At the end of August, Tony and I took a small prop plane for a seven minute ride over the ocean to the island of Inis Mor, just off the coast of Ireland. Online, I had read about its ancient ruins and the beautiful, jagged cliffs that line its shores. I wanted to stand on the edge of those cliffs and take in the view.
Only for a visitor, to get to that side of the island meant taking a tour bus or renting a bike. As we’re not tour bus people—biking it was. That morning, we stood outside the rental shop to pay for our bikes, when I saw a stack of Inis Mor maps on the counter. I asked the man working if I could take one. He said yes, and I slipped one in my bag. Then we picked out our bikes, and began pedaling our way through town.
Quickly though, I realized, we needed to look at the map to get to where we wanted to go. Online, the Island seemed small, but flying in we could see it wasn’t as small in person. So we pulled over and started orienting ourselves. When we found the right road, we started pedaling in the direction of the cliffs and an old fort known as Dun Aengus.
Easy peasy, right?
Only the bike ride was much longer than I expected. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t ridden a bike in ages, or that we were in a completely unknown place. But every now and then I found myself stopping to look at the map. Trying to line it up with the landmarks around us to know how far we’d come. At times, it was easy. For others, we were surrounded by endless fields segmented by hand laid rock walls. And it seemed,
We were going to be on that road FOREVER.
Ok, it wasn’t that dramatic. But even when you’re on the right road, you know where you are going, and you have a map, the journey can be hard. So, when you’re in a place where you’re not sure where you’re going—and there is no map—the journey can seem impossible.
That is how most of us feel when it comes to figuring out our calling. We’re on a road with no map, no signs, and we’re not sure where our next turn is. During these times, it is crucial to have a guide or two to help us read our landscape. To enable us to better understand the journey we’re on, and to discern where we’re going.
Even when you’re on the right road, you know where you are going, and you have a map, the journey can be hard.
That day on Inis Mor, Tony and I finally made it to the welcome center for Dun Aengus, only to discover we hadn’t arrived. We still had a small hike left before arriving at the fort and cliffs. For many of us, the journey is full of the unexpected. And we can use all the help we can get. For this reason, today, I’d like to share some of the books and podcasts I’ve found particularly helpful in hopes of making your path a little clearer.
Books:
Let Your Life Speak
by Parker J. Palmer
This book is a must read for anyone who wants their lives to count, and their leadership to be impactful. Palmer breaks down the different aspects of ourselves that intersect to form our calling, and discusses how crucial it is to find our place in this world. It’s a short read, but it’s deep.
The Dream of You
by Jo Saxton
This book will help you think through who you were, before anybody told you who you were supposed to be. It is affirming and has great action pieces to help you move forward.
Imperfect Courage
by Jessica Honegger
Sharing her story of how she built one of the world’s most successful fair-trade fashion brands, Honegger shows us what it looks like to “go scarred.” She unpacks both what we must do to live a life of purpose and the steps to begin to find our way.
Podcasts:
That Sounds Fun, Annie F. Downs:
Episode 19, Brad Lomenick
This episode made me see the separation of our calling from our careers, and also what it looks like to find lifelong fulfillment in what we do.
Lead Stories, S01: Episode 35, Calling
I love how the hosts of this podcast unpack calling and help us better understand the journey.
When it comes to your calling, have you ever felt like you were on a road with no maps and no signs? What did you do?
What resources or who has helped you on your journey?
As a part of my Identity, Calling, and Career Coaching module, I provide a full list of these resources in addition to all the unique, interactive materials I’ve created to help people hone in on their calling and purpose in this world. If you would like to know more I encourage you to check out my coaching page, or sign up for a free thirty minute session with me to find out more.
Are you in the midst of making a hard decision? Contemplating a big life change? If so, you may be interested in my FREE Making Changes Checklist that I give to all my email friends. Want your free copy? subscribe here.
