what is your life's true calling essay

Throughout my life, I often had always wondered what my calling was

ovoxo 1 / - Jul 31, 2013 #1 Hi, I'm an upcoming freshman and I am taking a English honors class. We have a summer assignment to complete and part of that assignment is an essay in regards to my calling (what am I driven to do in life). Any sort of feedback and constructive criticism whether negative or positive is very appreciated. Please suggest any changes at all as I am not exactly the best writer in town. Please note that this is a pre-draft and is not completed and there are no requirements in this essay. It did say it should be one-page though. Throughout my life, I often had always wondered what my calling was. What was my purpose in life? What is my destiny? My thought process of this topic of discussion was very divided. Exploring myself has always been something I am fond of. Finding your true heart's calling is not exactly one of the easiest things to do in life. Asking myself the question of what my calling is, I believe I may never reach to a clear answer at hand ever. But if one can dream, then allow me to express my thoughts. The concept of one's calling is something vague. If you venture deeper into the question, you'll start to even ask yourself more questions. In this case I had began to question myself on matters such as my passions, my goals, what I would like people to remember me for/as, et cetera. As someone who tries to aim to become the best, I always try to develop myself into a better person, develop skills such as leadership, set goals and aspirations for myself, and strive to thrive. My path to success comes with many hardships and I still have miles and miles left before I can reach true success. Along the course of my life, I have discovered helping people in any way possible really truly makes me happy. Perhaps what I'm driven to do in life is to help others in any way I can. I cannot fully conclude that my true calling lies in helping others, but it is definitely the clearest of all. My lifelong still ongoing process of self-discovery has fascinated me and still is. The one that really makes me feel like I have a reason and a purpose to be in this world is the fact that I can help. I believe helping others helps ourselves and is a something joyfully rewarding in many ways. When I realized helping others and making a difference gave me immense satisfaction, I also had a feeling of responsibility in life. It started to matter a lot to me and it gave my life a purpose. This was my passion. My passion always fueled when I received gratitude and thankfulness and appreciation from others. Whenever I saw someone needy, I needed to lend a hand out to them. All this had made me realize that my existence on Earth has a mission. That mission is to make the world a better place for these people to whom life had been cruel. My inspiration and motivation to involve myself in helping others came from many places. From seeing the homeless and the needy on the streets, random acts of kindness, videos, it made me felt that I as a socially-privileged person, had to give back some way or another. My first step when I first started to help people was to involve myself in community service and volunteering. To this day it is still one of my great pleasures and it still is and will be. As I saw all the parts of society out there who suffered, my outlook and viewpoint on life began developing and changing too that point on. My drive to help others soon helped me to begin thinking of what I would like to study and what I would like to do in life. I decided that I was going to be one that services the community. Something I would like to do is to become part of law enforcement. That way, I can serve the community and improve the quality of life. It is however not what I have set out to do in life though, so I am still unsure. Devoting and dedicating myself to the community and society is how I will leave my imprint on society. It is a common thought among people that success means to have a lot of money and fame. What success means to me is how I will make a difference in life. "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

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Reflections on What is Your Calling in Life

Categories: Life Goals My Aspirations Purpose

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Published: Sep 1, 2023

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What is Your True Calling in Life? How to Find Your Passion

Some of the most important questions that you ever ask yourself on your journey through life are, “Why am I here?” “What do I really, really want in life?” “Where am I going?” “If I achieve all my goals, what would it look like?”

The most successful people are invariably those who spend the most time thinking about who they are and where they are going. They then constantly evaluate and re-evaluate their progress in light of who they are and what they really want.

To have a fulfilling life, you must find your passion . Today, I want to show you how special you are, identify some things that may keep you from finding your passion , and give you 10 steps to find your true calling and more fulfilling life.

You Can Do Amazing Things

The starting point of great success is for you to realize that you are truly extraordinary!

There has never been anyone in the entire universe just like you. You have remarkable abilities, skills, aptitudes, insights, and ideas that make you different in important ways from all other people who have ever lived.

You have the capacity within you, right now, to accomplish more than you have ever dreamed of in the past. You are engineered and designed as a “success organism,” endlessly attracted to doing more and more of the things that will bring you more and more of the success and happiness that you want.

Clarity Leads to a More Fulfilling Life

The one common characteristic of the most successful men and women is clarity. They are absolutely clear about what they stand for and believe in and where they are going.

And you must achieve this clarity as well.

What is your “heart’s desire?” It is defined as the one thing that you and you alone were put on this earth to do. It is that something special that you are uniquely suited to do in an excellent fashion.

Your job throughout your life is to discover your heart’s passions. It is only then that you will be truly happy, completely successful, and totally fulfilled. What is yours?

What Keeps You From Finding Your Passion?

Many things keep human beings from finding their true passions in life. One of the most significant is day-to-day life. Life’s responsibilities and our routines can leave us with little free time to explore the things we are passionate about.

Procrastination can also keep you from taking action. You may think “someday” I’ll pursue what I really want to do in life. But someday can only come when you set goals and make a plan.

You might also let negative thoughts keep you from exploring new opportunities. For example, you might not believe you have a special skill set or the ability to make new and exciting things happen. But this simply isn’t true. A positive, open mind can be the key to unlocking your future.

Staying in your comfort zone also deters you from finding your passion. While it can be scary to venture into uncharted waters, discovering what you are passionate about will bring you a more fulfilling life. The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.

A limiting mindset can convince you that finding your passion is not important. It may seem like living day to day life, working a job, and having a few hobbies is enough. However, this can leave you feeling stuck and less than passionate about life.

You might also feel like you’re being selfish to pursue your passions when others like family and friends need your time and care. Being your best self, however, will help you give more to the people you care about.

How to Find Your Passion

You were put on this earth to do something wonderful with your life. Your job is to find out what that wonderful thing is and then to throw your whole heart into doing it extremely well.

Your life may have a single purpose, like that of Mother Theresa of Calcutta who devoted her life to helping the poor. Or, your life may have multiple, sequential purposes, one after the other as you evolve and grow and develop into a higher and better person.

Whatever your life purposes are, it is passion that leads to a fulfilling life.

Discover how to find your passion and lead the most fulfilling life possible with the following 10 steps.

Understand What Being Passionate Looks Like

When you are passionate about something, you are excited to do it, even if it is difficult or doesn’t bring you a lot of money or notoriety. When you find passion, you will know it because:

Time seems to fly by and you easily lose track of time when you are doing it.
You look forward to doing it, including going to work, and you feel excitement when you think about it.
You don’t mind putting in the time or effort it takes to accomplish what you are trying to achieve.
It just feels right in both your head and heart, you feel fulfilled, and your well-being is improved.
You feel a sense of purpose as you pursue your passion.

When you look back on your day, the high points are likely what you are passionate about.

Identify Your Core Values

The next step to take to find your passion is to recognize what you value most in life. What things matter most to you and do you consider essential to you?

For some, core values may be serving family, having joy, being loyal, or spending time with friends. You may feel it is imperative for you to make a difference in the world or be faithful to your spiritual or religious beliefs.

Having fun and keeping humor or positivity in your life can be a core value. Or you may feel compelled to create through art, writing, dance, inventing, speaking , acting, or other means to feel truly fulfilled.

Additional values include compassion, dependability, love, humility, honesty, kindness, selflessness, integrity, curiosity, fairness, hard work, peace of mind, optimism, stability, and many more.

To help you identify your core values, which will lead you to discover your true passions, ask yourself these questions:

What is important to me?
Which values will I not compromise?
What tangible things do I not want to live without?
Who are the most important people in my life?
Who do I most admire and why?

Rank Your Top Human Needs

Similar to your core values are your needs as a human being. Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s classic definition of basic human needs is ranked in order from fundamental physical needs to higher-order inner fulfillment needs:

1. Physiological needs

Breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep

2. Safety and security

Health, employment, property, family, social stability

3. Love and belonging

Friendship, family, intimacy, connection

4. Self-esteem

Confidence, achievement, respect from others, need to be unique

5. Self-actualization

Morality, creativity, spontaneity, acceptance, achieving purpose and inner potential

As you read this list, notice the needs that resonate with you. What stands out as essential to your joy? These are the things you are passionate about.

Make Your Bucket List

The next step to finding your passion is to make your bucket list.

Most people dream of things they hope to do before they die. This is their bucket list, those things they look forward to in the future that will make them feel they’ve lived complete lives.

Discover what your bucket list is by asking yourself what you have always wanted to do. If money, risk, time, and responsibilities were not issues, what would you do right now that you feel passionate about?

Find your passion by identifying your “someday” items.

Decide How You Want to Be Remembered

Now, imagine you have lived your life and the people who have known you are talking about you or thinking of you. How do you want them to remember you? What are the most important things you hope they will say about you?

Imagine yourself in your 90s. What do you want your own memories to be? What regrets would you have if you reached the end of your life — whether that is soon or later — but left something undone?

These important questions help you figure out and become more aware of your true passions.

Learn More About the Things You’re Interested In

By looking at the lists you have made so far, you should have a good idea of what your passions are. What are the items you find yourself repeating as you identify your interests, core values, human needs, bucket list, and important memories?

These are your true passions. Now, find out what it would take to do them.

Talk to others who are already doing these things and get their advice. Observe how they lead their lives. Do you research online. Get a mentor to help you. Put your free time to good use by learning more about your passions.

If you feel a new job will help you find more joy, for example, read job descriptions or talk to a career coach to get a better idea of the educational requirements or other experience you will need to make a change.

Discover what you need to do to not only find your passion but follow it and make it happen.

Make a Plan

All great accomplishments begin with a goal, and achieving your goals requires a plan. People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.

Determine how you will incorporate what you are passionate about into your life. This will likely require some changes to your day to day life, how you spend your free time, and what you focus on.

If spending time with your children, friends, family, or loved ones is your passion, add this to your daily or weekly schedule. Set aside time that is only for them and stick to it. Remind yourself to listen with care and focus when they are talking. Be aware of creating good memories with them.

If you are passionate about writing comic books, a novel, or your autobiography, get the advice you need and plan to spend time on your interests.

If you want to start a business, explore new career paths, find a more fulfilling job, or become a public speaker , write out a plan of how you will do this. If it means transitioning from your current job, do it responsibly.

Take Action

Now it is time to move beyond thinking about how to find your passion and do it.

You will know your passion when you try it and it feels right. When you take action on your passions, you will have a better understanding of what your passions truly are.

Most people who spend time on their true passions find they learn faster because they are excited to understand a specific subject, pursue an interest, learn a new task, or develop a talent.

To take action requires you to get out of your comfort zone, but the effort of pursuing your passion is worth it.

Surround yourself with people with a similar passion. Add it to your schedule. Create momentum by starting now.

Challenges will come any time you strive to make a change or do something important. You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.

Expect the challenges, welcome them, and persevere through them. As you do, you will begin to notice that the results are worth the efforts.

Anyone who has ever accomplished something great has had to persevere through times of doubt, adversity, setbacks, and even ridicule.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan is an excellent example of persevering through failures to achieve great success. He says, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Steve Jobs is another famous example of the power of perseverance. His first Apple computer was a huge failure and had to be recalled. But if he had not persevered beyond that point, he would have amassed a net worth of $25 million by the time he was 25 nor a lifetime net worth of $10.5 billion.

