How to find your calling should be a class in high school. Everyone has a calling, but not everyone has an easy time identifying it.
The first thing you need to do to find your calling is to realize that it may be something you’re already good at and that you like doing. If you’re resourceful enough, you can turn almost any hobby into a career.
In my view, everyone has a divine purpose, something you’ve agreed to do before you were born, and it may be more important than your career. For example, it may include one or more of the following: being a good friend, sibling, mother, or father; empowering others; standing up for human rights and freedom; speaking the truth; being who you are instead of being who someone else wants you to be; doing the work you do, no matter how inconsequential it seems.
Ask yourself these questions to help discover your calling:
- In which classes or activities in school did you excel?
- What did you want to do for a career before the age of 10?
- What did you want to do for a career before the age of 18?
- What have you always wanted to do but lacked the resources or courage?
- What’s the hardest challenge you’ve mastered in your life?
- What do you really enjoy doing in life now (e.g., types of projects, pastimes, activities, social gatherings, etc.)?
- What do you believe you are good at now? What do others consider you good at? Is there something you could teach if called on to do so?
- What types of skills or talents have been most responsible for your successes?
- Is there a particular skill you would like to have (e.g., artistic talent, analytical ability, writing ability, persuasive ability, etc.)?
- Think of the last time you were so involved in what you were doing that you lost track of time and didn’t even feel like you were working. What were you doing?
- What makes you feel like you are in the right place at the right time, forgetting about life’s problems? What gives you the most joy?
- What do you want to be known for?
- If you were paid enough, what would you do for a career, no matter how crazy it sounds (e.g., professional socialite, warrior, philosopher, etc.)?
- If you could go back in time and be any sort of person you would like for a year, what would you be (e.g., explorer, knight, hunter, merchant, princess, king, nun, Geisha, temple priest, etc.)?
- What charitable causes do you most strongly identify with (e.g., veterans, helping the elderly, needy children, cancer patients, the homeless, etc.)?
- What matters to you most at this point in your life, what do you value most? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Education _____ Family _____ Social life _____ Romantic relationships _____ Leisure (vacations, travel, etc.) _____ Money _____ Work that you feel inspired and fulfilled by _____ Recognition/fame
- What do you really want in life? What will you be happy with?
- What type of person do you respect the most? Rank each of these types on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Political leader (such as a senator or president of a country) _____ Small business owner _____ CEO of large corporation _____ Stay at home mother _____ Blue-collar worker _____ Famous writer _____ Starving artist _____ Professional athlete _____ Skilled tradesperson _____ Intellectually courageous metaphysician/psychic _____ Comedian _____ Lawyer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Behind the scenes partner in a business _____ Business to business salesperson _____ Accountant _____ Scientist _____ Actor _____ Volunteer worker _____ Billionaire philanthropist
- Do any of these careers appeal to you? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being least appealing, 5 being neutral, 10 being most appealing to you: _____ MBA business management position _____ Police officer _____ Entertainer _____ Graphic designer _____ Social worker _____ Teacher _____ Engineer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Human resources management _____ Paralegal _____ Criminal investigator _____ Lawyer _____ Office worker _____ Military _____ Holistic health _____ Child care taker _____ Psychologist _____ Healer _____ Accountant _____ Therapist _____ Homemaker _____ Artist _____ Musician _____ Dancer _____ Scientist _____ Clergy _____ Politics _____ Government
- Respond to this statement with the Very first response that comes to mind: “If I knew what I wanted to do and was doing it I’d be ______________________.”
My long-term findings show me that the more you are in sync with your calling, the less inner conflict you will experience, the happier you are, and the more your life “flows.”
Regarding money, you might have heard something like this fanciful myth from a motivational speaker: “All you have to do is find your divine purpose and all the success and riches will be yours.” The truth is, when you find your best path, it may not include riches and widespread recognition, and that’s okay.
Follow these tips to find your calling:
- Get centered. Detach from your inner fears, defenses, and daily mind dramas. Meditation, or getting away and spending time in nature helps a lot.
- Learn about your subconscious mind. You can’t control it, but you can detach from it through meditation and other disciplines that put you in a zone, which helps you more easily focus on what’s really important to you.
- Get rid of faulty beliefs, such as the New Age myth that you can avoid all personal adversity. My findings show that personal adversity serves a distinct purpose in life.
- Understand that not everyone is supposed to discover their calling in life at a young age. It’s also common to have several callings over the course of your life, and you may not find the one you really enjoy until later in life.
- Use the power of gratitude and faith. Be grateful for where you are now and have faith that you will be where you want to be.
- If you need help identifying what really motivates you, consider the services of a well-trained handwriting analyst or other professional. Additionally, through my work I can tell you if you are best suited to work in an existing structure (e.g., corporate employee, licensee or franchisee, etc.), or if you are more suited for independent action. My systems of analysis based on comprehensive astrology and numerology won’t tell me the exact livelihood for which you are best suited, but I can certainly help you narrow it down.
- Be receptive to unconventional callings. A traditional job may be right for some, and an unusual livelihood may be right for others.
Here’s a very good article to further help you find your calling in life.
Follow your interests, regardless of what others around you think. Doing what’s best for you is better than having regrets later in life.
No matter how insignificant your calling seems to be, it’s vital to your destiny, and probably a lot more important to the fate of others than you realize.
Copyright © 2022 Scott Petullo