Christine. I think its so easy cause pressure in our minds by trying to find ‘one’ thing. I’m beginning to see that I want to have lots of different vocations.. It makes life more interesting for me.
Thanks, Jen. Your point about our need to find “one” thing causing pressure in our minds is spot on. And I like your take on things – having different vocations does indeed make life more interesting!
Twitter: adrianswinscoe
Hi Christine,
Reminds me of the idea that if you continually look for something then you will never find it. Just focus on what you are doing and be ready. Bit like my story when I found Hana, my fiancee. Wasn’t looking, was just ready and we found each other
Adrian
Adrian Swinscoe´s last blog ..Does size matter or is it more important what you do with it
What a lovely thing to say, Adrian. And how romantic! I’m happy for you
And that’s exactly what I mean. Focus on what you are doing and be ready. Letting go of any anxiety around that makes it all the more likely to happen.
Twitter: jblack2012
My favorite quote that relates to this is:
“Your job is what you do, but your work is who you are”
I had a college professor tell me that once. Never forgot it. It’s all about putting a piece of yourself in what you are passionate about and not just doing something as a “job,” but to really put oyur stamp on it.
That is why I love entrepreneurship so much. It’s all you, out in the wind for the world to see. You can’t hind behind a crappy boss or a lousy co-worker.
There are no rules and you don’t have to be anything you weren’t wired to be.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
Joshua Black | The Underdog Millionaire´s last blog ..350 Worth of Small Business Consulting for FREE
Thanks for this, Joshua. And, coincidentally, I’ve got a guest post going live at midday UK time today which expands on just this topic. You might enjoy that too!
Twitter: IAC_Heather
There’s nothing the matter with striving to improve what you’re doing or where you are in life. However, if the desire and drive is making you unhappy and ruining your ‘present’ then it’s not benefiting you or the around you. You have to find some contentment in where you are now.
Great post Christine.
Heather Villa´s last blog ..Weekend Reading- My fav’s from this week- 7-9-10
I like that, Heather: “You have to find some contentment in where you are now.” I personally think that living for things that may happen in the future is a waste of a life. I think the trick is to have things to strive for AND find enjoyment in the present.
Twitter: bobbessette
Hi Christine,
I think we all have different gifts. I, for one, enjoy writing but I also have a technical side to me which is where my full-time job comes in. And, after that, I love landscaping and woodworking as hobbies. Living in the present is great advice. I’m not really looking for the holy grail. I think that enjoying everything we do in our lives is the key. And if something comes along that ends up being the end-all and b-all, so much the better. But I am certainly happy for now with the various facets of my life. I hope everyone can feel the same some day.
Best,
Bob
Bob Bessette´s last blog ..5 Hiking Safety Tips
What a terrific place to be, Bob.
The positive psychologists talk about a state called “flow” – you’re a great example of someone who lives right there. You recognise that there are different parts of you that need time and attention and you feed them. That keeps you happy and engaged with life. Thanks for sharing what’s real for you!