Develop your interests, pursue your passions, and persevere through your challenges. You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.

Bring Passion to Everything You Do

Finally, realize that regardless of where you are in life — whether you are pursuing your passion or going through your normal routine — you can bring passion to the things you do.

This includes your job, career, hobby, and day to day tasks.

Whatever you are doing, do it with excitement. Be present in the moment. Practice mindfulness and choose your attitude.

Passion can be part of your life every day through the conscious choices you make.

How to Find My Passion: Next Steps

Finding your passions is sometimes related to your career, interests, hobbies, and talents, but it also extends beyond these. By going through these steps, you can come closer to identifying your passions.

One of the most important steps to fulfilling your passions is having a plan. To help you get started, I invite you to download my free Personal Development Plan Template to map out your success and achieve the joy you deserve.

And remember, it doesn’t matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going.

« Previous Post How to Create a Time Management Matrix to Keep You Accountable for Achieving Your Goals Next Post » Start Achieving All of Your Goals – How to Plan for Success in Every Way

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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The true calling of your life and how to find it (1/2)

What our true calling is..

I have been enjoying your insights.

My situation is this:

I am a wife, mother, and work outside the home part-time in a business situation.

I have continually been feeling the push and pull between keeping on with the status quo of all the conventional things you are expected to do in small-town life and what I feel may be out there.

I have not figured out any specific calling at this time, but do know I want to serve the world is some way that I am not currently.

I love my husband and children, but am struggling to figure out how to deal with these conflicting forces.

We have already begun living a more intentional life by simplifying our belongings and how we use our time, but I continue to feel that there is another step coming.

I still need to work at my position (for financial reasons) and I do care about it, but feel there is more.

I appreciate any advice you may have for moving this process forward.

You’re so very welcome, I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it 🙂

I would love to have known a little bit more details about everything, but that’s how it is when a conversation is via writing.

The more personal details of the challenge, the easier it is for me to respond.

But it’s never possible to get as clear picture of a situation as it would be if we were talking to each other face to face.

That’s the greatest benefit from private mentoring/guidance/coaching, it’s the direct and immediate interaction between two people.

It’s of course a completely different kind of connection than what writing can ever provide.

In sessions I’m able to give more unique guidance to your specific life situation and guide you towards the path that holds the greatest promise for a fulfilling and meaningful life for you.

Get in touch if this is something you would like to do 🙂

Moving on to the article:

So you’re in a transitional phase of your life.

A new chapter is about to open up but you can’t see what it will be about yet and t he feeling of not-knowingness can be a very uncomfortable place to be in a to move through.

It can be very tense (and intense) and sometimes even frustrating where there’s a deep feeling of meaninglessness and hopelessness.

Like nothing is ever going to change, that nothing is moving and never will.

But it will, and it is.

The feeling of ‘more coming’ wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t time for the ‘more’ to come.

Here’s what I suggest you do:

Instead of looking for a big calling, or a specific calling, start small.

What do you feel drawn to do today, now?

Maybe you feel drawn to crate a blog where you share your thoughts about living in a small town for example.

Start there, start writing, even if no one is reading it.

I never knew that my writing would lead to me creating a membership site where people ask me questions for example.

That was never my intention, I never had a dream of having my own membership site where I would write articles for people.

I just loved writing (since I was a little girl), and at some point many years ago I remember I wanted my own column in a magazine and applied for those types of jobs.

Even if I knew I wasn’t qualified, and because of the obvious reason that I can’t write correct English nor Swedish anymore and haven’t been able to for more than a decade.

But the calling was there that I wanted to do something like that.

I liked the idea of giving advice to people through my writing and the columnist idea sounded very interesting to me, something I felt drawn to do.

At that time I don’t even think I knew that membership sites existed, but the calling lead me to start investigating the options I knew were out there, and one of them was to write for magazines.

So naturally I wanted to see if I could get a ‘foot in’ and did what I could to pursuit the calling.

There’s something within you too that wants to be expressed, and it could be something small.

A small voice inside you that says something similar to you as it did to me.

Just see where it took me to follow the little voice that said “that would be fun” and “this is something I would enjoy doing”, and then from there things unfolded.

And today I have my own “magazine column”, but in a different way than I thought it would be! 🙂

I had no clue about how things would unfold, I just followed what I enjoyed (writing), and I kept doing it until something else started to come to my awareness, something that took it to the next level.

But in the beginning “the next level” wasn’t even in my thoughts.

That was never my calling until I had grown enough to be able to hear it and then take the ‘next level’ step.

See what I mean? We grow into things.

It all started with me just wanting to write and then more and more people started to read what I shared and then they started to ask me questions and then one day the idea of a membership site came to me.

It’s the same with anything really.

Instead of thinking of building an empire (or finding the big calling), just start doing things you enjoy.

Start baking the cookies, throwing the parties, training the dogs, writing the blog etc, w hatever it is for you.

Then the ball starts to roll and when you continue to enjoy what you do then the next idea will naturally come to you that will help you build the career/business (money-making) side of it.

Some people start selling their baby’s clothes on eBay for example simply because they heard a small voice inside them say something like:

“Hey, maybe someone wants to buy these clothes now that my baby has outgrown them?”and then they enjoy it and learn more about selling baby clothes and so on and suddenly a business is starting to emerge and grow from that.

But it started with a smaller calling, an interest in something or an idea that popped into their mind.

It could be about anything.

Maybe you like baking cookies, or singing karaoke, or maybe you’re technically skilled and love creating video games!

Or maybe you love baby-sitting or taking care of elderly people, or maybe you love creating beautiful flower bouquets.. the list is endless.

What is the thing(s) that you like doing, or would like to do more of?

On some level you know, we all do, and we’ve always known.

Sometimes it takes courage to acknowledge these things for ourselves because we’re afraid people will laugh and think we’re silly, or that we will fail and make a fool out of ourselves.

But screw that! 🙂

Whatever it is that you like doing, whatever it is that interests you, do more of those things.

Start doing those things more and look for options that would allow you to do the things you enjoy and make money at the same time.

Then something new will start to unfold from there.

Some people had an inner knowing already as a child where they knew what they wanted to do in life and were supported in pursuing and developing that.

More often though, a persons calling comes out of difficult and painful life experiences.

That has been the case for me.

All the things I’ve been through has made me able to help and support others in the way that I do.

My struggles were necessary so that I could help others, they have enabled me to show others that they don’t have to struggle or suffer.

I could not have shared what I share had I not gone through the awakening process and all the other challenging things I’ve been through in life.

How can someone really give another person true, genuine guidance and advice if they have only learned things by reading books and taking courses?

You need the real life experiences so that you can grow and so that you can share your insights and knowledge from a place of actual personal experience.

What are those for you? What have you “survived”?

What has been your most painful experiences in life? And what did they teach you?

Is there something there that you can use as a way of expressing and living out your calling or purpose in life?

What good came out of those painful things, the struggling years, the agonizing healing journey, or the challenging times and tribulations that you went through?

I had no clue I would be doing what I do today, no clue!

I just always knew I was meant for something bigger (and that is still in the development stages by the way, you ain’t seen nothing yet! LOL).

Even as a child I knew that, I just didn’t know in what way, and I don’t even think I was actively searching anything later on when I became older.

In a way I’ve always felt guided in the moment and I’ve also never seen myself as a seeker.

I was never a seeker, in fact I disliked that word (and still do, but it’s a word and sometimes you need to use it :).

I was a founder, and I was very curios and interested in life and knew I had a mission to fulfill, but I didn’t know what it would be about .

And when I was at my lowest point (when I was a drug addict) a voice inside me kept saying that I have to live, that I have a destiny to fulfill.

That voice was what kept me alive in the years before and during the time I was in rehab.

But not every person has to go through hardship to find their calling of course.

Of course not!

But most of us do have a story, we’ve all been through things, and through those things we learned something that made us grow and become a better person.

Our calling is calling us Now.

I’m living my purpose, my calling, right now, but I did that five, ten and fifteen years ago too.

It just looks different.

I have never known the specifics of my calling, I don’t believe they can even exist!

No one can know the specifics of their life path.

Life is an unfolding, and what I do now is my calling, but that can change tomorrow.

I’m forever open to what Life wants to do through me, and in all moments, I’m all in.

Life is about following what is calling us right now.

W hat do you feel called to do today?

Bake cookies? Read a book? Break up with a toxic friend? Stop smoking? What?

What is the calling of the day?

What nudges and impulses do you have?

Pay attention to the inner drive that comes from within to do something, and remember, it can be something small and seeming insignificant and unrelated to a “calling” or “purpose”.

Pay attention to what is trying to get heard.

Sometimes other people can be nudging you towards your calling too so p ay attention and listen to what others are saying to you and about you.

Things like:

“You know so much about wine, you should make your own!”

“You can sing! You should really do something with that voice.”

“Wow, what beautiful poetry you write. You should put all your poems in a book!”

“My GOD these cookies are delicious! No one can make them as you, you should start selling them!”

“You’re such a good listener, I feel I can share anything with you. Have you ever thought about becoming a counselor?”

Or maybe you hear things like:

“You’re so good with children/money/pets/website stuff/technology/organizing/throwing parties”, etc etc.

What are people complimenting you about?

Pay attention to those things and see if there’s something there that you could start developing.

There’s a second part to this articles series and it will be published shortly, probably (hopefully) tomorrow.

Until then, ponder the things I’ve shared with you, and also, here’s a couple of (very old!) free PDF’s that could be inspiring for you to read.

You’ll find the link to them at the end of this short blog:

“Find out why you’re here (and then do it)”

To recap today’s’ article, here’s my suggestions.

Check in with yourself:

What seems to call you the most at this point in your life?
What small thing can you do today that you would enjoy doing?
Is there an idea simmering within you? What is it about?
What is the small voice inside you nudging you to do?
What impulses do you have today? Where are you drawn?
Is there something that you know and maybe you’ve always known, but never done anything with?
What painful experiences have you had in life and how have they helped form you into the person you are today? What good came out of those experiences and can you use them somehow to support and help other people? (If helping others is something that you feel called to do).
What is the curiosity about that you feel inside of you?
How does the universe/Life speak to you through other people? Are they nudging you in a certain direction?

Look into these things and stay tuned for part 2/2 of this article series!

You can read it here when it’s published:

“Our True Calling PART 2/2”

And as always, please feel very welcome to share any thoughts or if you want to clarify or ask something in the comments below!

Would you like me to write an article for you too?

Submit your questions and topic requests here:

> > ASK MARIA <<

Now I know what is creating my reality

I’m overflowing with gratitude and joy! Life has changed dramatically for me after our time together. I have truly realized on a fundamental level what is creating my reality and it has given me confidence for the first time in my life to finally be ME, I feel liberated to be my authentic self!

The whole session felt as if it was operating on another level

If you can trust one thing in your life right now, trust Maria. You can trust her with your heart and soul. It’s hard to explain, the whole session felt as if it was operating on another level. I’ve never had that kind of experience before. It just felt so much bigger than I anticipated. I can tell you with absolute honesty and conviction that having a session with Maria is life-changing!

