I am fortunate to spend time with a lot of Smart Women.  A topic that comes up on a regular basis is this idea of a job vs. a “calling.”  What’s the difference?  How do you know what a “calling” is?  Jobs are something that we do in our lives to keep ourselves and our families together.  A “calling” is when our true purpose, our life’s work, is discovered.

I think most women would prefer a “calling” rather than a job.  Why?  Because jobs are too small for us.  We are destined to do something more meaningful with our lives, our gifts.  So why do we resist?  Well, jobs are critical.  We do need to “earn a living.”  And “earning a living” gets in the way of the exploration to look for and reveal our “calling.”

We hesitate to answer the call from our authentic self, especially as we move into midlife.  We become torn by the realities of being mothers and daughters—of taking care of our children and possibly our aging parents.  We also become susceptible to accepting comfort and predictability.  Predictability is typically the choice we make because, well, it’s predictable.  We have a guarantee.  Making a new or different choice creates an unknown, a mystery of sorts.  Many women will ask the question, “Is it possible that I do not have a calling”?  The truth is, we are all chosen.  We all get the call.  The challenge is making a decision to embrace your “calling” once you make this marvelous discovery.

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