To compartmentalize pieces of you that matter, OR INTEGRATE more fully? Great question!

Big long title to gauge if you're my target reader. Still here? Then let's unpack that... because it's a big question. People who thrive in work and life largely by compartmentalizing - who they are at work being different than who they are alone, or with their intimates - are called professionals. And this is a skill. A needful, healthy ability to leave work behind, when they walk through their own doors. Personas can be helpful. Their time is divided into two or three columns: their own, their bosses and the people they're responsible to on a personal level. Self. Work. Family. These tend to be the columns. And hopefully they all add up, with a buffer at week's end, to satisfaction on all fronts. But... our current tally of split homes, suffering cities, and scary news items, tells me that now might be the time to (collectively and individually) press the pause button, and consider the difference between a profession and a vocation. Vocation being the path to a more integrated life/work/worship experience and ultimately more peace, certainty and faith in what we're doing and why.

The work of personal/professional integration can be very painful. It's a path full of confusing crossroads. But they're only confusing when you try and rush past them, refusing the answers the time needed to arrive, to help bring you a place of peace before moving on, leaving you to your own (unexamined) way.

There's no problem with going 'your own way' if you know why that's the way you've chosen, and if your chosen way forward is aligned with the bigger goals you've set, or the greater good you seek. If this is the case--if you've taken the time to discern and align your motives and desires, before acting on them--then it's all systems go. Go with God and be blessed.

But if you've failed (or forgotten how) to pause and consider the way forward that best aligns with the best that's within you, and the best the Lord might have in store for you, then you might find yourself circling back to this particular crossroads, again and again. Until your choices align with your deep-set, God-given desires, it's unlikely your choices will result in the peace and satisfaction you thought they might...

There's a bigger picture.

When we meet with life's crossroads, it's not a utilitarian equation to solve. It's not a question of least harm/most good. It's not how to make the most of a situation, or even a template version of the 'right thing' to do. It's not about that.

When we stand at life's crossroads and when we seek to align our will with the heart and mind and desire of the One who made us, we're being challenged.

It's not a question being posed. It's a gauntlet being thrown down. We're being invited to step off the treadmill, and walk on our own two feet. And before we walk, to stand. To feel the solid earth beneath. And to, perhaps, watch the clouds drift by for a bit longer than feels - right. This is an invitation. Into another world. This is a time, the precious gift of time given, to say yes to what God has for us. Yes to his plan for our life, one decision at a time. It's a time to breathe slower and deeper than 'regular life' allows. It's an opportunity to break the hold other people or competing ideals and/or artificial impositions, have on us. It's an offer to step over the threshold. To know the freedom of originality and autonomous, fully-formed decision making. To taste and see that God is good, and all is well. And we're a part of that goodness, glory and great big plan to gain ground for those that would know life in its fullness, this side of heaven.

This isn't a one-time occurrence, this dove-tailing the stuff of our life with the bigger picture of what God might have in store.

It's a regular thing for people wanting more than the regular routine of being put through their paces (even if we're on our own strictest coach/mentor). And as we go along this path, these types of crossroads, these invitations along the way, to pause and go deeper into the things of God day-by-day, decision-by-decision, become daily engagements. They become part and parcel of the adventure of living well, serving faithfully, and exploring as we are led. They are the places where our eyes feel most open, our hearts most attentive, our wills most ready. They become the best of us. And suddenly, we find ourselves walking more peaceably. More assured. More confident that all IS well. That we ARE on the right path, for us, in this moment and very much a part of God's plan in the most natural way possible. And this is an amazing feeling. It's something that fuels us the rest of the day, adding colour and charm to the most mundane outings. The most boring chores. The most heavy-hearted conversations.

It changes everything when we start walking step by step, in faith, that God has a plan and is leading us along the path that will lead to the best possible life (the everlasting life), for us and those we influence. And this kind of growth starts by thinking about how to integrate (vs. dissimilate).

Dissimulation is the natural result of going from one thing to another without pausing to consider... to breathe... to pray... for what can literally feel like years on end. And when a good chunk of life and work is online, this can become the norm. This is when things can spiral downwards before we know what hit us. This is when we stop apologizing for hurting people, or failing to empathize with their point of view--it's when we stop listening, caring or trying that life stops making sense. This is when laughter and strength fade away. And we risk becoming robotic, addicted to nonsense, invincible in our isolation.

And when people start to fall apart, in this way, it's not long before the whole world goes with them... Because the world is people. People matter. You matter and so do I. And so do crossroads we come to; decisions we take; and especially the time we invest in becoming coherent, integrated, loveable and trustworthy. Life matters. It is good. And there is a way to move forward in a way that can redeem the days we're experiencing; the depressing days and dissipating ways that define normal. It doesn't have to be like this. We can grow strong, and mighty. We can live on a deeper plane, and rediscover the God who loves us in a way that fills our hearts with joy and our minds with clarity and our souls with peace. It is possible. And even simple. And it begins by pressing the pause button. Taking the time we need to remember: I am not a robot, or a cog in a wheel, or a treadmill. I am human. And deserve TIME to redeem the time, slow down, and simplify processes.

We're originals. Meant to inspire and be inspired. And this takes time to put together in a world choking with instant results that satisfy no one.

When we choose to integrate the pieces of our lives, the parts that make up the whole of who we are, we move away from our professional need to compartmentalize and toward a more holistic understanding of vocation. Life and work and worship begin to feel like one seamless entity, a meaningful tapestry in a larger story. The threads make sense. They tell a tale: where we've come from, who we belong to, and what moves us to make sacrifices, or rob the rich. We all have tales to tell. But it takes the work of integration to coax together details, make the mish-mash into something more meaningful.

Once we have our basic understanding of what home and work and worship look like, to us, we might begin discerning the spiritual gift that motivates us to grow.... to serve well and live more holistically, from the inside out. In my book, 5 Navigators, aligning with your God-given spiritual gift, I talk about five gifts. These affect the way we communicate, how we approach problems and the nature of our purpose. These can easily be applied to what line of work might suit, or what our real needs are at home, or how to let go of long-standing frustrations and move past disappointments, overcome setbacks, etc. Discerning our gift and moving into our vocation, operate hand-in-glove to move us forward, into realms of tremendous peace and surprising effectiveness. This discernment process allows us to say no to what we're not called to, or moved by, or fed by, and yes to what we are called to, motivated to achieve and what brings us the most joy. It's a game-changer.

The five gifts are those of the teacher, the pastor, the evangelist, apostle and prophet--as found in the book of Ephesians 4:11.

I've talked about these five gifts/perspectives in past articles and my books on this topic are on Amazon if you'd like to know more. You can also find a link below to my online (free!) course if you'd like to dig deeper on these amazing spiritual gifts and how best to align the work you do, with the God-given passion and talents you bring to the table.

Otherwise, this article is simply trying to say - be encouraged. And if you're struggling, consider integrating, more deeply the work of your hands, with the life inside that matters most to you. And be blessed: do not allow your precious self to be divvied up into more pieces than you can afford to give out. Instead, gather in. Weave together the parts of you that matter: your work, your relationships with people you love, and your times of worship and prayer. Live integrated. And see what happens next time you meet with one of life's crossroads.

LINKS to my resources

https://daynamazzuca.com/the-power-of-authentic-storytelling/

https://www.amazon.com/Navigators-aligning-your-God-given-spiritual/

https://daynamazzuca.com/