You are truly a gift to us all!

I can’t even begin to express how much I have gained internally after my session with you. You have been an instrument of peace in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The feeling of peace and freedom is priceless

This feeling of peace and freedom is priceless. Maria is beyond amazing. Had I not experienced it myself, I would probably not believe it. I recommend anyone who is trying hard to be truly free and really start walking down the path of self fulfillment and happiness to book a session with her.

Beyond grateful for the transformational journey we shared

Maria, I am beyond grateful for the transformational journey we shared. it was nothing less than a miracle that has allowed me come into who I really am. I wake up every morning with a big smile on my face, feeling immense gratitude for just being alive, I can’t explain it, I´m just enjoying this fully. Your guidance has so profoundly changed my life, and I cannot thank you enough.

You have really made a difference in how my mind works

I don’t know if I make sense, but all I can say is that I feel blissful. And I can’t thank you enough for that. I don’t know exactly how you managed this, but you have really made a difference in how my mind works.

I have never felt more aligned to my true self

Maria’s awareness of energies and the conditions of the mind are truly impressive. She knows exactly what’s going on. She is so attuned to other peoples’ energy that she just knows where you’re at. After working with her I have never felt more alive and aligned to my true self.

This journey with you has been amazing

Words cannot fully express the profound impact of my session with you – it has been nothing short of magical. You helped me remove the blockages that held me back, helped me recognize my true worth, and providing so much insight that has been truly life-changing!

Maria is leading people to a new way of being

Maria is changing the world by her presence. She’s leading people to a new way of being. She’s able to see where you are at in your journey and can show you the way forward. I feel so incredibly grateful that she has been a companion during this time of change. If you feel drawn to connect with Maria I encourage you to move forward with confidence.

Something happened within me that I cannot explain

During and after our session, something happened within me that I cannot explain nor would it even make sense to anyone. There was a part of me that felt my being been taken over by a real peacefulness that I’ve never encountered before. Sounds odd but it’s the truth.

Could not more highly recommend

Maria is the real deal. You will sense it the moment you lay eyes on her. She offered much, much more than I’ve derived from other teachers; highly specific and personal recommendations. It is as though I got a crash graduate course from spirit. Could not more highly recommend!

I had a complete turnaround to my situation

I had a complete turnaround to my situation so many thanks for helping me transform something I had lost hope about. It’s a miracle and the outcome could not have turned out better! If you want to see a real shift not just psychological but spiritual shift, then Maria is the lady to see. I am so glad I found you!

I’ve never had a conversation like that before

I just wanted to say thank you so much again for our session yesterday, I’ve never had a conversation like that before and it was truly amazing. I could feel weight lifted as we were talking and for the first time my mind did not try to make sense of things, it was all truly felt in the heart space.

When Someone Shows You Who They Are, Believe Them the First Time

Follow Your Joy + I Might Appear on the Jennifer Hudson Show!

The Transformative Power of I AM

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How to Find Your True Calling in Life

T hirty years ago, I stumbled into my calling by chance as a 22-year-old headed to medical school. One afternoon, I was walking through New York City’s East Village, and a tiny sliver of a storefront caught my eye. I went inside and started talking to the owners—a husband and wife named Angel and Carmen Perez. They told me they were both recovering heroin addicts who had quit their jobs working for the New York City subways to pursue their dream: creating a Museum of Addiction. They had both been diagnosed with AIDS, and were determined to see this museum rise before they passed away.

They took me to the back of the shop to show me scale models of the museum, which they’d constructed out of tongue depressors and toothpicks. They had blueprints for each floor and intricate drawings of every exhibit. They pulled out a loose-leaf binder thick with rejection letters from Donald Trump and other wealthy New Yorkers whom they’d written to for help. While it was clear that these were form letters, the Perezes didn’t see them that way, and held onto hope that the next request was going to lead to the funds they needed to bring their museum to life.

I was moved by their courage and spirit, and I thought they deserved attention. I went home, pulled out the Yellow Pages (remember them?) and began calling down all of the local TV stations to see if any might do a story. No interest. I flipped to the radio stations, and started calling them as well. No interest whatsoever. At some point I dialed the number of a small community station. The news director told me it sounded like a great story, but that they didn’t have anyone to cover it—so why didn’t I do it myself? That afternoon, I took a tape recorder and went back to interview Angel and Carmen. From the moment I hit “record,” I knew that this was what I was going to do for rest of my life. The story aired on the community that evening. A producer from National Public Radio in Washington, D.C., was driving through New York City, happened to hear it, and picked it up for national broadcast. I withdrew from medical school. My fate was sealed.

Twelve years ago I started StoryCorps to give everyday people the chance to be listened to and leave a record of their lives for future generations. It’s a very simple idea: We have booths across the country where you can bring a grandparent, a spouse, a friend—anyone you want to honor with an interview. There, you’re met by a trained facilitator who brings you inside the sound proof-booth, sits you across from your interview partner, and hits “record.” For 40 minutes you ask questions and you listen—many people think of it as: “If I this was to be our last conversation, what would I ask of or say to this person who means so much to me?” At the end of the interview, you walk away with a copy of the interview, and another goes to the Library of Congress so that someday your great-great-great-grandchildren could meet the person you chose to honor with an interview.

Since 2003, a quarter of a million people have participated in StoryCorps across the nation—making the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. Because of the nature of the questions asked (“What are the most important lessons you’re learned in life?” “How do you want to be remembered?), in many ways StoryCorps is collecting the wisdom of humanity. We’ve found that much of this wisdom revolves around people’s work lives. Our new book, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work , collects 53 of the most compelling and poetic conversations from the StoryCorps archive. There’s a great deal to learn from these voices.

“It doesn’t even seem like much time goes by.”

Sharon Long was a single mom working seven days a week, including a job at a Dairy Queen and cleaning a dentist’s office, to support her two daughters. At the age of 40, as she was registering her oldest daughter for college, she mumbled to herself: “I sure wish I could go to school.” The woman enrolling her daughter overheard her and said: “You can! I’ll help you.” Sharon signed up for a degree in art. When she learned she was required to take a science class, she told her advisor that she was terrible at science. He suggested she take anthropology. “I didn’t even know what it meant. So I went home and I looked it up, and I thought: ‘The study of mankind—that sounds interesting!’ ” She walked into her first anthropology class and “Bang! I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.” After Long graduated, she spent decades working as a forensic anthropologist—reconstructing faces from skulls—the job she was born to do. “It doesn’t even seem like much time goes by. You forget to eat, you forget to get up, you forget to drink water. Everything just goes into suspension. And then fifteen hours later, I have a face… It just seems like it’s all been a big long dream.”

“Life’s just too short.”

Barbara Abelhauser spent 14 years working an office job. She was miserable, she tells her boyfriend in a StoryCorps interview . “Then I work up one day and I was like” ‘Life’s just too short!’” She quit to pursue the job she’d always dreamed of: bridgetender. At the time she recorded her StoryCorps interview, Abelhauser sits in a booth smaller than a closet on the Ortega River Bridge in Jacksonville, Fla. “I’ve been sitting in the same exact spot for eight years, and I see the passage of the seasons,” she said. “I see the alligator that hangs out below my window in the summer, and when she lays her eggs and they hatch, I hear the barking of the baby gators. There’s manatees and dolphins that come by. There’s a night heron that sits just below my window all night long every night, except when the algae bloom. And the sunsets and sunrises are like snowflakes—there’s no two that are exactly alike. People don’t realize we exist. They’ll walk past us and say the most intimate, private things and we hear them.” Barbara told her boyfriend “I took a pay cut for this job, and that was hard. But you know, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, and if that happens I want to have woken up that day and not thought: ‘Ugh, I don’t want to go to work!’”

“You have to do what you love.”

Ayodeji Ogunniyi was on his way to medical school when his father, a Nigerian immigrant, was robbed and murdered in his taxi in Chicago. A few days later, the killers were apprehended—3 young people. At the time Ogunniyi was tutoring at-risk kids at an after-school program for extra money. He realized that his students’ backgrounds resembled those of his father’s killers. At StoryCorps, he remembers a class he was teaching shortly after his father was killed. He asked each of his students to read aloud, and one of the kids, a tough 16-year-old, stormed out of the classroom. Ogunniyi followed him into the hallway and asked what was wrong. “It’s hard for me to read.” The young man told him, weeping. “There are many people that cry because they’re hurt or they’ve been neglected,” Ogunniyi said. “But to cry because you couldn’t read?” Ogunniyi got the young man the help he needed, and he learned to read. “That’s when it dawned on me: ‘You have to do what you love.’ So that’s when I said, ‘I’m going to follow my heart and become a teacher!’ ”

These are just a few examples of men and women who have stories to tell, wisdom to share and lessons for us all about leading rich, fulfilling and meaningful work lives. They’re a reminder that we’d all be wise to answer the question at the heart of that famous line from poet Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

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Psychology’s five revelations for finding your true calling

Photo courtesy Evgenii Lepikhin/Flickr

by Christian Jarrett + BIO

Look. You can’t plan out your life. What you have to do is first discover your passion – what you really care about . Barack Obama

If, like many, you are searching for your calling in life – perhaps you are still unsure which profession aligns with what you most care about – here are five recent research findings worth taking into consideration.

First, there’s a difference between having a harmonious passion and an obsessive passion. If you can find a career path or occupational goal that fires you up, you are more likely to succeed and find happiness through your work – that much we know from the deep research literature. But beware – since a seminal paper published in 2003 by the Canadian psychologist Robert Vallerand and colleagues, researchers have made an important distinction between having a harmonious passion and an obsessive one. If you feel that your passion or calling is out of control, and that your mood and self-esteem depend on it, then this is the obsessive variety, and such passions, while they are energising, are also associated with negative outcomes such as burnout and anxiety. In contrast, if your passion feels in control, reflects qualities that you like about yourself, and complements other important activities in your life, then this is the harmonious version, which is associated with positive outcomes, such as vitality, better work performance, experiencing flow, and positive mood.

Secondly, having an unanswered calling in life is worse than having no calling at all. If you already have a burning ambition or purpose, do not leave it to languish. A few years ago, researchers at the University of South Florida surveyed hundreds of people and grouped them according to whether they felt like they had no calling in life, that they had a calling they’d answered, or they had a calling but had never done anything about it. In terms of their work engagement, career commitment, life satisfaction, health and stress, the stand-out finding was that the participants who had a calling they hadn’t answered scored the worst across all these measures. The researchers said that this puts a different spin on the presumed benefits of having a calling in life. They concluded: ‘having a calling is only a benefit if it is met, but can be a detriment when it is not as compared to having no calling at all’.

The third finding to bear in mind is that, without passion, grit is ‘merely a grind’. The idea that ‘grit’ is vital for career success was advanced by the psychologist Angela Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania, who argued that highly successful, ‘gritty’ people have impressive persistence. ‘To be gritty,’ Duckworth writes in her 2016 book on the subject, ‘is to fall down seven times, and rise eight.’ Many studies certainly show that being more conscientious – more self-disciplined and industrious – is associated with more career success. But is that all that being gritty means? Duckworth has always emphasised that it has another vital component that brings us back to passion again – alongside persistence, she says that gritty people also have an ‘ultimate concern’ (another way of describing having a passion or calling).

