It's also been an important goal of mine to figure out my calling, my life's direction. I have a general desire to "do good" and to contribute to positive social change. But as I've learned, there are no jobs out there with descriptions that just list "doing good." I need more specific skills and a more specific job calling. And, in all honesty, I've been somewhat resistant to finding out what that calling is.
I'm currently in a job that I enjoy and care about, but I don't feel that it is my ultimate calling. Without the incentive of being told my job will no longer exist come January 1, 2013, I think I could have stayed here for a long time. I would have felt semi fulfilled but would have wondered what more I could be doing.
Right now I feel a little like I'm back on one of those steep hills, not sure where I'm going. Fortunately I feel less panicky than when driving my manual car for the first time and more confident that I will get where I need to go. My incentive is that I don't want to be sitting in the passenger seat of my life, willing to accept whatever comes my way without any direction. While I think flexibility in life is good, I would ultimately like to be in a position that I feel called to, a position that challenges me and allows me to shine.
If my driving efforts are any sign, within a few months I should have things more figured out - and will probably still be doing my best to avoid really big hills.