What is Your True Calling?
Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential in 2025
Have you ever wondered what your true calling is? What is that one thing you were born to do? Discovering your passion and purpose can bring unparalleled fulfillment and direction to your life. Yet, many of us wander through life without ever tapping into our true potential.
In this post, we’ll explore how to identify your life purpose and find meaningful work that aligns with your passions and values.
The Importance of Finding Your Calling
Finding your calling is crucial for several reasons. First of all, it gives your life a sense of direction. Understanding your purpose offers clarity and focus, simplifying the process of setting and achieving goals.
Secondly, it brings fulfillment. Engaging in work that ignites your passion transforms it into a fulfilling experience. You wake up excited and motivated to start your day.
Lastly, a sense of calling energizes you. It provides a deep well of motivation and resilience, helping you overcome obstacles and persevere through challenges.
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” [1] —Steve Jobs
Living without a sense of purpose can be painful. It can lead to confusion over your path, unfulfilling work, and wasted potential. Unaligned with your calling, you may find yourself trapped in a job that saps your energy and leaves you feeling depleted. This lack of fulfillment can lead to feelings of frustration and regret.
Getting Started: Discovering Your Calling
Finding your calling begins with introspection. Here are some steps to get you started:
Identify Your Strengths: Reflect on your strengths and talents. What are you naturally talented at? What activities make you lose track of time because you enjoy them so much? Understanding your strengths can give you clues about your calling.
Pay Attention to What Energizes You: Notice what activities give you energy and make you feel alive. These are often indicators of your passions. Engaging in something you love will energize you more and reduce fatigue.
Reflect on Your Values: Consider what values are most important to you. What principles guide your decisions and actions? Aligning your work with your core values can bring a deep sense of fulfillment.
Experiment with New Activities: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Sometimes, we discover our passions through exploration and experimentation. Take up a new hobby, volunteer for a cause you care about, or take a class in a subject that interests you.
Seek Feedback from Others: Sometimes, others can see our strengths and passions more clearly than we can. Ask friends, family, and colleagues for their input on what they think you excel at and what they see you enjoying.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV reassures us:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV adds this:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
These Bible verses underscore our purposeful creation and the specific good works God has planned for us.
Practical Steps to Discover Your Calling
Take a Self-Assessment: Consider taking a self-assessment to help identify your strengths, passions, and values. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the StrengthsFinder assessment can provide valuable insights.
Set Aside Time for Reflection: Dedicate time each week to reflect on your experiences, what you enjoy, and what you are excelling at. Journaling can be a helpful tool in this process.
Talk to People Who Inspire You: Reach out to people who are doing work that inspires you. Ask them about their journey and how they discovered their calling. Their stories can provide valuable insights and inspiration. If they are unavailable, read their books and watch their videos online, if possible.
Try New Experiences: Step out of your comfort zone and try new activities. Take a class in a subject that interests you, volunteer for a cause you care about, or start a new hobby. These experiences can help you discover new passions and talents.
Most Import: Pray for Guidance: Pray for guidance in discovering your calling. Ask God to reveal His plans for your life and lead you to your purpose.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” [2] —Mark Twain
Embrace the journey of discovering your calling and live a life filled with meaning and joy!
Conclusion
Discovering your calling is a journey, not a destination. It involves self-reflection, exploration, and a willingness to try new things. By aligning your work with your passions and values, you can find deep fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
Remember, as you embark on this journey, even small steps can lead to significant progress over time.
[1] Steve Jobs, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Stanford University Commencement Address, June 12, 2005. Accessed July 10, 2024. http://news.stanford.edu/2005/06/14/jobs-061505/
[2] Mark Twain, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/505050-the-two-most-important-days-in-your-life-are-the
Excerpted from Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential Through Inner Growth, Momentum, And Impact by Iann Schonken, available at Amazon.com.