However, according to a paper published last year, the standard measure of grit has failed to assess passion (or more specifically, ‘passion attainment’) – and Jon Jachimowicz at Columbia Business School in New York and colleagues believe this could explain why the research on grit has been so inconsistent (leading to claims that it is an overhyped concept and simply conscientiousness repackaged). Jachimowicz’s team found that when they explicitly measured passion attainment (how much people feel they have adequate passion for their work) and combined this with a measure of perseverance (a consistency of interests and the ability to overcome setbacks), then the two together did predict superior performance among tech-company employees and university students. ‘Our findings suggest that perseverance without passion attainment is mere drudgery, but perseverance with passion attainment propels individuals forward,’ they said.

A nother finding is that, when you invest enough effort, you might find that your work becomes your passion. It’s all very well reading about the benefits of having a passion or calling in life but, if you haven’t got one, where to find it? Duckworth says it’s a mistake to think that in a moment of revelation one will land in your lap, or simply occur to you through quiet contemplation – rather, you need to explore different activities and pursuits, and expose yourself to the different challenges and needs confronting society. If you still draw a blank, then perhaps it’s worth heeding the advice of others who say that it is not always the case that energy and determination flow from finding your passion – sometimes it can be the other way around and, if you put enough energy into your work, then passion will follow. Consider, for instance, an eight-week repeated survey of German entrepreneurs published in 2014 that found a clear pattern – their passion for their ventures increased after they’d invested more effort into them the week before. A follow-up study qualified this, suggesting that the energising effect of investing effort arises only when the project is freely chosen and there is a sense of progress. ‘Entrepreneurs increase their passion when they make significant progress in their venture and when they invest effort out of their own free choice,’ the researchers said.

Finally, if you think that passion comes from doing a job you enjoy, you’re likely to be disappointed. Consider where you think passion comes from. In a preprint paper released at PsyArXiv, Jachimowicz and his team draw a distinction between people who believe that passion comes from doing what you enjoy (which they say is encapsulated by Oprah Winfrey’s commencement address in 2008 in which she said passions ‘bloom when we’re doing what we love’), and those who see it as arising from doing what you believe in or value in life (as reflected in the words of former Mexican president Felipe Calderón who in his own commencement address in 2011 said ‘you have to embrace with passion the things that you believe in, and that you are fighting for’).

The researchers found that people who believe that passion comes from pleasurable work were less likely to feel that they had found their passion (and were more likely to want to leave their job) as compared with people who believe that passion comes from doing what you feel matters. Perhaps this is because there is a superficiality and ephemerality to working for sheer pleasure – what fits the bill one month or year might not do so for long – whereas working towards what you care about is a timeless endeavour that is likely to stretch and sustain you indefinitely. The researchers conclude that their results show ‘the extent to which individuals attain their desired level of work passion may have less to do with their actual jobs and more to do with their beliefs about how work passion is pursued’.

This is an adaptation of an article originally published by The British Psychological Society’s Research Digest.

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How To Find Your Calling In Life: A Process That Really Works!

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woman standing on a bus looking out of the window wondering what her calling in life is

Does something deep inside whisper to you that you’re not leading the kind of life you really want to lead?

Do you feel compelled to make changes and find your calling?

You’re not alone. Many people will experience this at some point in their lives.

But how do you go about it?

Let’s start by determining what a calling is, and then dive into how to find yours.

Consult a life coach to help you discover your calling in life. Use the quick and simple form on Bark.com to have qualified life coaches email you to discuss their coaching services and provide quotes.

What is a calling?

In simplest terms, it’s the pursuit that a person chooses that will bring the most meaning to their life, and will make the entire life experience fulfilling and worthwhile.

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

Many people go through life feeling rather lost. They feel that they “should” be doing something, but aren’t sure what it is.

They might feel unfulfilled with the Groundhog Day type situation that they’re living, day in and day out, but aren’t sure how to change it. Or what they really want to change in order to be happy.

A calling is the antidote to these feelings.

How to find your calling.

To help you find your calling, we’re going to explore a Japanese concept called Ikigai.

If you’re not familiar with Japanese, know that Ikigai is comprised of two words: “iki” which means “to live” and “gai” which means “reason.”

As you can see, the compound word really does mean “reason to live.” In other words, one’s life calling.

Ikigai is the point at which four essential things overlap: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for.

Take a look at this handy Ikigai diagram to better understand:

venn diagram showing the concept of Ikigai

So, to discover what your calling in life is, we’re going to ask four questions that relate to the four overlapping circles in the above diagram. Then, we’ll look further within those answers to find the common points.

Let’s go through them one by one.

What do you love to do?

What are some of the pursuits, hobbies, and interests that make you happiest? How do you feel when you take part in them?

And furthermore, do those interests correspond with things you dreamt about doing before the age of 10 or so? Can you remember why you felt so passionate about that subject back then?

When did you stop feeling passion for it? Did you actually lose your passion? Or were you continually facing resistance or even mockery from the people around you?

Would you still pursue this passion if you actually had the support – both financial and emotional – that you need?

What are you good at?

Are you aware of your greatest strengths and skills? What are you best at?

What do people often ask you to help them out with? Do people turn to you for advice in these subjects? Do you consider yourself skilled in these subjects?

To help you, why not read our article: 10 Effective Ways To Find Out What You’re Good At

What does the world need that you can offer?

Which aspects of the world as it is now make you feel the most frustrated. Do you feel that you could help these issues or situations?

Do you have the skills that the world needs to improve, even if your efforts are small and local rather than grandiose and world-shattering?

What can you be paid for, in this vein?

Are there products or services that you could be paid for that would correspond with the answers above?

Is there a job that already fits in with these categories? Or would you need to create something completely new?

Putting it all together.

The key to this exercise is to look across all of your answers and find the commonalities. Or, if those are not immediately obvious, do some even deeper thinking to asses where there is a gap and whether it could be filled.

Let’s look at a couple of examples:

Say that you love basketball, both watching and playing. Let’s also imagine that your current job involves training, managing, and motivating people. Perhaps you are frustrated by gangs or youth crime in your local area. Bring this all together and is there a way for you to earn a living by creating a place where young people can come to learn and play basketball?

Or perhaps you feel a great unease at the mounting problem of waste in the world. You happen to be quite creative and good with your hands too. And you love the beauty to be found in old things and antiques. Where might this all lead? Perhaps to a business upcycling old pieces of furniture that would have otherwise ended up in landfill and selling them in a store or online.

Of course, there may be other signs that are making themselves known to you about your life’s calling…

What are your dreams telling you?

Quite often, we’ll be subconsciously aware of our life’s calling because there are many signs and omens that reveal themselves. These can often be found in our dreams.

If you haven’t been keeping a dream journal up until now, start doing so. Upon waking, don’t even think about looking at your phone. This is the time to grab your journal and write down as many details about the dreams you had that night as possible.

Over time, reflect back upon these journal entries to see if there are any repeated symbols or patterns.

Which images or situations keep coming up?

How do you feel about them?

Then, cross-reference these signs with what you truly loved when you were a child. If your calling is something that’s been with you since childhood, chances are that this Truth has been making itself known time and time again over the course of your life.

What would you be doing if you knew your time was limited?

Alternatively, your personal calling might be a more recent thing. Some people have epiphanies or directional changes after experiencing something that shakes up their lives in a major way. Near-death experiences, health scares, and intense traumas are really good for doing this.

When we experience these things, we often ask ourselves what we would want to do with the time left to us if we knew, with complete certainty, that we only had a year or two left to live.

It might make you nervous to think about the fact that none of us ever know how much longer we’ll be around, but our inevitable mortality can be a great motivator for change in your life .

A lot of people talk about all the things they’d do if they knew their end was approaching.

They might devote themselves to animal rescue and rehabilitation, or go on a pilgrimage through India. Or any other number of things that they have put on the back burner for the sake of a regular job, or fitting in with their social circle.

So… if you are fully aware that your time is limited, what do you want to do with it?

Follow a path that’s calling you on a molecular level? Or keep maintaining the status quo?

How specific do you have to be with your calling?

You can start with a general sense of what it is you’d like to do (such as “be an entrepreneur,” or “help people who have suffered trauma”). But then you need to get specific about the path you want to take.

You can approach this by asking yourself a ton of questions about your calling or path, and then even more to determine how you’d like to go about pursuing it.

Think of it kind of like preparing a meal.

You might start off with saying “I’m aching for Italian food tonight.” Okay, but what kind? Do you want pasta or polenta? Meat or vegetarian? Tomato sauce or creamy?

Once you know exactly what you’d like to make, you write a list of the ingredients you’ll need to buy. Do you need any specific tools or equipment to prepare this stuff? Like tongs for long noodles or a grater for cheese?

Just like that, take every aspect into consideration. Let’s take a look at the steps you can take to get there.

Get specific.

Let’s say that you feel called to help people who have suffered trauma.

Okay, what kind of trauma? Are we talking about childhood abuse? Physical damage like experiencing a fire or a life-threatening illness? Pregnancy loss?

Be very clear about exactly the type of trauma you want to assist others to process and heal from.

Sort out what you need to make it happen.

Once you’ve established the specifics of the subject – in this example, helping people through X type of trauma – figure out what you’ll need to do in order to manifest it.

Do you want to become a licensed therapist? Determine what kind of education you’d need to get your qualifications.

Do you want to start a support group or charity? How can you secure funding for this? Who else might you need to bring on board?

What personal support will you need to follow your calling?

Is this an endeavor that can support you financially? What about if you need to go back to school or college? Do you have a spouse or partner who can help with financial stability as you’re reestablishing yourself?

What about education costs? Will you need to take out a loan to make this happen?

Do you have enough savings to cover rent/mortgage, food, etc? What about your family members? Will you need to establish child or elder care?

What about organizations or mentors who might help you get started. What external help can you get?

How will it all work in practical terms?

Will you rent an office somewhere? Or do you have a spare room in your house that you’d convert into a therapy room?

Would you like to work in a prison? Or shelter? Do you have connections in these places? Or do you need to do outreach in order to connect with the people who can help you make this calling a reality?

These are the types of questions you should ask yourself when it comes to actually living your calling once you have found it.

By being very specific about what, exactly, you’re being summoned to do, you’ll be able to move in that direction much more smoothly.

Do you really need to earn a living from your calling?

Listen, we understand that not every calling is going to pay the bills. That’s the one slight difference between your Ikigai and your calling – your calling may not always be something you can earn a living from.

The basketball-loving coach from our earlier example might not be able to have that as a job or make that a business, but if they feel so strongly about the need to get kids off the street and they enjoy bringing out the best in these youngsters, it can be considered a calling in life.

They might have to work another job to cover life’s costs, but they may offer up nearly all their free time to their love of coaching basketball. If they feel utterly compelled to do it, like they simply cannot not do it, it’s a calling.

Can your calling change as you go through life?

