How to find your true calling?
Searching for a passion is new age plague. Even those who’ve graduated years ago are trying to answer the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The reason is simple. We don’t want to spend ages locked in a grey cubicle. We don’t want to exchange five days of slogging per week for an illusion of freedom in two. We simply don’t want to be unhappy.
⠀
Why is it so hard to understand what you really want? Well, we grew up surrounded by stereotypes and introjects of other people. They told us what suits us, what are acceptable professions, which jobs can be profitable and respectable. The awful thing behind it is that this knowledge comes from a time and circumstances that don’t exist anymore.
⠀
Being ruled by these introjects for many years, we are not able to see our own desires behind them. Moreover, we can’t permit these desires to decide our actions.
⠀
So before looking deep into your heart, I want to tell you one critical thing. Yes, looking for your passion is your birth right. Yes, this task deserves all the time and effort you can invest in it. And yes, you are allowed and encouraged to follow your dreams.
⠀
Let’s get started!
The reason is simple. We don’t want to spend ages locked in a grey cubicle. We don’t want to exchange five days of slogging per week for an illusion of freedom in two. We simply don’t want to be unhappy.
⠀
Why is it so hard to understand what you really want? Well, we grew up surrounded by stereotypes and introjects of other people. They told us what suits us, what are acceptable professions, which jobs can be profitable and respectable. The awful thing behind it is that this knowledge comes from a time and circumstances that don’t exist anymore.
⠀
Being ruled by these introjects for many years, we are not able to see our own desires behind them. Moreover, we can’t permit these desires to decide our actions.
⠀
So before looking deep into your heart, I want to tell you one critical thing. Yes, looking for your passion is your birth right. Yes, this task deserves all the time and effort you can invest in it. And yes, you are allowed and encouraged to follow your dreams.
⠀
Let’s get started!
Usually, I offer my clients these five questions to find true passion. Don’t rush. Write them down, let them into your heart, answer them thoughtfully.
⠀Number 5 – WOULD YOU DO IT, IF YOU WOULD NEVER GET PAID?
When it’s a true passion, people are not motivated by money. Yes, it’s natural to wish to be rewarded for your work. However, one’s true calling gives more than that. It doesn’t take energy from you, it gives you energy. You gain joy and fulfillment from the activity that no amount of money can provide.
Number 4 – WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WILL SURROUND YOU?
When you are building your dream career, you will be interacting with clients, partners, collegues, employers or employees. Who are these people? What drives them in life? What qualities do they possess? What value do you provide for them? What is your role in their lives?
Number 3 – WILL YOU DO IT IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I got my first degree in economics. Even though I consider this education extremely important for my career of a business coach, I would never study economics in my free time. When I finally enrolled into a psychological program, I noticed the opposite situation. I study psychology all the time. Even in my leisure hours I read psychological books and watch educational videos. I just can’t stop. This is an important hint of a true calling.
Number 2 – WHAT DOES YOUR DREAM LIFE LOOK LIKE?
Before we look for a dream career, I always offer my clients practices and exercises on developing a vision of their desired future. Why? It’s easy to become fascinated by many professions. For example, a person sees a veterinarian and thinks that it’s a great career. It involves helping animals, it’s respectable, and you can make a lot of money. But when we try to fit this career into the actual life of that person, everything falls apart. It appears he doesn’t want to work fixed hours, doesn’t want to be employed and even to be attached to one workplace.
I always say: life before career. Don’t try to build your life around a career. Create your dream life and find a career to match it.
I always say: life before career. Don’t try to build your life around a career. Create your dream life and find a career to match it.
Number 1 – WHICH ACTIVITY YOU JUST CAN`T STOP DOING?
A true calling is unable to leave us. It will appear in our life in different forms. Let me give you another personal example. Another huge passion of mine is writing. I started writing when I was 14, and since than it has always been with me. At some point I decided that a writer’s career is not practical, so I stopped trying to write a book. Yet, I still discover myself writing articles, blog posts or just notes in my diary. I just can’t stop.
⠀
Think about such activities in your life. Maybe you are singing at all family events? Or working as a free counsellor for all your friends? I’m sure you will come up with interesting discoveries.
⠀
Think about such activities in your life. Maybe you are singing at all family events? Or working as a free counsellor for all your friends? I’m sure you will come up with interesting discoveries.
Looking for your true passion is a challenging yet captivating experience. It involves exploring the most important person in your life – yourself! So keep digging, keep researching, and I promise you won’t regret it.
To understand, how life coaching can help you on this journey, move to the next post.
To understand, how life coaching can help you on this journey, move to the next post.