Have you ever felt called to do something, followed that calling with your whole heart, and then, somewhere along the way, discovered that what once felt right no longer does?
Or perhaps there’s something stirring within you that you keep dismissing because it doesn’t seem important enough, or big enough, to be your life’s purpose.
These are two ideas I’ve been reflecting on recently, inspired by a quote from Stephen Cope in his book The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling.
“If you bring forth what is within you, it will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, it will destroy you.”
Those words stirred something in me. Not in a bad way. They just touched something that needed to be explored further.
So I read that sentence a few times. Then I wrote it down. Then I went for a walk with it and pondered it some more. This is a big part of my spiritual practice. When something comes to me and I have this feeling that there is something here for me to explore, I give it some time and space. Maybe there is something I need to learn or remember. That was the feeling I had when I read those words.
As I walked with it, I reflected on where I've been in my life, where I am now, and what might be calling me forward. I also thought about some misconceptions I previously held about life's purpose—misconceptions I knew I needed to revisit.
Perhaps these are misconceptions you’ve held too.
Cope reminded me that what’s within evolves. The things that light us up, the things we're passionate about, and our purpose all change over time. That may seem obvious, but if you're someone like I once was, someone who believed your true calling is tied to one thing only, then when that passion fades, it can leave you feeling incredibly empty, and even like a fraud.
That’s how I felt when my passion for the nonprofit arts organization I founded fizzled out.
I was in complete denial. I convinced myself that if I just worked a bit harder, or did this thing or that thing, my passion would be reignited and all would be well. That busyness helped a bit. We started a few new initiatives that sparked some excitement, but those little flames were easily snuffed out.
It’s not that I didn’t care about the organization or the people I worked with. Quite the opposite. I cared deeply. And I was proud of our success and the work we did, which I believed was important and worthwhile.
But that work no longer energized me as it once had. Instead, it drained me, and it felt like I was manufacturing enthusiasm.
It wasn’t just a slump, either. I understand the highs and lows of professional life, but this was different. There was a heaviness constantly weighing me down. It felt similar to burnout, but no matter how much time I took away from the work or how much space I gave myself to bounce back, the bounce didn’t come.
I knew what it felt like to passionately pursue something, and I hadn’t felt that way for a long time. I had brought forth what was within and given it my all, but because I believed this was my life’s calling, I felt I had to stick with it, no matter what. And that’s when I started to feel like a fraud. I was pretending to be passionate about something I no longer had passion for.
In other words, I was not living authentically. I was pretending, and that had significant consequences. The quality of my work began to suffer, chipping away at my sense of pride in my work and my confidence as a leader. What’s more, how I felt professionally was spilling over into my personal life. I wasn’t unhappy at home, but the energy of how I was feeling professionally came home with me, and my family felt it.
I believe this is an example of what Cope meant when he said, “If you do not bring forth what is within you, it will destroy you.” I didn’t actually know what was in me at that time because I was too busy trying to reignite a lost passion. I can see how continuing down that path could have slowly eroded my sense of self.
And maybe the more the self is eroded, the harder it is to listen to what’s within.
There were other things keeping me stuck, too—uncertainty about what else I could possibly do and fear of losing the identity I had worked so hard to build. Those fears ran deep and prevented me from even exploring whether there was something else within that wanted to emerge.
You may know how this story goes if you’ve read my book Whispers of the Soul. The pandemic hit, providing the opportunity (more like forcing the opportunity) to finally look inward and listen to what was being called forth now.
As difficult as that time was, it was also a gift. I now look back at that era of building and running a nonprofit as part of the path that led me to my next thing. I followed what lit me up, allowed what was within to emerge, played full out, and then came to a crossroads. With a little help from the universe, which nudged me inward again, I discovered something else that wanted to be brought forward.
What this taught me is that you don’t have to remain loyal to an old expression of your purpose simply because it once mattered deeply to you.
Over the years, I’ve come to understand that some people experience one enduring calling that takes different forms over time, while others experience several distinct callings throughout their lives. One way is not better than the other. What matters is that we listen to what’s within and allow it to guide us.
But listening is only part of it. Cope argues that we also need to honour what’s within, even when it doesn’t look the way we expect. He cautions us against judging our calling as “unimportant” or “insignificant.” No matter how small a calling may seem, he says, we must allow whatever is within to emerge and pursue it wholeheartedly.
When I closed my nonprofit and was seeking purpose in this next chapter of my life, I did precisely what he cautions against. I judged, diminished, and dismissed what was on my heart because it felt too small.
I felt called to simply be in nature and guide others in nature. This was a strong feeling within me, but I kept pushing it away, arguing that it was too insignificant to be a true life purpose.
I suppose I felt that way partly because spending time in nature was second nature to me. It was just the way I lived, so how could it be a calling? Doesn’t everyone get outside and appreciate time in nature, I remember thinking. Encouraging and supporting others to spend time in nature just didn’t seem big enough to fall into the “life purpose” category. So I suppressed and denied the feeling that this was mine to do.
I remember one day on one of my many nature walks, which I began to call God Walks because I used this time to talk with God, I said with some frustration, “God, can’t you give me something more important to do?”
And the response that bubbled up was, “What makes you think being in nature is unimportant? Can you not see what it has done for you?”
That surprised me. I hadn’t really thought about the role nature played in my life beyond how much I enjoyed being in it.
When I reflected on it a bit more, I could see the direct correlation between my time in nature and the quality of my relationships and the wellbeing of my life.
Time in nature helped my children open up during difficult conversations as we walked in the woods. Exploring the outdoors together—climbing mountains, riding our bikes, and kayaking—brought my husband and me closer. And my solo time in nature brought me closer to God.
As John Muir once wrote, “Into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” These words capture precisely what nature has given me—an understanding of who I truly am and what matters most.
With this perspective, I began to understand that helping others experience that same connection was not a small thing at all. And I realized that what may be second nature to one person may be a mystery to someone else.
I needed to be reminded not to diminish what’s within, whether it’s stamp collecting, arranging flowers, or simply walking in the woods.
My “simple little calling” of being in nature has become the foundation of my life’s work today because I now understand how nature helps us connect to the inner wisdom that is there to guide us.
I don’t see this as a little thing anymore. And I’m grateful I managed to let go of that notion and allow what’s within to be fully expressed. It has guided me on a most wonderful journey.
Every day, as I walk in nature, I continue the practice of going within and asking, What is mine to do now? What wants to emerge today?
I’ve come to trust what I hear without judgment. Often, I hear the same thing: “More of this, time in nature with yourself and others.” And sometimes I get a little twinkle of something new. So I’m paying attention and honouring what comes forth.
What about you? Is there something stirring within? Do you feel your purpose is shifting, or a new calling beginning to emerge? Is there something you keep returning to and dismissing because it feels too small?
If you are uncertain, perhaps try my method of walking in nature and give yourself the space and time to simply hear what wants to emerge. Just listen, without judgment. You might be delighted by what wants to come forth.