Of course! In fact, one key aspect of Ikigai is that this “calling” happens spontaneously.

You may experience a life-changing event that turns your entire perception of existence around.

You might have spent years absolutely flourishing as a stockbroker, but suddenly just KNOW that you need to go volunteer in a Tibetan orphanage for a while. This could happen in any direction, at any time.

Just as an example, there’s a book called The Quantum and the Lotus that was written by Matthieu Ricard and Trinh Thuan.

Ricard was a molecular biologist who had a spiritual awakening after reading some Buddhist philosophy. He left his life in a science lab to become a Buddhist Monk in Nepal, working as a translator for the Dalai Lama.

In contrast, Thuan was a Buddhist monk who became fascinated with astronomy. He left Vietnam to pursue education in California, and became an astrophysicist.

There are countless stories out there about people who have changed their lives dramatically – sometimes several times over the course of their lifetimes – to pursue what their calling was at the time.

Check in with yourself regularly to make sure that your calling is still ringing true to you. If it isn’t, make some subtle – or even major – adjustments until you’re back on track.

The great thing about forward momentum is that once you’re in motion, you can always change direction.

So, now that you have a solid idea about your life’s calling, what will you do about it?

Hopefully you’re brave enough to dive in and make these dreams a reality.

Still not sure what your calling is? Want some help to find it? Speak to a life coach today who can walk you through the process. Simply fill out this short form to get quotes from several coaches along with details of how they can help.

About The Author

Finn Robinson has spent the past few decades travelling the globe and honing his skills in bodywork, holistic health, and environmental stewardship. In his role as a personal trainer and fitness coach, he’s acted as an informal counselor to clients and friends alike, drawing upon his own life experience as well as his studies in both Eastern and Western philosophies. For him, every day is an opportunity to be of service to others in the hope of sowing seeds for a better world.

Speeches > Jeffery A. Thompson > What Is Your Calling in Life?

What Is Your Calling in Life?

Jeffery a. thompson.

BYU Associate Professor

June 1, 2010

Twenty-five years ago my dad dropped me off at Deseret Towers for my freshman year at BYU. I felt lonely in my dorm that first night, so I took a walk around campus at dusk. I remember looking at all of these stately buildings and envisioning their walls reverberating with great thoughts and words of wisdom. I was awestruck. In fact, I think that was the night I fell in love with BYU.

Now, as a BYU professor, I have the humbling responsibility to be one of the voices reverberating within the hallowed walls. I often question whether I measure up. But I’m unspeakably grateful to do the work I do and to do it here at BYU. I believe I have found my calling in life, and it brings me immense joy.

I’d like to ask each of you a personal question. What is your calling in life? If you don’t know yet, how will you find out?

I have asked those questions to hundreds of students over the years. Usually, it creates a lot of anxiety. Some of you lose sleep over which class to take next semester, let alone what you should be when you grow up. Some of us grown-ups haven’t really figured it out either. For many, deciding what to do with your life can feel like a personal crisis that doesn’t go away.

As I begin my remarks, I want you to understand that finding my calling in life was not easy. My career path was circuitous, and I often felt great anxiety about it. I always knew I wanted to care passionately about my work, but for years I had no idea what that work should be. Several times I felt utterly adrift, as if I had somehow missed the path I should have taken and could never get back on it. In hindsight, those moments are important parts of the tapestry of my career. Each thread that felt out of place at the time now provides structure to the pattern of my life. They helped me distinguish and define my calling. I learned, to quote Romans 8:28 , that all things do indeed “work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (emphasis added).

My aim today is to encourage you to think about your future life’s work without the anxiety—because when we ponder our calling in life through the lens of the restored gospel, we don’t need to feel anxious.

First, we need to explore what we mean by a “calling in life” to see whether the idea fits within the framework of the restored gospel. Actually, the idea of a professional calling is not ancient. It was brought into focus by Martin Luther, who revolutionized how the world looked at work. Prior to Luther, people viewed work as a necessary evil at best. The ancient Greeks considered work a galling distraction from the more sublime pursuits of the mind—a view that allowed them to justify slavery so that the elite class could focus on thinking great thoughts. Some early Christian traditions believed that work kept men from the holier pursuit of contemplating God’s greatness, and thus justified a monastic life devoid of labor, and sometimes even service.

Luther, however, saw the fallacy in these beliefs. His study of the Bible convinced him that work is how we participate in God’s providence toward His children. Lee Hardy, a scholar of Luther’s teachings, noted, “As we pray each morning for our daily bread, people are already busy at work in the bakeries” (Lee Hardy, The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice, and the Design of Human Work [Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1990], 48).

Luther also taught how to find your calling. It was pretty simple: your calling was to do whatever your station in life dictated. If you grew up in a cobbler shop, your calling was to devote yourself to making shoes. And doing so, you participated in the work of God by covering the feet of His children. Luther believed that virtually any type of work could be a calling, so long as it rendered service to mankind.

John Calvin elaborated on Luther’s ideas in a way that may make them seem a little more applicable to us today. For Calvin, it wasn’t our position in the social structure that determined God’s calling for us. Rather, he argued that God endows each of us with particular talents and gifts, and that it is our calling to discover those gifts and to seek out ways to use them in the service of our fellowmen. As he put it, “For as God bestows any ability or gift upon any of us, he binds us to such as have need of us and as we are able to help” (quoted in Hardy, The Fabric of This World, 62; also in Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians [London: Lucas Harison and George Bishop, 1574], 307; translation modified).

So the very roots of the idea of a professional calling are distinctly religious. Ironically, the world still embraces the notion of a professional calling, but it has almost entirely abandoned the spiritual roots of the idea. As sociologist Max Weber put it, “The idea of duty in one’s calling prowls about in our lives like the ghost of dead religious beliefs” (Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, trans. Talcott Parsons [New York: Dover, 2003], 182).

Because society has drifted from the spiritual moorings of calling, it has developed some odd and distorted doctrines about finding your calling. In fact, I would like to refer to a few of these doctrines as heresies. That may seem like a strong word, but I believe it’s fitting because if we were to embrace these worldly doctrines, they would lead us far afield from how the Lord intends us to view our life’s work. I submit to you that these heresies are the very things that cause us so much anxiety when we are trying to decide what our calling in life is. So if we appeal to the restored gospel to dispel these heresies, we can replace anxiety with faith and hope.

The first heresy I’d like to discuss gets right to the heart of our anxiety. It is: “You might have a calling if you are lucky, or you might not.” To dispel this heresy, let’s look at a scripture I use as the theme for many of my classes. You have heard it many times, but I’d like to point out something that you may have missed. In D&C 58:27 , the Lord asks His children to “be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.” You might be tempted to think, “Well, that scripture refers to church work. It’s not really relevant to my career.” Are you sure about that? Would the Lord so pointedly command us to be anxiously engaged in good causes if he wanted us to spend a huge portion of our waking hours—eight to five, for instance—simply punching a clock? The Lord asks us to do “many things” in service to good causes. Why should our work not be one of them?

Now, here’s the part you may not have thought about—I certainly hadn’t until a few years ago: After the Lord charges us to anxiously pursue good causes, the next verse begins: “For the power is in them” ( D&C 58:28 ). Think about that. The Lord hasn’t just told you to pursue good causes, He has equipped you with power to do so. You—you personally—are full of divine capacities to do good that you probably don’t even fully appreciate.

These verses testify that you are not part of a lottery system for life callings. You have a calling in life: to pursue good causes. And you have been given power to do just that.

But knowing that you have power to do good works is one thing; knowing specifically what you ought to do is quite another. How do you find your particular calling? That’s the burning question for many of us.

Some are lucky enough to know at an early age what they are meant to do. Doctors, writers, and artists, for instance, often realize during childhood that they have a gift and never have to agonize about what work they will do. Most of us are not so fortunate, though. We are perplexed by a dizzying array of college majors, service opportunities, and job choices—many of which seem interesting, but perhaps none of them speak definitively to our souls. That was how I felt as an undergraduate at BYU. At various times I seriously considered becoming an attorney, a businessman, a linguist, a federal government official, and a seminary teacher—never a professor, by the way. I liked all of those ideas but was overwhelmed by uneasiness every time I got close to committing to one of them.

The anxiety you might feel about choosing a career brings up the second heresy that we can dispel through an appeal to gospel truth. It is: “You have to find your one true calling in order to be fulfilled.”

This heresy should remind you of your favorite fairy tale in which the princess finds her “one true love.” Let’s consult the scriptures again to see if they support the idea of a unique perfect fit.

D&C 46 enumerates many spiritual gifts that you might have been given—gifts of teaching, healing, or language. Some of these gifts don’t seem particularly relevant to choosing a profession. But let’s see what else the Lord tells us about spiritual gifts. Verses 11 and 12 read:

For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

Note that there are many gifts, that they are distributed differently among us, and that they are given so we can bless one another. But the Lord does not say that He has listed every possible gift. In fact, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that “spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985], 371). Could this endless and infinite list include spiritual gifts relevant to our professional lives? We know that all things are spiritual to the Lord, so yes, of course our spiritual gifts have everything to do with our professional callings.

In fact, finding our calling in life involves the same process as discovering our spiritual gifts. Elder Robert D. Hales has provided some insight on this process:

To find the gifts we have been given, we must pray and fast. . . . I urge you each to discover your gifts and to seek after those that will bring direction to your life’s work and that will further the work of heaven. [Robert D. Hales, “Gifts of the Spirit,” Ensign, February 2002, 16]

As you consult your spiritual gifts, you may find that you don’t feel an urgent pull to practice medicine or educate children, for instance. Maybe instead you just like working with people. That is the most common thing I hear from students who are perplexed about what type of work they should do. If you think your spiritual gifts lie somewhere in that ambiguous area, I challenge you to delve much deeper into what your specific gifts are. How do you like working with people? Our strongest gifts tend to appear early in life, so it might help if you think back on your childhood and about how and what you played. Were you the kid that always got the neighborhood baseball game going? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for organizing others into collective action. Were you a natural storyteller? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for presenting ideas in a compelling and dramatic way. Were you the person who other kids always sought out for sympathy and acceptance? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for listening and discerning others’ emotions. Other types of gifts that you may notice in yourself include the ability to praise others effectively, to identify and encourage others’ talents, to organize information in a concise manner, and to see a problem from multiple angles.

These sorts of gifts may not suggest a particular career path to you, and that may seem like a disadvantage. I challenge you to try thinking differently. The gifts I have just listed have market value. They are also highly portable. You might express those gifts in many professions or organizations. Consequently, finding your calling in life may not be a matter of finding the one right job. Instead, it may be that your calling is to bring your unique spiritual gifts to whatever position the Lord blesses you with.

If you exercise faith in the Lord, follow His spirit, and seek to amplify your gifts, you will be led gradually to a place where you are well equipped to serve. I have seen it happen over and over. I have a colleague, tremendously respected in his field, who became an auditor—not by long-term planning, but by a series of minor circumstances that led him gradually and unintentionally to his profession. He could never have predicted the fulfillment his career would give him. We usually can’t predict exactly where our gifts will lead us. But in retrospect, we will see the hand of the Lord leading us from door to door and opportunity to opportunity as we exercise and hone our spiritual gifts.

