Life can have more meaning when we love what we do and we do what we love. While many people discover their true calling after many decades, some people are just lucky to start ahead and follow theirs while they are young.
Do you feel unhappy with what you are doing? Are you just trying to live from one paycheck to another? You might just need to find your true calling in order to start really living.
Here are some steps that you can follow to finally discover your true calling:
1. Focus on what interests you most.
We sometimes spend time on many activities that only “take the time” without even giving us the satisfaction and happiness we feel when we do something we love. Why not focus on the things that interest you most? Spend more time on the things you love to do. When you have mastered your craft, you may just be surprised that what you love to do would not only give you joy and satisfaction, but it can even give life to your means of living. Think of Xyza Bacani, the Filipina domestic helper who followed her passion in photography and won a NYU Magnum Fellow scholarship.
Xyza Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic helper in Hong Kong, followed her passion and became one of the Magnum fellows of NYU.
Photo Credit: Facebook / Xyza Bacani
2. Recall what you enjoyed most in the past.
We could get frustrated doing things that we don’t like but we keep doing. Try to recall the things you love doing when you were younger. It can be as weird as trying to act out in front of a mirror, or as serious writing novels. Think of Maine Mendoza who became a sensational TV personality in the Philippines or J.K. Rowling who found her true calling by writing the Harry Potter series.
3. Don’t be too anxious of the future.
Worrying too much about the future can take away the energy we have for the things we really love to do. Instead of always planning about the future, allow yourself to act spontaneously sometimes in order to discover your true calling.
4. Observe how you feel when you do an activity.
Do you feel great when you speak in front of a crowd? Do you love how it feels after you’ve written a feature article for a website? Pay attention to how you feel when you do something. How you feel about something can help you determine what your true passion in life is.
5. Identify the activities you keep coming back to.
You may sometimes find yourself coming back to the activities you once abandoned in the past. Noli de Castro, a former Vice President of the Philippines, went back to being a news anchor in a major television corporation after his term ended. A person’s calling can be really hard to resist specially if you have the passion for it.
6. Try a new routine.
We can be used to doing the same things we don’t like that it can take away all the passion and energy we have for the things we love to do. Try a new routine. You may be able to discover you passion when you’ve had a change of environment.
7. Explore new activities.
You will never know if you are good at something unless you have tried it. This adage may be a cliche but it sure has worked for a lot of successful people. Susan Boyle, for example, joined Britain’s Got Talent at the age of 48 and became an international singing sensation. It is never too late to try things you know would bring joy to your heart.
8. Say “Yes” to opportunities.
Opportunities knock only a few times in one’s life, and once you’ve missed them, there is a chance that you may not get the same opportunity again. Try saying “Yes” to them. It doesn’t matter if you fail, what’s important is you tried.
9. Follow your OWN dreams.
Many people fail at this. Some people follow or work on other people’s dreams. When you do this, you not only neglect your dreams, but you also hinder yourself from discovering your passion. Try to discover your innermost wishes and goals. Only then will you be able to find your purpose in life.
10. Persevere.
There would be many times that you would fail or get frustrated specially when you are just starting in your journey to finding your true calling. Persevere. You will never find your true passion unless you try and try and try.