The concept of calling is not new, and it has been around for centuries. In fact, people have been exploring the idea of calling in different contexts, including work, religion, and personal fulfillment. In recent years, however, the focus has been on calling in the context of work, and this is where most of the research has been conducted.
Research has identified three key components of calling in the work domain: external summons, meaning or purpose, and prosocial motivation. External summons refers to the idea that one's calling comes from a force outside of themselves. This could be a higher power, societal needs, or a family legacy. The second component, meaning or purpose, involves aligning one's work with their broader sense of life purpose. In other words, work can be seen as an external source of purpose, or the work can serve as an expression of that sense of purpose. Lastly, prosocial motivation captures the altruistic orientation of one's career. This involves whether a person's work is able to directly or indirectly contribute to the greater good in society.
Studies have shown that perceiving your career as a calling can lead to positive outcomes such as career maturity, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction. This is because when people view their work as a calling, they are more likely to find meaning and purpose in their work. Additionally, they are more likely to engage in prosocial behavior and to feel a sense of contribution and worth in their lives.
However, the relationship between calling and positive outcomes is not straightforward. Intrinsic religiosity or a sense of meaning and purpose in life can enhance the positive associations between calling and psychological and work attitudes. Researchers found that those who felt their careers provide a sense of calling tend to be happier and more focused at work. They also found that those who approach their work as a calling are more likely to feel a sense of contribution and worth in their lives.
A study examined the relation between perceiving a calling, living a calling, and job satisfaction. It was hypothesized that the links of perceiving a calling to career commitment and work meaning would be moderated by living a calling. In other words, the more a person reports that they are living out their calling, the stronger the links would be between those variables. Further, it was suspected that the higher the level of calling, the greater will be its relationship to job satisfaction because of the strong links to career commitment and work meaning.
The study found that perceiving a calling and living a calling were positively correlated with career commitment, work meaning, and job satisfaction. The researchers confirmed that living a calling indeed moderated the links of perceiving a calling to career commitment and work meaning. This means that if people are able to live out their calling, they are more likely to be committed to their career and find meaning in their work. Moreover, those who approach their work as a calling are more likely to experience job satisfaction.
In conclusion, discovering one's calling and living it out is a journey that requires courage, perseverance, and self-awareness. It may not always be easy, and there may be challenges along the way, but the rewards of living a life filled with purpose and meaning are immeasurable. By surrendering to our calling, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities, where we can make a positive impact on society and find deep fulfillment in our work. So let us listen to the whispers of our soul, embrace our unique talents and passions, and have the courage to live out our calling with all the love and dedication that it deserves.