This principle is particularly important in today’s economy. We faculty are keenly aware of how challenging it is for our students to find jobs today. You cannot control the economy. As a result, there is a temptation to feel like a victim or to give in to despair. When you are negatively affected by unstable economic conditions, focus on your gifts, which are stable. You may have to take a job that is below your level of qualification. If so, perform the work with drive, and use your gifts to put your unique stamp on your contributions. Doing so will increase your chances of finding better employment later.

You may even suffer joblessness for a time. Research shows that unemployment can have a devastating long-term impact on self-confidence, on health, and on happiness. I submit that having a sense of calling is part of your inoculation against the vicissitudes of the job market. Know yourself. Know what your gifts are. And define yourself by your gifts—not by your lack of a job. Contrary to what the world might tell you, you don’t have to have a job to express your calling in life. If the world at present is not willing to pay you for what you can do, then donate your spiritual gifts to worthy causes—perhaps through public service or volunteering—until the value of those gifts becomes so evident that people want to pay you a fair wage for them. Even in a booming economy, you may have to create your own opportunities to fulfill your calling in life. Despite what most fairy tales imply, real-life princes and princesses don’t just wait around for their dreams—or dream jobs—to come true.

Speaking of dream jobs brings us to the third heresy: “When you find your calling, work will be bliss.” This is a particularly pervasive heresy today. The media implores you to build a career that is exciting and intensely fulfilling. Now, I am certainly an advocate of enjoying your work! But it is a distortion of the idea of calling to think that work should always be fun.

As an example, let me share with you the story of some people I have recently studied: zookeepers. I chose to study zookeepers because they are passionate about the work they do, even though they make little money and have few opportunities for career advancement. Learning about what “calling” means to zookeepers was eye-opening. As you might expect, zookeepers find their work very meaningful. They care for their animals as if they were their own children, and they feel great satisfaction when they can enrich their animals’ lives and maintain their health. They believe deeply in conservation and see themselves as educators of the public about species preservation. By and large, they are almost outrageously satisfied with their work.

But is every day fun for them? Hardly. When zookeepers talked about their work as a calling, they spoke not just about satisfaction but also about sacrifice—caring for sick animals in the middle of the night, doing unsavory work, foregoing a comfortable living, and the list goes on. I learned something tremendously important from my study of zookeepers. For them, the pain and burdens and sacrifice were not threats to their sense of calling—they were part of it. The work was meaningful because of the trials and burdens. That is an important lesson. We can’t expect deep meaningfulness from our calling unless we are willing to assume its burdens as well.

Joseph Campbell, a professor of literature who studied and taught about hero myths, introduced the phrase “follow your bliss” back in the 1970s. The idea was that heroes don’t chase money or prestige; they look into their hearts to find their passion and then pursue it (see Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, ed. Betty Sue Flowers [New York: Doubleday, 1988]). Now you see the phrase “follow your bliss” everywhere. Later, Campbell developed misgivings about how people were using the phrase. It was reported that he quipped, “What I should have said was, ‘Follow your blisters.’” Brothers and sisters, you may do the most important, exciting work in the world. Nonetheless, some days will be mundane and no fun at all—kind of like the days I spend grading papers. You will be called upon to sacrifice. Don’t expect deep meaning without paying the price for it.

A related heresy is: “Finding a calling means that the world will take notice.” If you expect the world to loudly applaud your calling in life, you may be disappointed. This point reminds me of one of the zookeepers I interviewed. One day when he was busily caring for an animal, a nun came by with a group of her students. Within earshot of the zookeeper she said, “See the kind of job you get when you don’t finish your education!” Ironically, the zookeeper actually had a college degree.

I would like to tell you about my friend Barb, who was a custodian at my previous university. She was a tiny dynamo of a woman probably in her early 50s. Every afternoon she came into my office, a smiling flurry of activity, to take out my trash. She often asked if there was some special task she might do to make my office cleaner. I rarely took her up on her offer, but I came to realize that it really made her happy when I did. One day I asked her, “Barb, how do you feel about your job?” She beamed. “I love it,” she said. “I’m so happy to be a part of this school and just really like making it a better place. Plus,” she added proudly, “I’m really good at it.” And she was! Barb did make the university a better place. It occurred to me that when I saw her enthusiasm, it made me want to be a better professor. I wish I had told her that, but I don’t recall ever doing so.

I challenge you to look for examples of nobility among those who do the so-called menial tasks all around you. You will find many inspiring examples of people who use their spiritual gifts to serve in quiet but remarkable ways. We do great violence to the souls of those who offer their callings in less-glamorous ways when we consider them invisible or treat them as minor cast members in the great drama of our professional lives. The Savior saw nobility in “the least of these” ( Matthew 25:40 ). And getting to know the Barbs in your life will inspire you to be your best in whatever you are called to do.

If you find your calling leads you to work that is less than glamorous, take heed to what John Calvin said: “No task will be so sordid and base . . . that it will not shine and be reckoned very precious in God’s sight” (quoted in Hardy, The Fabric of This World, 90; also in John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960], 3.10.6, 725). The Book of Mormon also promotes an egalitarian spirit about work. Among the Nephites, priests probably held more status than anyone but the king. And yet, Alma 1:26 tells us that even priests were to labor for their own support, with the priest “not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, . . . and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.” It is a heresy that work is meaningful only when it gives us status and esteem. When we work to impress or outshine others, we violate the Lord’s vision of work.

Now, I’d like to speak to you about the last and most insidious heresy about work. It’s insidious because it’s almost true. The heresy is: “Meaningfulness in life is to be found at work.” This idea has become a foundational doctrine of the world. Many people identify themselves primarily by their professions. Once again, I emphasize that I am in favor of working passionately. However, there is a danger that meaningful work might distract us from the weightier matters of eternal life. As one wise person noted, in the eternal scheme of things, our jobs will someday seem to us like playthings. Work is simply one stage upon which we can act out our service to God and our fellowmen.

The fifth heresy is almost true because our worthwhile work can indeed give us a sense of meaning. But the idea that meaning comes primarily from our work entirely misses the point, because it focuses on the self. Imagine, if you would, a great artist who creates stunning and inspiring masterpieces but then hoards them in her attic, where only she can enjoy them. Certainly she may take pleasure in her creations, but it is through enriching others that the artist makes her contribution to the world. As the fifth heresy suggests, we can indeed find personal meaning in our work, but the real point is that the Lord expects us to render meaningful service through work. True meaning, as always, comes from service.

Allow me to share a simple experience from my mission. As I was nearing my release date, I anticipated a sense of loss when I could no longer give all my time to serving God. At a zone conference, my mission president opened the floor for Q&A on any topic. I raised my hand and asked, “After our missions are over and we are no longer full-time servants of God, how can we keep a sense of purpose?” Before the mission president could answer, his wife leapt to her feet and, literally elbowing him aside, said, “I’ll take this one.”

I will never forget her response. As near as I can recall, she said, “When I do the laundry, I am building the kingdom of God. When I scrub the floors, I am serving the Lord. When I tidy the clutter, I’m an instrument in His hands. I do a lot of mundane jobs, but if my eye is single to God and I’m trying to serve my family, then I feel as much purpose in my work as a missionary can.” Those words remind me of what King Benjamin said about laboring in the fields to support himself—a decidedly unkingly occupation. He said, “I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God” ( Mosiah 2:16 ).

So perhaps the state of our hearts is as important as the tasks we do in determining whether our work is truly—and eternally—meaningful. D&C 117 reinforces this idea. In this section, the Lord extends a professional calling to Oliver Granger. He is called to Zion, where “he shall be made a merchant unto my name . . . for the benefit of my people” (verse 14). What’s striking is that two verses later, the Lord promises to “overthrow the moneychangers in mine own due time” (verse 16). So what is the difference between a merchant unto the Lord’s name and a moneychanger whom the Lord will expel? The work they do must look very similar. But in the case of Oliver Granger, he was called to do his work in the service of God and man, not in the service of himself, and certainly not in the service of his own bank account.

We need to be very cautious about our motives for the work we do. It’s tempting to say, “I serve my family when I’m at home, I serve God when I’m at church, and I serve my career when I’m at work.” This approach moves us perilously close to becoming moneychangers. We must see our work as but another extension of the Lord’s commandment to serve His children and “bring to pass much righteousness.”

How does this measure up to the world’s teaching that you have to take care of number one, climb the corporate ladder, get ahead? One of the great gospel ironies is that when we lose ourselves, we find ourselves. Work is much the same. I testify that when you focus your work first and foremost on blessing others, you will become extraordinary at what you do and will find fulfillment and success much more reliably than if you spend your time at work trying to get ahead or get rich. My brothers and sisters, work to serve! Remember the words that greet you at the gateway of the university: “Enter to learn; go forth to serve.”

In closing, I testify that our Heavenly Father is intimately involved in the doors that open for us and in the circumstances that lead us to the places we should be—the places where we are equipped, with power, to serve. Have faith that your unseen Navigator will lead you gradually to your life’s calling.

I also testify that, as with all important questions, when it comes to asking what our calling in life is, Jesus Christ is in the answer. The grace of Christ, that same power that helps us do things we otherwise couldn’t, is what will guide us to our callings and enable us to excel in them. You can call upon the grace of Christ to help you with your professional calling. In fact, He pleads with us to do so. In Alma, He invites us to pray over our flocks (see Alma 34:20 ). Even if we are not shepherds by trade, we all tend professional flocks, and He is mindful of them. Knowing that helps us expel anxiety.

Lastly, may I conclude with a personal word to you students here at BYU. We, the faculty, love you. You are our flocks. You are our calling in life. And the finest expression of our labors will be the good that you do in the world with the things you learned at BYU. My dear brothers and sisters, follow your bliss, follow your blisters, and go forth to serve. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Jeffrey A. Thompson was a BYU associate professor in the Romney Institute of Public Management when this devotional address was given on 1 June 2010.

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Everyone Has a Calling

What's your calling and how can you tell.

Posted February 29, 2024 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

In addition to the ability to hope, each of us is gifted with an exceptional talent.
Many live their entire lives without ever identifying their true calling.
Those who pursue their passion achieve sustained satisfaction, personal fulfillment, and true contentment.

In addition to the ability to hope, with which we are all endowed (as humans), each one of us is also individually and uniquely gifted with an exceptional talent in one or two particular areas of human endeavors—such as music, poetry, mathematics, carpentry, masonry, law, entertainment, engineering, business, parenting , oratory, surgery, sports, journalism, etc. A successful discovery of your true calling (when combined with the capacity to hope) can make an immense difference in the quality and scope of personal achievements and overall fulfillment in life.

Lamentably, many live their entire lives without ever identifying their calling. Consequently, they never achieve their full potential and become optimally accomplished or fulfilled. I have often wondered what could have become of Mozart or Marie Curie if their talent in music and science, respectively, had never been unmasked. What other possible life endeavors could they have pursued as successfully, and how accomplished or consequential to humanity would they have turned out to be under this alternative scenario?

