As adults we often introduce ourselves by what we do or where we work. Concerned about how others see us, we define ourselves by achievements and titles.

At some point though, a voice calls from within. It may start with doubts about the meaningfulness of our jobs, about whether we are fulfilling the promise of our gifts. We start asking questions of vocation rather than occupation, questions of who we are rather than what we do.

Listening to the voice within — the voice of vocation — can be difficult. We are not accustomed to listening to our hearts or discerning what’s really important to us. To compound matters, the voices of obligation — the “ought”s and the “should”s — creep back in, distracting us from hearing the call to be the people we were born to be. The theologian Frederick Buechner defines vocation as the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep needs. Rather than starting with the burdens of the world, he invites us to pursue what gives us joy.

These Nashville women who struggled with their vocations have found where their joys meet the world’s needs:

Lily was a dental assistant, but her passion was for creating tapestries of rich colors and textures. When her vocational discernment started with the world’s needs, Lily struggled with a call to provide medical relief abroad. But when she listened for her deep gladness, she found herself designing banners with women at a local homeless shelter and helping them move toward healing.

Sarah had long been an active volunteer in Nashville. She measured her days by the tasks or projects she completed. After an illness, Sarah looked for her joy and found it in reading to children and sharing with an adult literacy partner. She traded the kudos she received for organizing prestigious fundraisers for acts of kindness witnessed by few.

Two female graduates of Vanderbilt Law School found that the financial rewards of corporate law weren’t enough. One is now a public defender representing people who can’t afford lawyers. The other directs a drug treatment center for women and children.

While these life turns seem simple on paper, in reality, vocational discernment is filled with struggles. Each of these women share a common journey; each created time for internal reflection, be it in prayer, meditation or at a directed retreat center. They sought the guidance of friends and professionals who knew them well ... the kind of people who could ask revealing questions. Finally, they were patient; new understandings reveal themselves slowly.

Vocation is not a goal to achieve, but rather a gift to be received. It does not come from a voice “out there,” but instead from listening to the voice within. There is a place where your gladness meets the world’s needs. Finding it can be a challenge, but the rewards will bless both you and your community.