I remember looking at Universities, Colleges, and option upon option when I was in High School, more confused than Alice in Wonderland. What would I chose. How did I figure out what was the right decision. I remember leaving University years later and still feeling the same dread about what to do with my life. Turns out, I’m not the only one with this dilemma.
How to discern your calling
A lot of people get confused and worked up about the whole calling thing. They think they HAVE TO hear the audible voice of God or that calling is something mystical. I don’t think so. I think you have a choice in the matter. I think God has created you with creativity and with wisdom. As well as the ability to learn and grow through every experience you have.
Regardless, I think this framework I’m going to share is really practical and helpful to assist you with making these decisions. The framework has 3 components and where these components converge is the “Swwwwweeet spot.” Write the components down and then set aside some time to think about it. Ask a good friend and get perspectives that aren’t your own. If you find you become excited about the idea and opportunity that all this presents then you are on the right track.
Ready? Let’s start.
Passion
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.”
James Michener
What do you love doing? What doesn’t feel like work? What makes you wake up in the morning and get out of bed when you don’t want to? What do you day-dream about? What do you love learning about?
Here’s the killer: What would you do if money wasn’t an issue?
But, passion isn’t everything. For example, I love music but I can’t sing in key, because of this I’m thinking I probably wouldn’t make music my career.
Proficiency
Are you any good at it? See, I wasn’t good at singing so it wasn’t a great choice for me. Are you proud of work you have done in this area? What makes you feel a sense of accomplishment, that fuzzy-rate-yo-self because you know you owned it kind of thing? Where have you got awards? It could be anything. It doesn’t have to be a practical skill, it could be a relational one. Like being caring.
Can’t think of anything? Psshhhh, ask a few of your friends and they will tell you. Often other people see the strengths we can’t.
Sometimes we are good at quite a few things, but what matters is the things that you are good at and passionate about.
Profitability
Is there a market for your skill? Can you make a living out of it? Don’t feel guilty for charging for your services and don’t feel guilty for caring about a paycheck. We all need to be practical. All the passion and skill in the world won’t feed your family or pay for the roof over your head or your petrol for your car.
Without a market you have a hobby.
So where these three things meet is really your “CALLING”. If you can find something here then it is most likely to stick. Who ever wanted to change callings every 2 months? – not me! I would encourage you, don’t settle for something that is less than your calling. God made you unique, you were made to contribute something special and have an impact on the world so don’t play yourself short.