Journal Entry Week 2

Journal – Week 2
5 heresies:
      1.      You might have a calling if you are lucky, or you might not.
2.      You have to find your one true calling in order to be fulfilled.
3.      When you find your calling, work will be bliss.
4.      Finding a calling means that the world will take notice.
5.      Meaningfulness in life is to be found at work.
(Thompson, 2010)

“I challenge you to look for examples of nobility among those who do the so-called menial tasks all around you. You will find many inspiring examples of people who use their spiritual gifts to serve in quiet but remarkable ways. We do great violence to the souls of those who offer their callings in less-glamorous ways when we consider them invisible or treat them as minor cast members in the great drama of our professional lives” (Thompson, 2010).

I love this because I was taught that whatever work we do, we should do our very best at it; we should make ourselves “indispensable!” When we put our best effort into every job we do, others will notice. We will be on employer’s radars, and we have the opportunity to inspire those around us. This is why Gordon B. Hinckley told us that 'Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in this Church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others' (Hinckley, 1995). I believe this is true in the world of work as well.

From Tom Kelley, Nov. 12, 2008
  • ·        Be willing to fail
  • ·        Be prepared for some things not to work out
  • ·        Fail forward

From Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
  • ·        “Give people a little more time and they’ll impress you.” Jon Snoddy
  • ·        Brick walls are there for a reason; they may slow you down, but they also determine how badly you want                 something. They stop other people who don’t want it as much as you do.
  • ·        Let your kids paint their rooms if they want to!
  • ·        Live your life the right way and Karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.


§  Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?
Because he didn’t give up or feel defeated when something didn’t go the way he expected it to. He just kept moving forward, changing course as needed. Just like Tom Kelley was saying: fail forward!

§  Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?
Absolutely! Dreams are what make life so exciting. There is always something to work on and look forward to; something to get excited about and plan for. I have heard that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. We all need something that ignites our imaginations and inspires us to become more than what we are. Dreams help us become our best selves.

§  Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams. Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream.
I have wanted to be a marriage and family counselor since I was 16-years-old and heard Lucille Johnson speak at a youth conference I was attending. I am now 50 and due to graduate with a Marriage and Family Studies degree in July 2018. I may or may not be able to find a way to get my Master’s degree, allowing me to be a counselor, but if I don’t, I have discovered many talents and gifts along my life’s journey that will allow me to touch the lives of others in similar ways. I am not giving up on my dream, but I am willing to navigate the pathway leading to my ultimate destination. I am confident that wherever the path leads, I will be able to make a difference and accomplish my real passion, which is helping others to feel loved and valued. So, I guess what I am saying is, though being a marriage and family counselor was always my goal, the real dream is to just be able to help people. And there are lots of ways to do that.



Sources:
Kelley, T. (12 Nov 2008). Treat life as an experiment. Retrieved from ecorner.stanford.edu/video/treat-life-as-an-experiment/
Hinckley, G. B. (1995). This is the work of the Master. Para. 27 Retrieved from www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/this-is-the-work-of-the-master?lang=eng
Thompson, J. A. (1 June 2010). What is your calling in life? Retrieved from https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-a-thompson_what-is-your-calling-in-life/

Wall Street Journal. (30 Jul 2008). Randy Pausch’s last lecture. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIvHKTNsqg

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