It's My Calling?
 

For those of you that are out in the work world, is the work that you do your calling? Do you feel as though you are doing your life's work?

For those who answer yes, how do you know?

For those who answer no, do you think there is such a thing as a calling?

I know the work I am currently doing is my calling otherwise, I know I would not be doing it. I made a huge sacrifice by being unemployed for so long to pursue my calling. It has become my life's work.

I KNOW this is what I am suppose to do because of the vigor, zeal, spirit, strength, well-being, power, health, inventiveness, intuitive, and eagerness I feel each time I do it. The whole meaning of Ari | af | ya...

That is me.

Good question! :)

Thanks Soror. It's something that I have been thinking about lately. I am thinking that I might step away from what I am doing right now because, as you said, I don't feel the zeal for it that I thought I would. Parts of it, yes, other parts, core parts, not really.

Hope you don't mind a non-AKA visitor. I was JUST talking to high school students this morning about jobs vs a career. My current job is not my calling and not a vocation I would have ever chosen for myself. I really don't enjoy it anymore and only enjoyed it previously because I felt like I was doing some good.

I know what my vocation is now, but I have some educational deficiencies that have to be addressed.

I think that part of what has kept me in my current field is a fear of the leap of faith that it would take for me to try something new (especially after the time and energy that I have invested in preparing myself for this career). What if I try something else, and right now I don't have a clue as to what it will be, and that doesn't pan out?

At the same time, I know that there are things that I am passionate about. I am trying to figure out how to make them into my work.

I do feel that I am finally doing my life's work and I guess accepting my calling. As you can see from my user name, I am a teacher. For some reason I changed my major from education, not once but twice in undergrad. But, after working in another industry for 7 years I still kept coming back to kids. I would do all the community service projects our company offered that had to do with kids.
I know teaching is my calling based on the sense of accomplishment I have when one of my students has an "aha moment", makes great strides in their academic achievement, confides in me or just simply thanks me.
I had to go back to school to get my master's in education so that I could fulfill this calling that I had tried to ignore for so long.
So, I say if you feel that what you are currently doing is not your calling, go for it. It may not be easy, but in the end it will be so much more worthwile to work in a field that you truly love. Good luck in your decisions.

Gwirl... ;)

Just asking, how will achieving your educational goals lead you to your "path"?


Sometimes, you just have to make that leap and have enough faith in God...

"I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best."
~John Keats

And sometimes, you just do it and make it up as you go! That is why life is a journey while you pursue your path and right now, we are invited to walk along with you... :)

Things that are worthwhile are very important!!! :)

What I'm doing now is definitely not my calling. I'm good at it, but I don't enjoy it. I've applied for a new job in a field that I'd really like to enter. I've already had 3 interviews: 2 on the phone & 1 in person. I hope to have news next week, and will post more info once I have an answer. As we know, the internet is not so anonymous and I don't want to post too many details just yet. ;)

This is how I feel. I am not destined for mediocrity. :)

Yes this is my calling. I work in higher education and love it. I knew as an undergrad in college that higher ed was where I wanted to be.

I do not think what I am doing now is my calling however I do enjoy my job. That may sound contraditoray but there are things that I like about my job, for example my work schedule is flexible and I get to hire/fire my own people so I can determine my team.

I know there is such a things as a calling because at birth I believe that each person was given both a personal and professional purpose.

On leaps of faith...I have had to move a few times because at a certain time in my life my personal purposes outweighed my professional. I had to embrace acceptance in my life in order to be able to determine my true calling in life personally. Now I am at a place where the professional calling is coming more into focus and realizing that I have to take a leap of faith in order to fullfill my calling. You will have no idea how far you can go unless you are willing to make smart focused choices grounded in faith.

Oh, my YES!! I am doing what I was "called" to do! I love educating children. It is the greatest gift I could have ever been given. I touch lives everyday, and I give a piece of me to each of my students. I've wanted to do this ALL of my life! NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO WORK WHERE THEY'RE UNHAPPY...ESPECIALLY IF HE/SHE IS PAYING BACK STUDENT LOANS ;)