A 2022 report revealed that a large majority of Americans focus on vocation as an end goal to personal happiness. Data from Barna Research identified that four in five U.S. adults (81%) agree that their primary goal in life is to be happy. Practicing Christians were particularly aligned with this belief, with 44 percent strongly agreeing.
These survey results align with Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski, dating back to 2010, which discovered that how people approach their work might directly affect their job satisfaction and determine the meaning found in employment.
According to Dr. Wrzesniewski, those who experience their vocation as a calling are most likely to feel deeply aligned with their vocation and personhood. They feel a personal and emotional connection to their work. Those who view their vocation as a calling are often enthusiastic about their days. They have a sense of purpose and are willing to work harder and contribute.
Unsurprisingly, this group of workers is often the most satisfied with their professional situation, which is why it’s worth taking the time to clarify your calling. In addition, you may discover opportunities for you to pursue your calling vocationally or better to incorporate your gifts and strengths into your career.
If you want to find a better path, you have to be willing to explore a different path. That sounds simple, but how often do you try something different?
James Clear
How to Pursue Your Calling Vocationally
Though Christian workers more often associate religious and pastoral roles with being a “calling” or serving the common good, it may not matter to most Christians whether they or someone else works in a “sacred” or “secular” space. Almost two-thirds of employed Christians (64%) agree on some level that it’s clear to them how their own work serves God or a higher purpose.
Since 2018, fewer Christians indicate their place of worship does a good job of helping them understand how to live out their faith in the workplace. This creates quite the conundrum. The most fulfilled workers view their work as a calling, yet the Church isn’t helping people integrate faith and vocation.
In particular, Millennials and Gen Z indicate that they desire workplace mentorship. If they aren’t engaging in additional discipleship relationships, who becomes the most influential voice in their lives?
Pursuing your calling vocationally should include establishing a mentoring relationship with someone who will help draw connections between work and faith.
Additionally, I believe it’s helpful to take time to build a calling resume. Once you have a snapshot, you can take that courageous first step toward thriving in the sweet spot of your calling.
While it’s not appropriate in the secular workplace to openly discuss your faith, you can use your discernment to find a mentor who reflects the fruit of the Spirit, leads with a servant’s heart, and prioritizes people above products. Ultimately, when your mentor is a person of integrity, you will find yourself integrating your work and faith naturally.
Looking For a New Mentor Training Resource?
As Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we’re all called to “make disciples of all nations” wherever we live. God invites us to partner with him and live on mission every day, even in the mundane moments of life. We do this when we love people as Jesus taught the disciples to do, without stipulations.
Embracing Holy Interruptions: How Jesus Used Mundane Moments to Love People Deeply is a six-week Bible study that teaches people how to develop a disciple-making movement.
This is not a step-by-step instruction manual.
Jesus modeled using mundane moments to love people, build tension, and point them to God in a way that caused many of them to step from a curiosity about God to a fully surrendered faith. We can adapt his methods and learn from the examples in the Gospels today. This study aims to help people keep their eyes on Jesus and improve their inductive Bible reading skills while also learning to love their neighbors to the best of their ability. This 6-week study is available in both print and Kindle formats.