Clues to Your Calling
I recently had the opportunity to speak with a team about discovering the all too elusive “calling” in your life. If you come from a faith background, like myself, you may relate to feelings of a particular call from God on your life. Regardless of your background, you may still be able to identify a specific path you are led to pursue (whether it is a very specific vocational role, or a particular type of impact you want to make in your world).
My story is predictable. I wanted a specific job, so after high school I enrolled in the college to give me the proper credentials for that job. After college, however, my journey took several unexpected turns, and when I found myself living out my “calling” it was certainly not what I had planned. In terms of earning money, it was drastically different. I was in a cubicle when I had dreamed of being in front of people. I found myself with some serious decision making opportunities, as well as emotional battles, that led me to uncovering three clues to my calling throughout this process. I shared these clues to discovering your call with this business team:
Data/Patterns
Stories
Posture
1. Data/Patterns: There are powerful studies, particularly by Gallup, that reveal that people are most effective when they are working from their natural talents. I believe this so much I became a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach in order to lead people and teams in discovering their strengths using Gallup’s Clifton Strengths assessment. People using their strengths are 3 times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life, and 6 times more engaged in their work. This is surface level insights, but with deep implications. Put it another way, our best chances of making a positive impact has everything to do with being in a position to utilize the talents we were given.
2. Stories: Storytelling is a long held practice of passing down truth. We often look at history books, but seem to miss the fact our own individual stories contain clues to discovering the call in your life. Whether it is parables from the Bible, or looking at your personal journey, stories give clarity to future opportunities.
3. Posture: Posture is crucial to discovering the call in your life. What I mean by posture is specifically your approach to everyday life. Are you in it for you, or are you in it for something (or someone) else? In Proverbs the writer states that “a generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes the lives of others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25) There is something powerful, even spiritually nourishing, when you take into consideration others before yourself. In the New Testament Jesus’ primary teaching is about the kingdom of God, and interestingly the common theme about this kingdom way of life is becoming last to put others first.
Ultimately my encouragement is that a person’s “call” in life has more to do about that individual person. This includes those natural tendencies of thinking, feeling, and behaving (called talents). It involves the formation of your experiences throughout life, along with your approach to the potential work you have to offer.
Do you want to know how you are designed to make your unique impact in the world? Contact Gallup’s Certified Strengths Coach, Dan Vincent, at dan@kaleocoaching.com to get your Clifton Strengths Assessment code. Kaleo Coaching is currently working with organizations and individuals to provide the GOOD work they are called to. Learn more at kaleocoaching.com