• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Do You Have a Calling in Life?

Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola​

So far as I know, the notion that we might have a calling in life is derived from the Christian notion that some of us are called upon (by God) to serve God, perhaps in the role of a priest or a friar. That notion, as it developed, became remarkable for how opposed it was to the Medieval notion that we have only to play out the social roles we were born into.

A peasant's duty was to be the best peasant possible. A nobleman's duty was to be the best nobleman possible. @Terese's duty was to be annoying And so forth.

The Christian notion, which is now secularized, has become a notion that each of us might have some individual calling that over-rules what class we're born into, and might even over-rule one's economic interests. Van Gogh:

“Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck, your profession is what you're put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.”
​
As Van Gogh hints, the notion can still be seen as a spiritual calling even by people whose callings are not traditionally spiritual.

As for myself, if I ever were to feel a calling in life, it might have something to do with counseling folks who seek my counsel. Not teaching, as you might suppose. I once thought I might enjoy being a professor, but I was wholly disabused of that notion decades ago when I got a job tutoring university students in logic. Oh gods! But I did suck at it! I was completely unprepared for how apathetic I would be, excepting only those students who were totally enthusiastic to learn.

Yet, counseling is a different thing to me in so far as it involves now and then both solving the sorts of problems I most like to solve, and then seeing someone actually apply my solution to their problem successfully.

Beyond that, I suppose my most heart felt calling is my personal spiritual journey -- by "spiritual", I mean the manner and extent to which I am able to deal with or manage my psychological self. aka "ego".

Last, it should be obvious, I think, that following a calling can be a means to being true to yourself.

Do you feel you have a calling in life? If so, what is it? Do you see it as something you passionately embrace, or more as a burden imposed upon you by something?

Do you feel your calling is leading you to self-fulfillment?
 
It Aint Necessarily So

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Sunstone said:
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola​

So far as I know, the notion that we might have a calling in life is derived from the Christian notion that some of us are called upon (by God) to serve God, perhaps in the role of a priest or a friar. That notion, as it developed, became remarkable for how opposed it was to the Medieval notion that we have only to play out the social roles we were born into.

A peasant's duty was to be the best peasant possible. A nobleman's duty was to be the best nobleman possible. @Terese's duty was to be annoying And so forth.

The Christian notion, which is now secularized, has become a notion that each of us might have some individual calling that over-rules what class we're born into, and might even over-rule one's economic interests. Van Gogh:

“Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck, your profession is what you're put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.”
​
As Van Gogh hints, the notion can still be seen as a spiritual calling even by people whose callings are not traditionally spiritual.

As for myself, if I ever were to feel a calling in life, it might have something to do with counseling folks who seek my counsel. Not teaching, as you might suppose. I once thought I might enjoy being a professor, but I was wholly disabused of that notion decades ago when I got a job tutoring university students in logic. Oh gods! But I did suck at it! I was completely unprepared for how apathetic I would be, excepting only those students who were totally enthusiastic to learn.

Yet, counseling is a different thing to me in so far as it involves now and then both solving the sorts of problems I most like to solve, and then seeing someone actually apply my solution to their problem successfully.

Beyond that, I suppose my most heart felt calling is my personal spiritual journey -- by "spiritual", I mean the manner and extent to which I am able to deal with or manage my psychological self. aka "ego".

Last, it should be obvious, I think, that following a calling can be a means to being true to yourself.

Do you feel you have a calling in life? If so, what is it? Do you see it as something you passionately embrace, or more as a burden imposed upon you by something?

Do you feel your calling is leading you to self-fulfillment?
Click to expand...

If by a calling you mean born to fulfill a purpose, then no, I don't feel that I was born to any purpose.

Of course, I have discovered many things along the way that I was willing to apply myself to. If those count as callings, then yes, but many of these things change over time. Once it was music performance and my career, both once consuming a huge fraction of my time and energy, but both no longer a part of my life.
 
Rival

Rival

Diex Aie
Staff member
Premium Member
My purpose in life is to wear dungaree shorts.

blue-turn-up-denim-short-dungarees-.jpg
 
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Sunstone said:
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola​

So far as I know, the notion that we might have a calling in life is derived from the Christian notion that some of us are called upon (by God) to serve God, perhaps in the role of a priest or a friar. That notion, as it developed, became remarkable for how opposed it was to the Medieval notion that we have only to play out the social roles we were born into.

A peasant's duty was to be the best peasant possible. A nobleman's duty was to be the best nobleman possible. @Terese's duty was to be annoying And so forth.

The Christian notion, which is now secularized, has become a notion that each of us might have some individual calling that over-rules what class we're born into, and might even over-rule one's economic interests. Van Gogh:

“Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck, your profession is what you're put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.”
​
As Van Gogh hints, the notion can still be seen as a spiritual calling even by people whose callings are not traditionally spiritual.

