Everyone
has a calling. He or she may not call it that, but we all have a cause or
a calling in our professional and private lives that improves the lives of
those around us.
Merriam-Webster defines a calling
as a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action.
There are 3 prerequisites that help you make the calling a reality. While
we have many callings that sit in our hearts, a calling in action is what the
world needs.
Here are the 3 prerequisites:
i. Confidence
ii. Belief that your calling is
of high value
iii. Give up insecurities,
especially when you allow other people's evaluation systems to impact you.
Confidence: Assertiveness & Seeking
Confidence is necessary to help you be assertive and seeking so you can
research what you need to put your calling into action. It takes a
business mind to get things going especially if there are legal ramifications
that must be addressed. Knowing how to lobby the government, obtain
certain licenses, etc. are some of the underlying needs. Hiring the right
consultant and gathering the people you need to make your plan more efficient
takes confidence.
Belief: Supported by Experience & Research
You must have a belief that your calling is of high value, even if others don't
recognize the need immediately. Part of this belief requires an understanding
of the short and long term benefits of your calling. Some of this belief
may need extra education. A calling about protecting the environment may
need knowledge of eco-science.
Give up insecurities, especially when you allow other people's evaluation
system to impact you
This can be the biggest stumbling block.
You may have a great idea and the first person you talk to shoots it
down. It is easy to let it deflate your own desires when you allow
someone's negativity to seep into your mind. When someone shoots you
down, remember that person is actually shooting herself down. She is
thinking about it in her own point of view, and certainly not the point of view
that the calling is beneficial or needed.
How many high school guidance counselors gave out lousy career advice because
they used their own evaluation systems and neglected to understand the
students' actual talents? You have to decide if someone else's evaluation
system should be your own. We often adopt other people's evaluation
systems that don't fit us. The girlfriend who advises you buy the polka
dotted dress is a simplified example. If you know you would never feel
comfortable wearing it in public, you are using your own evaluation system.
Not everyone is on the same walk with God, and that difference alone makes
other people's opinions harmful.
Do you worry about what other people think? You can't let other people's
insecurities become yours. Then, we are all just throwing our talents away.
