The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do

last analysis all moments are key moments . . .”^8 What
Buechner was saying is that awareness doesn’t just happen;
it must be cultivated.
If you pay attention to your life and the lessons it can
teach you, you won’t feel so lost. Your story will seem less
like a series of disjointed events and more like a beautifully
complex narrative unfolding before you. You will
understand each setback, inconvenience, and frustration as
something more than what it appears to be. And perhaps, as
you listen to it, your life will speak.
It may call to you in the early morning or late at night
and tell you what you are meant to do with your gifts, your
passions, and your abilities. This voice might help you make
sense of what has happened to you, and it may even give
you guidance. Or it might unravel a whole new thread or
theme you never before considered. The point isn’t
necessarily what the voice says. That’s important, of course,
but it’s beyond your control. The point is to listen.
In a world full of distractions, this is what we are
inclined not to do. We would rather buy a book, sign up for
a seminar, or attend a conference to instruct us. Take this
step. Follow that program. Adhere to these six principles.
But such experiences are poor substitutes for the
“fathomless mystery” of life, as Buechner put it. We have
been raised to believe that anything is possible, that our
potential is unlimited, and that we are entitled to our dreams.
But maybe finding your calling is not quite so simple.
We all want to begin with ability, with what we can do.