Living One's Purpose: A Phenomenological Study of Awakening to a Call

• Author / Creator

  Heather Elaine Scott

• This phenomenological study examined the lived experience of two men and one woman who are living their lives in response to a personal calling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to collect the data pertaining to the question: What is the experience of awakening to a call to live one’s purpose? A thematic analysis revealed nine themes: 1) impact of early memories, 2) growing sense of self-identity, 3) sense of connection, 4) feeling of commitment, 5) authenticity, 6) personal well-being, 7) sense of knowing, 8) feeling of being helped along the way, and 9) willingness to change. The findings showed that the seeds that would later germinate into the co-researchers’ call to action were sown during their early years. Discovering what was personally relevant and meaningful to each of the co-researchers necessitated that they not only listen to, but respond from, the heart so that their values, beliefs and attitudes might merge into a more authentic way of being. The overwhelming desire to share their passions left each of the co-researchers feeling inspired, energized, and engrossed. Although they doubted themselves at times, they also experienced the positive emotions of joy and gratitude. In sharing their gifts with others, the co-researchers felt a deep sense of commitment and connection with others as well as the Divine. There was a sense of knowing that this was what they should be doing with their lives. They also felt they were being helped along on their journey. This study raised awareness of the transformative power that awakening to a call can have in all areas of a person’s life—physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Implications for counselling practice and suggestions for future topics of inquiry were addressed.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Awakening to a call
  • Connection to the Divine
  • Male psychological development milestones
  • Transformative power
  • Spirituality

• Graduation date

  2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R32Z1340J

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.