What are you born to do? How can you find out?
Richard Leider, one of America’s premier career counselors,
makes a distinction between career and vocation: “Career
means work advancement; vocation comes from understanding your gifts
and talents and being directed toward a special work—a calling. You have
to listen to yourself to hear it.”
Richard speaks from 30 years of experience counseling people how
to find meaning in life and work. The author of Repacking Your Bags,
he discovered that most people are dissatisfied with their jobs—they sense
that they are not living a meaningful life.
It doesn’t have to be that way. “Every person has a purpose
in life,” says Richard. “My work is helping people discover their
purpose, then how to live it and lead from it. It’s about seeing the big
picture. What is it you were born to do? What is your big purpose? Why are you
here?”
A common complaint is a sense of being anesthetized. This comes from
always making safe and predictable choices. “People feel they are no longer
growing. They’ve traded the sensation of life for the security of a pay
check.”
Richard helps people recover their sense of vitality in three phases:
- Take a deep look inside yourself. “First I get them to take a deep
look at themselves to uncover their purpose, their values, and core philosophies.
I help them hold up a mirror so they can sense who they really are now.”
Richard asks powerful questions and then pauses and listens. He feels the two
questions most important to answer are “What do I want?” and “How
will I know when I’ve found it?”
- Develop a game plan or life map. “The map is like a picture. It shows
where you are now and where you want to go.” It gives you perspective.
- Apply what you learn. “Practice specific exercises that get the results
you seek.” To evolve to the next step, slow down, step back, look at the
big picture, listen, reflect, and catch yourselves in the act of hearing your
calling.
To keep vital in your final life phase, you must grow spiritually,
and use your wisdom to mentor others. PE
