In Monday’s blog, I explored what it means to find our ‘calling,’ meaningful work that reflects our passion, skills, service to others, and above all, who we truly are.

I cited the results of a recent Gallup poll, indicating that over 80% of college-educated Americans aspire to have meaningful work, but less than 50% actually attain it.

I’ve been thinking about why this might be the case. I’ve heard some people complain that this is because meaningful work has not been available for most in recent decades. Maybe it is true that such careers are difficult to find, but I think there may be a bit more to the story.

I should begin by stating two beliefs as a premise for what I’m writing about today:

1.     I believe every one of us is called to become and express the best of who we can be in this lifetime.
2.     I believe that if we heed that calling, our work and our lives will be meaningful.

Why then, is this not the case for so many people? I have a few thoughts about this and would love your further insights.

It’s Not a Goal
I’ve come to understand that my calling has never been a set of goals for me to achieve. I’ve always been good at setting goals and willfully working to achieve them. After all, I was a strategy professor and consultant for decades. That’s what strategists do: They establish a direction and goal and the means to move toward them.

But I’m learning that hearing and following my calling doesn’t come from willfully pursuing a goal.

Instead, my calling is a gift of my true self, which is already mine, but I must be open to exploring and sharing it. When I began writing and sharing blogs several years ago, I had no clarity about my goals. A small voice (initially it was very, very small) inside of me was calling me toward something unknown and risky, maybe even impossible, and yet it felt completely aligned with what I understood about my evolving true self.

This feels so much more vulnerable and exposed than setting goals and working to achieve them.

In short – it’s scary.

It Doesn’t Come from Out There
My calling to become a blogger and more recently a podcaster and book author didn’t come from a voice out there. It came from a voice inside of me, inviting me to become the person I was meant to be.

Opening myself up to exploring and sharing this gift of self is so much more challenging than trying to listen to or follow in the footsteps of someone else who behaves like they know what they are doing. My inner voice has seldom provided me with the full picture of where I was going. And initial feedback from others about the new directions for my life has often questioned the wisdom of my choices. No wonder it is difficult to trust the wisdom within.

So yes, it feels vulnerable and scary. Is this why so many of us don’t go there?

Do you have thoughts about this?
I’d love to hear them.