Some of us just luckily “stumble” on our true calling purely by chance, and as a result, become quite successful and accomplished in life. Such was the case with Dan Gilbert, the world-famous psychologist who at the age of 19 was a high-school dropout daydreaming about writing science fiction. When he attempted to enroll in a creative writing class at a community college, the class was already full, so he instead registered in the only available course, which happened to be psychology. There, he found his true passion and the opportunity to express his latent aptitude in the study of human behavior. He excelled and ultimately earned a doctorate in psychology at Princeton University, became a professor of psychology at Harvard, and wrote a best seller on the subject of happiness with translations made available in over 20 languages due to popular demand. Among his other many laurels was the Phi Beta Kappa Award for excellence in teaching—all made possible as a result of the serendipitous discovery of his true niche or calling.

Much more often, a provoking event usually ignites our hidden talent or awakens a latent passion in us and ultimately causes us to soar, sometimes much farther than we had ever dreamed or imagined. Such a triggering event or incidental catalyst commonly arises in one of four possible situations:

As a result of a transformative single encounter or relationship with an iconic personality
Following a momentous spiritual inspiration or profound religious experience
After a painful loss, severe deprivation, or tragic event
During an occasion of personal curiosity or solemn introspection.

Curiosity was the trigger in the case of Adam Steltzner, a young man who floundered around seemingly without any aim in life. He was a wannabe hard rock star with pierced ears and a funny haircut. His apparent priorities during high school were sex , drugs, and rock ’n' roll. Even his father believed Adam would never amount to anything other than a ditch digger.

One night, while on his way home after playing bass guitar at a club, Adam became fascinated after he happened to observe the movements of the stars in the constellation of Orion. Though he was a high-school dropout, he was somehow driven by personal curiosity to enroll in an elementary physics course at a community college to gain some basic understanding of the movements of stars in the sky. While attending that class, he got intellectually hooked, found his true niche, and eventually ended up with a doctoral degree in physics. He later became a top rocket scientist and eventually the team leader of the NASA unit that designed, built, and directed the unmanned space exploratory rover named Curiosity , which successfully landed on Mars on August 5, 2012.

As inspiring and enviable as these two stories are, it is of course not advisable to leave one’s fate and fulfillment in life entirely to chance by passively waiting until a sudden event or encounter, misfortune, or tragedy jolts us into action on the right path. On the contrary, these stories, more importantly, reveal that each of us has a calling waiting to be unveiled so we can be set free to soar, especially if and when we also have the right dose of hope or the power to dream.

During my 35 years of research on human hope, including a thorough review of hundreds of biographies, I have consistently found that those who pursue their passion are invariably the ones who ultimately achieve sustained satisfaction, personal fulfillment, and true contentment in life. I believe that when the human capacity to hope is combined with the pursuit of one’s true calling, a life of fulfillment is not only predictable but also inevitable .

Accordingly, my sole recommendation to anyone who wants to achieve a truly gratifying and fulfilling life is to first and foremost, find his or her true calling .

To achieve this important task, do the following:

Identify one endeavor (a job or a hobby) that you are truly passionate about.
Make sure that the endeavor is inclusive and relevant to others or somehow altruistic .
Ensure it makes good economic sense or is financially sustainable.
Verify that it is challenging, engaging, and demanding enough but enjoyable.
Confirm it has some spiritual appeal or is somewhat wholesome.

In other words, if you identify any endeavor or a hobby that you are truly passionate about , serves others , and is resource-reasonable , practically challenging, and spiritually awakening or soul-enlightening—hold on tight to it. That is your calling and therein lies your true fulfillment in life— predictably and inevitably .

For more, see my book The Happiness Formula: A Scientific, Groundbreaking Approach to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment (2024).

1. Alphonsus Obayuwana. (2024). The Happiness Formula: A Scientific , Groundbreaking Approach to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment.

2. Trying to find your calling? These 16 tips will get you started. (Maggie Wooll, 2022).

Alphonsus Obayuwana, M.D., Ph.D. , is a physician and retired major in the US Air Force. He has been on the faculty of Johns Hopkins and Eastern Virginia Medical School. He founded the Triple-H Project and authored The Five Sources of Human Hope and The Happiness Formula.

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Discover Your Life Purpose and True Calling

by Elizabeth Hancock

As a coach I work with people that find themselves going through life transitions. Though change is constant, there are times in our lives where we experience more change than others and it’s during these often intense moments that we make life changing pivots and embark on a new adventure.

These life transitions can occur at any age and can erupt at any time. When they do come, we often feel blindsided and a bit shaken up. We may question what our purpose is and what we are meant to do. We may question what our true calling is; if we even have one to begin with.

All of these questions are a natural and normal response to change and invites us to take a look at our lives from a larger perspective.

Do we all in fact have a life purpose? Do we each have a “true” calling? If we did, how would we recognize it? Is there more than one calling in a lifetime?

I explore all these concepts and more in today’s video. Please join me in discovering your life purpose and true calling…

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Identifying your calling: What is my ambition in life?

As people navigate life’s ups and downs, the question “What is my ambition in life?” can come up often. This question seeks meaning and purpose and is often driven by a strong desire to achieve something significant. For some people, this sense of purpose aligns with their work. According to Forbes, one study by McKinsey & Company found that approximately 70% of people find their purpose solely through their work . However, other people may find their calling outside work through their hobbies or passions in life.

Understanding and channeling this deep-seated ambition into positive and productive paths can be challenging. Below, we’ll explore how to find your calling, identify your personal and professional desires, and build a support system that can help shape the journey toward success.

Understanding ambition

Understanding ambition involves exploring the desires and goals that inspire human beings to strive for success. Ambition is a strong drive to achieve one’s personal aims and objectives in life. It is typically an essential component of self-motivation that pushes individuals to embrace new challenges and work toward their long-term goals.

Balancing one’s personal life with one’s professional journey can be crucial in this context, as achieving harmony between career ambitions and personal pursuits can enrich an individual’s life experience. The distinct paths chosen by different people often reflect the nature and scope of their ambition in life. For instance, some might find fulfillment by starting their own business, while others may dedicate themselves to social causes.

Practical approaches to identifying ambition

When embarking on the quest to identify ambition, it can be important to find practical strategies that provide direction and clarity. One strategy is goal-setting, a powerful tool that can aid in recognizing your passions. It may help to use the SMART framework, which entails setting goals that are:

Time-bound (SMART)

This framework may help you explore what you truly desire, both personally and professionally. These goals can act as stepping stones that guide you toward your passions in life.

Along with goal-setting, self-reflection and introspection may help with identifying your calling. This process can encourage individuals to delve into their inner world, examining their desires, passions, values, and motivations. Through self-reflection, a person may identify patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement, which may offer valuable insight into personal and professional ambitions. Additionally, regular self-reflection can allow people to change their path as needed as they learn more about themselves and what they want out of life. Introspective practices, such as journaling, mindfulness, meditation, or guided introspection, can effectively encourage a deeper understanding of oneself. Together, goal-setting and introspection form a practical approach toward identifying one’s ambitions, setting the groundwork for a fulfilling journey toward personal and professional success.

Dream job and career path

A dream job often symbolizes an individual’s career ambitions, reflecting their unique aspirations and desire for fulfillment. It is often more than just a professional title; rather, it is a manifestation of their ambition, passions, skills, and values combined.

The journey to realizing this dream job isn’t always linear. It may require navigating different career paths, each presenting unique lessons and opportunities. The process might involve stepping into unfamiliar territory, grappling with new challenges, and constantly learning. Self-motivation can play a pivotal role here, pushing individuals to persevere through obstacles, pursue their goals, and be honest with themselves about their strengths, weaknesses, and what makes them happy.

An article on career aspirations in Forbes says, “It is completely possible that a job exists that fulfills one's passion. However, if one has multiple passions or those passions evolve over time, that one job will likely not hold the title of ‘dream job’ forever. Your career will likely lead you on many adventures. Dream big, be open to change, and every so often, ask yourself what the dream job is right now.” Acknowledging the evolving nature of one's dream job and embracing the journey rather than fixating solely on the destination may lead to a fulfilling and dynamic career path marked by personal growth and ambition.

The role of ambition in human beings

Some researchers believe that ambition is an evolutionary product that fuels the drive for survival and improvement in some people. Ambition can end up playing a large role collectively, steering human society toward innovation and advancement. In psychological terms, the desire is often tied to individual motivation, personal achievement, and self-efficacy. It can significantly shape personal choices and career paths, guiding individuals toward their goals and aspirations.

However, ambition often requires a balance with contentment. While ambition can propel individuals forward, a sense of satisfaction with one’s current situation can be equally essential for mental well-being. This balance can ensure that while someone can strive for more, they also take time to appreciate their present achievements and circumstances.

According to research published in the journal Consulting Psychology, researchers have theorized that “ambitious individuals have learned to be effective at balancing their attention and awareness to achieve their goals. In other words, the mental focus necessary to be an ambitious person translates into many of the same qualities associated with mindfulness.”

The balance between ambition and contentment can result in a healthy approach to personal and career growth. Individuals can ground themselves amidst their pursuits by acknowledging and valuing what they have and where they’re at currently. Simultaneously, ambition can act as a compass, guiding someone toward their future goals. This balance can form a significant part of the human experience, combining the drive for progress with the tranquility of acceptance.

Ambition and mental health

Ambition, when channeled effectively, can serve as a catalyst for growth and success. It can fuel a person’s drive to overcome obstacles, allow them to persist in the face of adversity, and help them work toward fulfilling personal and professional goals. However, ambition and mental health tend to share a nuanced relationship, with each influencing the other in various ways. While ambition can be a powerful source of motivation, pushing individuals to strive for more and pursue their goals, unmanaged or excessive ambition can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout. These mental health concerns can, in turn, hinder a person’s ability to pursue their passions effectively.

Additionally, mental health can play a significant role in a person’s ability to maintain ambition. Mental health challenges can affect motivation, focus, and productivity, affecting the pursuit of ambition. Tools such as therapy can provide the necessary support for improving mentally, professionally, and personally.

Balancing ambition with contentment can be crucial for mental well-being. Individuals can learn how to pursue their goals without compromising their mental health and appreciate present achievements while still aspiring for more. This balance may help prevent feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction that may arise from constantly comparing oneself to others or an idealized version of success.

Seeking professional help for personal and professional ambition

Identifying and pursuing your ambitions can be difficult, especially if you’re just starting on your journey of personal discovery. If you think you could benefit from professional guidance and support along the way, online therapy could be a powerful resource to consider. Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp have thousands of licensed therapists, all with experience in different areas. You can match with a provider who has experience helping people identify their passions and professional goals. With the ability to connect with a therapist through video chats, phone calls, or live chat, you can receive support without worrying about geographical limitations or time constraints.

The efficacy of online therapy

Lacking motivation or ambition in life could be the result of a mental health condition. In these cases, online therapy could be useful, as research has demonstrated online therapy to be effective for a variety of mental illnesses. In a comprehensive analysis, researchers assessed 17 studies and found that internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was “more effective than face-to-face CBT at reducing depression symptom severity.” CBT is a type of therapy that aims to help people identify unhelpful, automatic thoughts and replace them with more accurate thoughts. With time, individuals can often learn how to shift their unhelpful behaviors by changing their thoughts.

