Insightful, Andrew. As someone who's not religious and not a social worker, I believe what I do (and have been doing for many years) is indeed a calling and a vocation.
When you say, "...something I would probably never have," are you referring to social work itself or what you are currently doing? From what little I know about your career arc, I imagine there might be some vocation in there ;-)
Also, as someone who identifies with "vocation is a living reality," it matters less *what* my vocation is (nouns) and more *what* my vocation means and how I fulfill it (adjectives and verbs). Thank you for shining a light on that distinction for me...a healthy takeaway.
What a great take, Raman. Realizing this new focus on helping the helpers has definitely wonder about my own vocation. Certainly a number of moments where I have thought, "Oh maybe this is my purpose" have occurred while doing this work... in particular, I think of the first time I sat in a room full of ovarian cancer survivors and heard the wisdom they hoped to pass on to others. I will have to write about that soon!
I suppose my issue with "vocation" comes from my current vaguely Eastern/Taoist/Buddhist/Zen spiritual direction. I feel at peace with the Buddhist idea that I have no permanent individual essence or purpose. I get that this is not most people's jam and that for some it can even be pretty upsetting, and I empathize with that -- I struggle with it too at times, and I don't subscribe to it dogmatically. But my point is bringing it up is that it feels like a stumbling block for the sentence "my vocation is..."
However, I am much more into the idea that the external forces of nature could create a situation in which I realize some purpose that is already out there in the Universe. I believe this is closer to the Japanese concept of ikigai, though I am just a baby in learning about it. My point is that the driving thing is largely external and social in nature, rather than coming from some deep internal passion. I am sure many people feel this way about their vocations too!
Anyway, that was a big part of what led me to start thinking about Help the Helpers -- seeing the external need for it. Recognizing my intellectual and emotional collaborations with helpers over the years. Seeing it in the context of my own story and trauma and healing. So yeah, it's something, it's something... even if I don't quite know what! ;-) Much love to you sir.
So many thoughts upon reading "vocation innovation." But I copied and pondered "I could feel how this new way of thinking". Having struggled with the notion of vocation my whole life, I perhaps have settled into "feeling my thinking." When I feel my thinking, I am able to touch that spirituality of which you speak in your response to Raman's comment. I know I have a vocation, Andy, and I know you have one as well and that our vocations are not so different despite the many decades difference in our ages.
Insightful, Andrew. As someone who's not religious and not a social worker, I believe what I do (and have been doing for many years) is indeed a calling and a vocation.
When you say, "...something I would probably never have," are you referring to social work itself or what you are currently doing? From what little I know about your career arc, I imagine there might be some vocation in there ;-)
Also, as someone who identifies with "vocation is a living reality," it matters less *what* my vocation is (nouns) and more *what* my vocation means and how I fulfill it (adjectives and verbs). Thank you for shining a light on that distinction for me...a healthy takeaway.
What a great take, Raman. Realizing this new focus on helping the helpers has definitely wonder about my own vocation. Certainly a number of moments where I have thought, "Oh maybe this is my purpose" have occurred while doing this work... in particular, I think of the first time I sat in a room full of ovarian cancer survivors and heard the wisdom they hoped to pass on to others. I will have to write about that soon!
I suppose my issue with "vocation" comes from my current vaguely Eastern/Taoist/Buddhist/Zen spiritual direction. I feel at peace with the Buddhist idea that I have no permanent individual essence or purpose. I get that this is not most people's jam and that for some it can even be pretty upsetting, and I empathize with that -- I struggle with it too at times, and I don't subscribe to it dogmatically. But my point is bringing it up is that it feels like a stumbling block for the sentence "my vocation is..."
However, I am much more into the idea that the external forces of nature could create a situation in which I realize some purpose that is already out there in the Universe. I believe this is closer to the Japanese concept of ikigai, though I am just a baby in learning about it. My point is that the driving thing is largely external and social in nature, rather than coming from some deep internal passion. I am sure many people feel this way about their vocations too!
Anyway, that was a big part of what led me to start thinking about Help the Helpers -- seeing the external need for it. Recognizing my intellectual and emotional collaborations with helpers over the years. Seeing it in the context of my own story and trauma and healing. So yeah, it's something, it's something... even if I don't quite know what! ;-) Much love to you sir.
So many thoughts upon reading "vocation innovation." But I copied and pondered "I could feel how this new way of thinking". Having struggled with the notion of vocation my whole life, I perhaps have settled into "feeling my thinking." When I feel my thinking, I am able to touch that spirituality of which you speak in your response to Raman's comment. I know I have a vocation, Andy, and I know you have one as well and that our vocations are not so different despite the many decades difference in our ages.