Discerning Life

[Era Might]

How do you discern what you should do in life? I have three paths in mind that I can't resolve. All three of them I would enjoy and want to pursue, but all three of them require different gifts that I would have to develop. I don't want to rule any of them out definitively, but at some point I have to make a choice and make long term plans on what to do. Sometimes I feel like I know for sure, and I say that's it, this is what I'm going to do. But when when I get reminded of one of the others, I feel the same thing about them. I don't know how to decide.

[morostheos]

Good question!

For me, I just try to live each day and each opportunity as it comes. More often than not, when I'm looking to do one thing I end up doing another, and I attribute it mostly to the will of God. Choose one, see how it goes, and if it doesn't work out maybe God has different plans for you.

Some examples from my life:
I wanted to do environmental volunteer work overseas - I ended up doing missionary work in the United States.
I looked for a job for one year in environmental science - I ended up being a campus minister at a university.
After getting my masters, I looked for a decent paying job - I ended up in an Americorps volunteer position.

Never what I was looking for, but I think it was all definitely part of God's plan for me.

[CatherineM]

I have 5 older brothers. I always had a lot to live up to. I was that kind of student that everyone hated, the one who blew the curve. I literally could have done just about anything career wise. If you've ever seen the movie "Moscow on the Hudson" with Robin Williams, there is a scene where he tries to buy coffee in an American grocery store, and ends up freaking out because there were too many choices. That was me. I eventually gave into pressure from my mom to take the path she wanted for me. Big mistake. I always envied my brother John. He was premature, developmentally delayed, and probably dyslexic. He was only good at one thing - fixing cars. He liked it, he was good at it, and has spent his life doing it. He never had to sweat trying to figure out what to do. Most people would pity him, but he has lived as happy and as contented life as anyone is capable of. It may be a cliche, but try to figure out what you are happiest doing, and figure out some way to make a living at it. Remember, that it is never too late to change your major, change careers, or go back to school. If you find you don't like what you're doing or who you have become in 10 years, you can change.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1394939' date='Sep 28 2007, 08:30 PM']How do you discern what you should do in life? I have three paths in mind that I can't resolve. All three of them I would enjoy and want to pursue, but all three of them require different gifts that I would have to develop. I don't want to rule any of them out definitively, but at some point I have to make a choice and make long term plans on what to do. Sometimes I feel like I know for sure, and I say that's it, this is what I'm going to do. But when when I get reminded of one of the others, I feel the same thing about them. I don't know how to decide.[/quote]
Do you know all the details each choice entails? Which one is a good compromise between serving others and pleasing yourself?

Which one do you willingly put your heart into? Which one do you do something over until you get it just right? Which one do you accept no compromises in ?

[Guest]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1394939' date='Sep 28 2007, 06:30 PM']How do you discern what you should do in life? I have three paths in mind that I can't resolve. All three of them I would enjoy and want to pursue, but all three of them require different gifts that I would have to develop. I don't want to rule any of them out definitively, but at some point I have to make a choice and make long term plans on what to do. Sometimes I feel like I know for sure, and I say that's it, this is what I'm going to do. But when when I get reminded of one of the others, I feel the same thing about them. I don't know how to decide.[/quote]


could we hear what the three choices are ??

[Sister Rose Therese]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1394939' date='Sep 28 2007, 07:30 PM']How do you discern what you should do in life? I have three paths in mind that I can't resolve. All three of them I would enjoy and want to pursue, but all three of them require different gifts that I would have to develop. I don't want to rule any of them out definitively, but at some point I have to make a choice and make long term plans on what to do. Sometimes I feel like I know for sure, and I say that's it, this is what I'm going to do. But when when I get reminded of one of the others, I feel the same thing about them. I don't know how to decide.[/quote]

We like to have all the answers. I think the biggest thing is that God wants us to know our vocation. He isn't trying to hide it. If you really strive to keep yourself in a state of grace, especially make a real effort to conquer any mortal sin or deliberate habitual sin, you will be better able to hear Him. If you try everyday to obey the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in small things, it will be easier for you to discern the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in big things.
That said, God may just want you to make the best decision you can here, choose for the right reasons as best you can. Sometimes you just have to make a choice and trust that God will tell you if He wants you to do something else.

[Romans1513]

1. Pray
2. Be open to whatever God's will is
3. Pray
4. Spiritual director
5. Pray

There might be more... I'm still working on it myself.