Know your Calling
Discovering your identity and purpose is foundational to living life fully alive. What would you say if you were asked, “Do you know who you really are?” and “Do you know why you’re here on the planet?”
Many people would say, “Of course I do!” but not be able to clearly articulate either of these core truths about themselves.
Often we describe our identity and purpose in terms of what we “do” or the roles we play – “I’m a doctor” or “I’m a teacher” or “I’m a mom,” to name a few.
Who you are and why you’re here is bigger than your “doings”, your job or the roles you play. The meaning and purpose of your life is what YOU uniquely bring to every relationship, every role, every job or career you will ever have.
Some other words we can use for identity and purpose are VOCATION or CALLING. The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, meaning “to call.” Your calling or vocation is something you listen for and respond to – something God-given. It’s something that requires time and focus to “hear.” It’s a mystery to be searched out, a hidden treasure to be sought and found.
In the words of one of my mentors, Dan Miller, “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen for that voice telling me who I am. Vocation does not come from willfulness but from listening.”
When you listen for that CALL, then you can find the words to describe what you hear. When you find your own words to describe your vocation or calling, it is INCREDIBLY empowering. This is the first step in becoming a fully alive person, and this is where I start with you in our coaching process.
I use some assessments at the start, then reflect back to you what I hear you saying about yourself. You will gain insight as you enter into that process, and then create your personal mission statement as a tangible, personal manifesto. This serves as a plumbline for your life, enabling you to stay true to your calling, come what may.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” – Viktor Frankl
“The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5 ESV
