The Most Important Question to Ask Yourself About Finding Your Calling

reflecting

You’re starting to learn more about calling and purpose. You’re even starting to believe you’ve been given one, and that it’s bigger than you. So what next?

You need to ask yourself a question. Not a list of questions; that comes later. You need to ask yourself just one very important question before moving on:

Are you willing to endure the pain of pursuing your calling?

It sounds simple enough, but couldn’t be more complicated. There’s a false notion that finding your calling will be exhilarating, exciting, and just plain fun. While you will certainly feel those emotions at different points in the journey, it’s just not wise to think that’s all there is to it.

The pain of giving something up

When you pursue your calling, you will find there are things about your old life you will have to give up, regardless of whether you like them or not. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but living a purposeful live is about living a live that’s focused. Because of this, you might not be able to do the same job you do now, have the same friends, or even live in the same place. Or you may not have to give up any of those things.

But you will have to give up something, and it will be painful.

The journey

In my own life, I’m working on giving up what other people think about me in order to move past crippling self-doubt. It’s incredibly painful because it means not apologizing for being myself, something I’ve practiced for far too long now. It means staring down those things that make my heart pound and my palms sweat.

The journey to find your calling is a journey of self-abandonment, not self-discovery. You are called to something bigger than yourself, which is good news if you ask me. Self-discovery is the result of self-abandonment. Once you’ve shed your narcissistic tendencies you’ll begin to learn more about yourself and your calling.

Again, that’s a painful journey. Realizing it’s not about you is a humbling and often heart-breaking thing. But it’s necessary. And it’s part of your journey regardless of who you are.

Answering the question

Once you’ve asked yourself the question, you need to answer it. This is the really hard part, because only one answer will do if you’re going to embark on the journey to find your calling. And that’s a resounding “yes.”

Unless you’re willing to endure the pain of pursuing your calling you won’t be able to continue. You have to decide you’ve had enough of the life the world offered, that it’s not good enough and it never will be. You have to get angry about the banality of consumerism and start focusing on a life that exists to make eternal waves.

So, what’s your answer? Are you willing to endure the pain of pursuing your calling? Tell me.

Photo courtesy: Chad Macy Photography

  • Macytutoring

    THAT is the truth!!!!! -Meghan :)

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

      Thanks Meg! :)

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    Here’s one of the most insightful things I’ve seen – although it came from a very unlikely source.
    In the movie “Kung Fu Panda,” there’s a scene where the Kung Fu experts decide to beat up on Po (the panda) in order to force him to quit. But he just keeps going and coming back for more. His tenacity is amazing – almost to the point of seeming naive and silly.
    So they ask him why he keeps going. And his reason was basically that the pain of his normal, mundane, purposeless life was worse than any beating that the Kung Fu masters could give him.

    I thought it was pretty insightful. I’ve found that’s true for me. Going after your calling is tough. But it’s not as painful as a life of no calling.

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

       You definitely win the award for best comment of the year so far! That was hilarious and a great insight. Love finding inspiration and truth in strange places like that. Really like your point about pain and your calling.

  • Christina

    Wow!!!  These are powerful words that all of us need to understand.  Well done Grayson!!! 

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

       Thanks Christina!

  • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

    “In my own life, I’m working on giving up what other people think about me in order to move past crippling self-doubt.” This has been me as well. Sometimes, I still move back into mindset, hopefully to recognize it’s the enemy once again.

    Something I often give up is the need for “me time.” I’m not saying I don’t have down time, because I have to have it. But I can’t be lounging on the couch watching TV every night or procrastinating. Pursuing your calling means actively working towards it.

  • Isa Thompson06

    I have been on this journey for a while and feel as if I am spinning my wheels. I do know I am currently not happy, and that I am called to do sooo much more for the world. Transformation comes to mind. I just don’t know what it is exactly and/ or if I have the courage to let go of the present me.

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson Pope (A Parched Soul)

      Isa, I don’t think we’ll ever know exactly what it is we’re supposed to do. That knowledge just doesn’t belong to us. But we can rest assured when we know we’re using our God-given gifts to serve others. And the good news is you don’t have to have courage to let go, you just have to have faith.