Do you ever wonder what your calling in life is? Wondered if you will ever live the life of your dreams, whatever that might may be? Personally this is a question that I often ask myself. And after the many years I have been alive, I am yet to find the answer.
But as I keep scratching my head and reading on the subject, I think I have found an answer… well, let's say I have two simple steps that may lead to a path towards an answer.
1. Learn to listen to your heart and quiet your brain.
Let’s say you have always loved beautiful patterns. You love everything about design (clothing, interior design etc…). You remember always decorating stuff at home since you were a little child, but you never really thought about it as a career. And now, after completing your degree in IT, you are wondering if you really made the right choice. You have been working for some years now in the field, but your heart keeps drawing you towards your passion – design. On the other hand, your ‘reasonable’ brain side tells you that you can’t go into design now since you don’t have the right degree. You should focus on software engineering because that is what you are qualified in. Besides, you don’t have a degree in design so you would not be competitive in the field and you can’t afford to let your heart dictate you. “That’s is unrealistic, you are the brainy type” you tell yourself. You convince yourself that passion is overrated!
But is it?
As time goes by and you gain some experience in the IT field; and even though you are still in love with design, and everything inside you and even your friends tell you that you are gifted, you keep doubting whether design is really for you. Besides, everyone says technology is the future so you are probably in the right field and you seem to be appreciated at work too. Yet, you are not happy.
So why do you feel sad and unfulfilled when you assess your professional life?
Simply because your heart knows things that your brain can’t explain.
“The cost of not following your heart is spending the rest of your life wishing you had.”
If you want to be happy, then I suggest you stop trying to ignore your heart and instead give in. You can’t tackle the issue if you are in denial. But if you embrace it, you can now begin to negotiate how to harness your passion. That might be the path to your calling and if it is, you don't want to let the opportunity pass you by. And if it is not, then you will have given it your best.
Maybe it won't work out. But maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever!
2. Learn by doing
Once you have convinced yourself to listen to your heart, then your brain can come in to show you how to turn this passion into a business.Sometimes your passion cannot pay your bills (as yet…), so you will probably need to get a job to survive but you should NOT give up on your passion. Instead, if you love it – as it happens with passion – it is worth investing extra hours after work or on the weekend. In the case of our interior designer at heart, advice could be done online after working hours and site visits over the weekend for example. A good amount of time should also be spent educating oneself on the subject, taking online courses or reading about it etc, so you are aware of the trends, hence stay relevant.
“Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing.”
What I have noticed is that a passion needs to be nurtured if it is to grow. And it can only grow if it is developed and practiced. I have often heard people remember what they were good at when they were young and regretting they didn’t pursue this or that career instead of what they are doing. Others may also have had many interests and were good in most of them and can’t quite find what they really like. I must confess that I fall in the latter category. But very few people are willing to get out of the comfort zone to scratch further and see if their passion can come to life. It is not easy to come home after a long day of work and start working on your passion, especially when there is no guarantee it will work out. But one cannot find out whether it will work out unless it is practiced.
Why is this important?
The question about our life’s purpose is not easy. Many never find theirs and they seem to live just fine, so why should we care, you may ask? My answer is: Why should we rob the world of our innate talent? I just can’t find a good reason. I believe God created us for a purpose; it is our duty to find it and live it.
I have a lot of admiration for those who are living their purpose. But I am convinced that it is not reserved for the few. I believe anyone who is willing to listen to his/her heart, to work hard at mastering their interests, is on the right track.
So what will it take you to begin the journey towards finding your calling? If you are living yours, please share your experience as it may help so many on this self discovery journey.
“Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights your way.”
