But when have you ever been a good judge of what you’re
capable of? People are always doing things that amaze
themselves. A calling goes beyond your abilities and calls
into question your potential. And when the journey is
complete, even you are surprised. Just because you can
become an astronaut or a newspaper deliveryman does not
mean you should. Each person is responsible to not only do
what she is capable of but also what she is meant to do. In
the words of author and activist Parker Palmer, don’t just tell
your life what you want to do with it; listen to what it wants
to do with you.^3
Here’s how it works, practically. Look at the major
events in your life and write them down on a piece of paper.
Note everything significant you can remember, even the
things that seem silly or irrelevant but come to mind for
some reason. Don’t try to decode the meaning; just put
down everything you can think of. As you reach the end of
the list, look for a common thread, some recurring theme.
Can you see how one event, without any intention or
planning on your part, influenced another? How that late-
night trip to the diner led to meeting the love of your life?
How a series of useless internships influenced your career
choice? You will begin to see a theme, a surprisingly
obvious thread that ties it all together.
Will it be clear at first? Of course not. This is just the
start. But there’s less intrigue to this process than we think.
Your life, though a mystery, is trying to tell you something.
Are you listening?