I love the definition of vocation as “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need” (Frederick Buechner). It’s a simple symmetry that is centered and satisfying - do what you most enjoy and your work blesses the world. However, following our bliss often brings out a host of detractors including ourselves. It’s hard for some of us to uproot the deeply planted notion that while work may be about many things, enjoyment (deep gladness) surely is not one of them. After all, who am I to do what I want?
What right do I have to enjoy my work? Life isn’t supposed to be a day at the beach, is it? Well, maybe it should be. Why not? Just imagine a society in which everyone is actually enjoying their work, engaging their skills in a way that is both meaningful and fulfilling. According to Buechner’s definition, doing what you love to do isn’t self-indulgent, far from it. Following your individual bliss ultimately results in blessing the whole community. When we center ourselves, we radiate a kind of harmony and balance that is both infectious and inspiring to everyone we encounter.
Having said that, is there help for those of us who have no idea where our deep gladness resides? Yes. What follows is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways of finding out what really makes you tick. Of course, once you discover your bliss, it’ll be up to you to commit to following it. If you do, hold on for a life changing adventure that is nothing short of your own destiny.
To start, let’s head back to that beach I mentioned earlier (a quiet living room with a pad of paper works just as well if you must). Find a nice open area in the sand. Draw three large circles. Each circle should intersect with the others so that a three-petal flower takes shape in the middle. Label the first circle “Skills,” the second circle “Meaning,” and the third circle “Enjoyment,” or even “Fun.” Now take ten minutes to center yourself in the first circle. Bring to mind all of the skills that you possess and write them down. There are no wrong answers and you are the final judge in determining what constitutes an important skill. Baking brownies, carving pumpkins, writing haiku poetry all qualify if they are something you do well. When you’re certain you’ve listed all your top skills, hop over to the middle of the second circle and take ten minutes or so to do a similar list for all the things you do in your life that you find especially meaningful. These might include working with seniors, or hosting exquisite dinner parties, or reading tomes of philosophy. Finally, do the same for the last circle. List all of the things in your life that you truly enjoy - dinghy sailing, playing guitar, building cabinetry, etc.
When you’ve completed the three circles, plant yourself in the eye of the three-petal flower at the center of the three intersecting circles. Look at your three lists and observe where items might intersect in the middle. This is where your bliss, your deep gladness, meets one of the world’s needs. For example, you may have identified writing haiku poetry as your highest skill, teaching as the most meaningful thing in your life, and being with children as most enjoyable. Rising organically out of these three things, the bliss at the center of your life might be to teach haiku poetry to children. Eureka!
This last step is the most illuminating and often produces that “aha” feeling. Our bliss will resonate with us on a deep level and after this exercise, we may think, “why didn’t I see that before?” Unfortunately, the reason we miss our life calling is that we too often settle for second or third best. Many of us are engaged in occupations that may use our best skills in a meaningful way, but the work isn’t at all enjoyable. Alternatively, we may have a lot of fun in our occupation but underutilize our best skills or the work is completely void of meaning. Well, two out of three circles isn’t bad is it? Maybe not in the short term, but ultimately, like a mariner who navigates a few degrees off the compass course, being off-center can lead to a major deviation from our life calling and at journey’s end we may discover that we’re nowhere near our hoped-for landfall.
So do yourself and all of us a favor. Find and follow your bliss. Centered in your own unique calling, you’ll find that life’s blessings have a way of bubbling up from within almost without effort. This elixir of bliss not only slakes our own thirst for meaning and purpose but also helps those around us with their own deepest needs.
Peter H. Fischer is a speechwriter living in Vancouver, British Columbia. He can be reached through his website at http://www.fischerspeeches.com
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