Goal vs Purpose
For many years, we had a dear dog with some crazy quirks. One was kibble writing. Instead of just eating, she took individual bits of kibble, dropped them on the kitchen tile, arranged them with her nose, and peered at us intently with her soft brown eyes. She’d look at us, nudge the kibble into little patterns, and look up at us again. She seemed to want to tell us something, but we never figured out what she meant!
Sometimes life purpose reminds me of messages in the kibble. The message is available but often we never discover the meaning. Fortunately, unlike the kibble code, we CAN decipher our inner calling. We just need to listen. I’ve found one of the best ways to hear my inner voice is deliberate silence. This can take practice, but it is worth the effort.
Years ago I learned this silence technique from a teacher who referred me to the work of Parker Palmer.
“Vocation does not come from willfulness. It comes from listening. I must listen to my life and try to understand what it is truly about – quite apart from what I would like it to be about – or my life will never represent anything real in the world, no matter how earnest my intentions” (Parker, 2000).
This quote tugs on my heart every time I hear it, and I hope it speaks to you too. I tend to be eager to chase an achievement because someone else thinks it is a good idea. When I achieve the goal, I wonder why I’m not fulfilled.
The answer may be closer and less mysterious than I used to believe. Parker notes that the very word, vocation, comes from the Latin word for voice. It doesn’t come from the word for success or accomplishment or even skill.
“Vocation does not mean a goal that I pursue. it means a calling that I hear. Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am. I must listen for the truths and values at the heart of my own identity, not the standards by which I must live - but the standards by which I cannot help but live if I am living my own life” (Parker, 2000).
Listen to your inner voice. Set aside time every day to sit in silence. Write down the things that come to mind. Don’t try to force or direct your inner voice. Ask a question and listen.
Truly knowing who you are before rushing into the next goal is critical. If you know your own identity, you will better determine, even at a glance, whether an idea, plan, or life choice seems to add to or detract from your truths and values.
Discovering who you are, finding your voice and your purpose, will help you set meaningful goals that you want to pursue and which enrich your life.
Reference: Palmer, P. J. (2000). Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Challenges/Points:
If you don’t already, make an effort to listen to your inner voice.
Step back and honestly look at your life. Set aside 10 minutes of silence every day for a week and listen. Write down things that jump into your mind.
Try cutting out a thing that does not align with “the truths and values at the heart of [your] own identity” and adding in something that does line up.
Questions:
What drives you? Why do you live life the way you do? Habit? Upbringing? Ambitions?
Do you know your calling?
Do you regularly practice silence? When you do, what do you hear?
To talk more about this or something else on your mind text the number 494949 to chat with our team or visit RemedyLIVE.com/chat anytime, day or night.
Did someone send you this post, and you want to subscribe to our free self care guide? Text CARE to 494949 to receive daily posts.
