The Process of how to find your calling / passion / dharma!

This extract is taken from the book: “The Great Work of Your Life” by Stephen Cope. I thought of writing an article on how do we find our passion, our calling, our dharma and while I was reading this book, the answer was perfectly there!

I wouldn’t change a coma!?

What Stephen writes in this chapter of the book is:

“I was curious: How do you know the will of God? And when you do think you know it, how can you be certain that it’s not just your own will in disguise? Here is a list of how the process seems to work.

1. First of all, "ask for guidance" As it turns out, this is remarkably important, and it's something most of us almost always forget to do. It seems that there is something about actually asking that jump-starts a process. And sometimes asking repeatedly is required. Even begging.
2. Then (something else we usually forget) "listen for the response.” It helps, says Bede, to "actively listen." To turn over every stone in your search for clues to the response. These responses usually come in subtle ways - through hunches, fleeting images, intuitions. Do you think this is all hooey? That skepticism is OK, said Bede. Even healthy: But listen anyway. Allow yourself to be surprised.
3. ?Next (another good principle from Bede), "When you get a response, check it out." Check it out with friends, with mentors. Talk about it. This, says Bede, is a classic principle of guidance: Test the guidance. Real guidance will stand up to sustained testing. False guidance - which is usually just our own will trying to have its way - not not stand up to ongoing scrutiny.
4. Next comes a principle that I’ve? discovered in my own life. “Once you do begin to get clarity, wait to act until you have at least a kernel of inner certitude”. Wait to act. One thing I've learned for sure after a bunch of ham-handed decisions to act is that one almost never regrets slowing things down. We often do, however, regret speeding things up. Important decisions very often cannot be hurried. This is wonderfully exemplified by Arjuna, whose chief courage in the pages of the Gita is shown through his willingness to slow down the action and investigate deliberately and relentlessly. Note: Arjuna, the quintessential man of action, spends the entire Gita on his butt.
5. Once there is "a flavor of certitude." says Bede, then "pray for the courage to take action." It's not uncommon for us to get to certitude and then realize that we don't really want to take the action. We’re not willing. Or we don't have the courage. Or it's too inconvenient. Here's an important Bede tip: You can pray for the willingness. You can pray for the courage. You can pray for absolutely everything you need along the way.
6. Bede suggests a corollary to #5, and this is a suggestion that we really liked: "Let go of the attempt to eliminate risk from these decisions and actions." The presence of a sense of risk is only an indication that you're at an important crossroads. Risk cannot be eliminated, and the attempt to eliminate it will only lead you back to paralysis. In important dharma decisions, we never get to 100 percent certitude.
7. Next, we agreed: "Move forward methodically". Begin to take action in support of your choice. Taking action at this point is critical to keeping the process moving. You will continue to be guided as you take action. Be aware that you are led by faith and not by sight, and that the whole process may be shrouded in darkness. Learn to feel your way along.
8. And finally, of course, the very central teaching of the Gita: "Let go of the outcome." Let go of any clinging to how this all comes out. You cannot measure your actions at this point by the conventional wisdom about success and failure."

I am really inspired by this book and the stories that are shared in it. I would encourage anyone to read it if you feel like you are in a crossroad and lost or would like some inspiration for yourself.