Ambition can guide the path to personal and professional success, leading individuals toward their passions and desires. This journey may involve balancing personal and professional goals, pursuing a dream job, or implementing practical strategies like goal setting and regular self-reflection.

If you’re interested in re-igniting your sense of ambition or finding your calling, it may help to speak with a therapist, whether in person or online. A therapist may be able to help you renew your sense of ambition and forge a path forward that aligns with your goals. Take the first step toward greater ambition and reach out to BetterHelp today.

Striking The Balance: How To Be Ambitious And Mindful Medically reviewed by Julie Dodson , MA
10 Tips For Setting Ambitious Goals That Drive Success Medically reviewed by April Justice , LICSW
Relationships and Relations

Essays About Life: Top 5 Examples Plus 7 Prompts

Life envelops various meanings; if you are writing essays about life, discover our comprehensive guide with examples and prompts to help you with your essay.

What is life? You can ask anyone; I assure you, no two people will have the same answer. How we define life relies on our beliefs and priorities. One can say that life is the capacity for growth or the time between birth and death. Others can share that life is the constant pursuit of purpose and fulfillment. Life is a broad topic that inspires scholars, poets, and many others. It stimulates discussions that encourage diverse perspectives and interpretations.

5 Essay Examples

1. essay on life by anonymous on toppr.com, 2. the theme of life, existence and consciousness by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 3. compassion can save life by anonymous on papersowl.com, 4. a life of consumption vs. a life of self-realization by anonymous on ivypanda.com, 5. you only live once: a motto for life by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 1. what is the true meaning of life, 2. my life purpose, 3. what makes life special, 4. how to appreciate life, 5. books about life, 6. how to live a healthy life, 7. my idea of a perfect life.

“…quality of Life carries huge importance. Above all, the ultimate purpose should be to live a meaningful life. A meaningful life is one which allows us to connect with our deeper self.”

The author defines life as something that differentiates man from inorganic matter. It’s an aspect that processes and examines a person’s actions that develop through growth. For some, life is a pain because of failures and struggles, but it’s temporary. For the writer, life’s challenges help us move forward, be strong, and live to the fullest. You can also check out these essays about utopia .

“… Kafka defines the dangers of depending on art for life. The hunger artist expresses his dissatisfaction with the world by using himself and not an external canvas to create his artwork, forcing a lack of separation between the artist and his art. Therefore, instead of the art depending on the audience, the artist depends on the audience, meaning when the audience’s appreciation for work dwindles, their appreciation for the artist diminishes as well, leading to the hunger artist’s death.”

The essay talks about “ A Hunger Artist ” by Franz Kafka, who describes his views on life through art. The author analyzes Kafka’s fictional main character and his anxieties and frustrations about life and the world. This perception shows how much he suffered as an artist and how unhappy he was. Through the essay, the writer effectively explains Kafka’s conclusion that artists’ survival should not depend on their art.

“Compassion is that feeling that we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives. When we know that there is someone that really cares for us. Compassion comes from that moment when we can see the world through another person’s eyes.”

The author is a nurse who believes that to be professional, they need to be compassionate and treat their patients with respect, empathy, and dignity. One can show compassion through small actions such as talking and listening to patients’ grievances. In conclusion, compassion can save a person’s life by accepting everyone regardless of race, gender, etc.

“… A life of self-realization is more preferable and beneficial in comparison with a life on consumption. At the same time, this statement may be objected as person’s consumption leads to his or her happiness.”

The author examines Jon Elster’s theory to find out what makes a person happy and what people should think and feel about their material belongings. The essay mentions a list of common activities that make us feel happy and satisfied, such as buying new things. The writer explains that Elster’s statement about the prevalence of self-realization in consumption will always trigger intense debate.

“Appreciate the moment you’ve been given and appreciate the people you’ve been given to spend it with, because no matter how beautiful or tragic a moment is, it always ends. So hold on a little tighter, smile a little bigger, cry a little harder, laugh a little louder, forgive a little quicker, and love a whole lot deeper because these are the moments you will remember when you’re old and wishing you could rewind time.”

This essay explains that some things and events only happen once in a person’s life. The author encourages teenagers to enjoy the little things in their life and do what they love as much as they can. When they turn into adults, they will no longer have the luxury to do whatever they want.

The author suggests doing something meaningful as a stress reliever, trusting people, refusing to give up on the things that make you happy, and dying with beautiful memories. For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

7 Prompts for Essays About Life

Essays About Life: What is the true meaning of life?

Life encompasses many values and depends on one’s perception. For most, life is about reaching achievements to make themselves feel alive. Use this prompt to compile different meanings of life and provide a background on why a person defines life as they do.

Take Joseph Campbell’s, “Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning, and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer,” for example. This quote pertains to his belief that an individual is responsible for giving life meaning.

For this prompt, share with your readers your current purpose in life. It can be as simple as helping your siblings graduate or something grand, such as changing a national law to make a better world. You can ask others about their life purpose to include in your essay and give your opinion on why your answers are different or similar.

Life is a fascinating subject, as each person has a unique concept. How someone lives depends on many factors, such as opportunities, upbringing, and philosophies. All of these elements affect what we consider “special.”

Share what you think makes life special. For instance, talk about your relationships, such as your close-knit family or best friends. Write about the times when you thought life was worth living. You might also be interested in these essays about yourself .

Life in itself is a gift. However, most of us follow a routine of “wake up, work (or study), sleep, repeat.” Our constant need to survive makes us take things for granted. When we endlessly repeat a routine, life becomes mundane. For this prompt, offer tips on how to avoid a monotonous life, such as keeping a gratitude journal or traveling.

Many literary pieces use life as their subject. If you have a favorite book about life, recommend it to your readers by summarizing the content and sharing how the book influenced your outlook on life. You can suggest more than one book and explain why everyone should read them.

For example, Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” reminds its readers to live in the moment and never fear failure.

Essays About Life: How to live a healthy life?

To be healthy doesn’t only pertain to our physical condition. It also refers to our mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. To live a happy and full life, individuals must strive to be healthy in all areas. For this prompt, list ways to achieve a healthy life. Section your essay and present activities to improve health, such as eating healthy foods, talking with friends, etc.

No one has a perfect life, but describe what it’ll be like if you do. Start with the material things, such as your house, clothes, etc. Then, move to how you connect with others. In your conclusion, answer whether you’re willing to exchange your current life for the “perfect life” you described and why. See our essay writing tips to learn more!

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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COMMENTS

Throughout my life, I often had always wondered what my calling was
Exploring myself has always been something I am fond of. Finding your true heart's calling is not exactly one of the easiest things to do in life. Asking myself the question of what my calling is, I believe I may never reach to a clear answer at hand ever. But if one can dream, then allow me to express my thoughts.
Reflections on What is Your Calling in Life
A calling is a powerful force that drives individuals to align their actions with their values, passions, and strengths. Discovering one's calling requires introspection, self-awareness, and a willingness to explore various paths. Education and personal growth play essential roles in this journey.
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A "true calling" is thought to be the work that you are "meant" to do or the work you're optimally suited for. Duffy & Dik note components of an "external summons, sense of destiny, or perfect fit"; they also cite "prosocial motivation" as a frequent component of callings (reviewed in 2013, p. 429). "True calling" is synonymous with "passion" (as in "find your ...
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It could be as simple as volunteering at the local animal sanctuary or joining a local theatre group. 7. Invest in your passions. Invest in your passions and things that bring you joy. As a society that expects immediate gratification, it can be hard to invest in something that doesn't see instant returns.
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Your life may have a single purpose, like that of Mother Theresa of Calcutta who devoted her life to helping the poor. Or, your life may have multiple, sequential purposes, one after the other as you evolve and grow and develop into a higher and better person. Whatever your life purposes are, it is passion that leads to a fulfilling life ...
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It's the same with anything really. Instead of thinking of building an empire (or finding the big calling), just start doing things you enjoy. Start baking the cookies, throwing the parties, training the dogs, writing the blog etc, whatever it is for you.
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Barack Obama. If, like many, you are searching for your calling in life - perhaps you are still unsure which profession aligns with what you most care about - here are five recent research findings worth taking into consideration. First, there's a difference between having a harmonious passion and an obsessive passion.
An Unexpected And Effective Way To Find Your True Calling
3. Picturing your ideal life. 4. Considering what makes you come alive. 5. Been told to notice what makes you feel good. 6. Getting rid of distractions so that the answer can come to the forth etc etc etc. Not only this, but you've read self-help books.
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To help you find your calling, we're going to explore a Japanese concept called Ikigai. If you're not familiar with Japanese, know that Ikigai is comprised of two words: "iki" which means "to live" and "gai" which means "reason.". As you can see, the compound word really does mean "reason to live.". In other words, one ...
What Is Your Calling in Life?
It is: "You have to find your one true calling in order to be fulfilled." ... Have faith that your unseen Navigator will lead you gradually to your life's calling. I also testify that, as with all important questions, when it comes to asking what our calling in life is, Jesus Christ is in the answer. The grace of Christ, that same power ...
7 ways to know your true calling in life
2) No pain, no gain. Hardship and struggle can hone your skills and determination. I know that in the gym there's a common saying: no pain, no gain. If my muscles are any indication then I need a lot more pain, but that's a story for another day. The same thing is true when it comes to learning how to find your true calling. No pain, no gain.
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A successful discovery of your true calling (when combined with the capacity to hope) can make an immense difference in the quality and scope of personal achievements and overall fulfillment in life.
Discover Your Life Purpose and True Calling
These life transitions can occur at any age and can erupt at any time. When they do come, we often feel blindsided and a bit shaken up. We may question what our purpose is and what we are meant to do. We may question what our true calling is; if we even have one to begin with. All of these questions are a natural and normal response to change ...
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Finding Your Heart's True Calling 2 the life of Moses, which unfolds in a way that culminates in his encounter with God at the burning bush, where God calls him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slav-ery (Exodus 2-4). Up to that point, he had spent half of his life as a member of Egypt's royal family and half
Identifying your calling: What is my ambition in life?
These goals can act as stepping stones that guide you toward your passions in life. Along with goal-setting, self-reflection and introspection may help with identifying your calling. This process can encourage individuals to delve into their inner world, examining their desires, passions, values, and motivations.
5 Ways to Identify Your True Calling In Life
1. Unlock Your Potential. When you know your purpose, you can unlock your potential. We all have talents that come to us naturally and they tend to make the process of chasing your purpose a bit ...
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God 's calling to missions is not authoritative the way the Scriptures are. The calling should never be challenged. Our calling is in our own heart. The calling is the work of God to bring our heart closer to conviction. This conviction is of God, and it delivers utter peace. Everyone is in search for their purpose in life.
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Each of us has meaning, and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer," for example. This quote pertains to his belief that an individual is responsible for giving life meaning. 2. My Life Purpose. For this prompt, share with your readers your current purpose in life.
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Discovering your life's true callingLou Sabrina Saavedra OngkikoPublic School Teacher, Culiat Elementary SchoolAs part of the 2017 National Women's Month Cel...
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