As for myself, if I ever were to feel a calling in life, it might have something to do with counseling folks who seek my counsel. Not teaching, as you might suppose. I once thought I might enjoy being a professor, but I was wholly disabused of that notion decades ago when I got a job tutoring university students in logic. Oh gods! But I did suck at it! I was completely unprepared for how apathetic I would be, excepting only those students who were totally enthusiastic to learn.

Yet, counseling is a different thing to me in so far as it involves now and then both solving the sorts of problems I most like to solve, and then seeing someone actually apply my solution to their problem successfully.

Beyond that, I suppose my most heart felt calling is my personal spiritual journey -- by "spiritual", I mean the manner and extent to which I am able to deal with or manage my psychological self. aka "ego".

Last, it should be obvious, I think, that following a calling can be a means to being true to yourself.

Do you feel you have a calling in life? If so, what is it? Do you see it as something you passionately embrace, or more as a burden imposed upon you by something?

Do you feel your calling is leading you to self-fulfillment?
Click to expand...

I like this. Nice insight.

I never really thought about a calling since my mind was busy with other things like health and school. I don't know when it actually happened that I started to think about it more.

First, it was just defining my passion. I've been an artist all my life. My father writes and tries to play the piano. He used to be a hunter in his former days, and a Pet Detective by profession currently until his liver almost gave out on him.

My mother is a musician though I kinda wish she took it up publicly since that was her goal. I wrote poetry since I was a kid and published a book in elementary school. I'll be putting together my poems today at present to get them published. More for myself and family than the public.

From there, I looked at religion less and more towards freedom of expression. The Dharma helps me learn about mortality; life and death, and what that means. So, now I can apply my art to understanding how to live and how to die. It's a nice combination but how to live it is another story.

Going off that, my options for callings would be an artist (professional one), probably in writing as an author. I do paint as did my mother, but not Bob Ross nor Michelangelo type work.

I read some articles earlier today and yesterday about making goals versus a system. Goals (visions, callings, etc) lets you set up a vision of how you want your life to be in the future. It gives you direction to which all your actions are focused.

Living by system approach is not making goals but forming a direction. So, instead of saying, I want to be an artist, I just "be" an artist. The author on the website mentioned goals are where you want to be and systems are where you are: its a state of being.

So, as an artist, regardless of when, why, or who I just make art when I feel like it. If I want to clean the house, I don't know it a goal, I do it when I can and use my instinct to find the proper time without kicking myself in the hinny when I don't do what I wanted to do as planned.

Another view of passion in relation to goals or system is journey versus destination. Both are okay. No one is better than the other. One thing about journey is it keeps you aware and less stressed. One thing about destination is it gives you purpose and a calling.

So, it all goes together. With that, my calling is to live life by a system and direct my purpose as a overarching tool to direct what I am doing (not what I want to do later). Get my balance on how I approach life and not forget about death. Grim, yes, important, even more so.

That's my passion: following whats important, finding what I have the ability to do and challenges in doing so, and all that above, putting it together to align myself in mental, physical, and spiritual growth.

How did Owen say in Throw Mama from the Train: A Writer Writes. Always!
 
Last edited:
Vee

Vee

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I'm not sure I have a calling, but I see a lot of people who seem to have come to this world on holidays, while I have the feeling I came to this world on duty.
If one day I find my true calling, I hope it includes working less and having more time to enjoy the things I love.
 
SalixIncendium

SalixIncendium

अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
Staff member
Premium Member
By Van Gogh's philosophy, I was put on earth to give people atherosclerosis.

Do I have a 'calling?' I can't give you an intelligent answer for that. People tend approach me with personal problems and look to me for advice (or perhaps I somehow attract people with problems) on the psychological, spiritual, and philosophical front. I can't, however, with any degree of certainty, tell you that this is my 'calling.'
 
YmirGF

YmirGF

Bodhisattva in Recovery
I'm on assignment but, sadly, I'm not at liberty to say exactly what the nature of the assignment is.
 
sun rise

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Yes. Here's one version:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
― John Wesley
 
Rival

Rival

Diex Aie
Staff member
Premium Member
YmirGF said:
I'm on assignment but, sadly, I'm not at liberty to say exactly what the nature of the assignment is.
Click to expand...
Give me £2,000 and I won't tell anyone. I've been tailing you for months, you little screwball.
 
Riders

Riders

Well-Known Member
I'm good at business and sells. I did telemarketing for over 10 years in my old life. I just another telephone sales and also marketing job. I work for a web sight that has businesses advertising there. I hook business owners up with my boss who talks to them and makes the sell. They talk to me about their sells goals and marketing needs.

I am getting off of some of my social security.

I am hoping to go to Eastfield Jr college and get a 2 year Business administration degree.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top