Do you remember becoming a parent?
Could there be anything the brings more joy?
Could there be anything that brings more fear?
Could anything bring more fulfillment?
Could anything bring more frustration?
As with most things worthwhile, there is a contradiction of themes and emotions.
A calling is a bit like that as well. Feelings of great joy, deep fulfillment; yet crippling fear and annoying anxiety. We’re often surprised that the pursuit of our calling can lead to conflicting feelings.
We suffer from high expectations that once we find our purpose, what’s ‘supposed’ to happen is euphoria, success, meaning, contentment, and all the good things we want from life. But often, the pursuit is fraught with fear, doubt, criticism, adversity, the unknown, distractions, and sometimes failure. These themes permeate the path to true calling.
Whether it’s our kids or our calling, it’s because of the deep love we feel that we also feel disappointment when it doesn’t go as planned or the pain when the relationship is damaged or lost.
Love is like that. The more we love something, the more we risk if we lose it.
The stronger your purpose, the more you’re committed to it. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows. The bigger the calling, the more we feel every strain, struggle and setback to be worthy of it.
Embrace the tension. Don’t be confused by these negative feelings. Everyone who answers their call feels pain, fear, and doubt as they pursue it.
Encountering those emotions signals that your calling is something significant and thus worthy of your effort, time, discipline and action.
Get up and get going.
Your calling won’t be a smooth ride, but it is something worth pursuing.
Pursue your purpose today.
