About Vocations/Calling

I'm starting a new book by Thomas Moore (author of NYTimes Bestseller 'Care of the Soul').
It is called A Life at Work.
Many of the things he writes about, I have thought about over the years, but it would be ideal for younger people or middle aged (maybe I am that now) who are still feeling like they 'don't know what they want to do when they grow up.'. .in fact he uses that and puts it in context, using examples from his counseling practice--working with people who are sick, addicted, depressed, or angry/unhappy about various things, and don't realize that it may involve their work.

This is interesting to me also because whenever my ex-husband and I would come to the point of unresolvable conflict and separation (3-4 times over the 28 year marriage), we'd go to counseling, he would claim that the problem was his job, and then he would change jobs and things would be okay for while, but then the cycle would repeat itself.
Moore suggests that often deep personal reflection about career choices and natural talents or desires is necessary to reveal the underlying cause for the unhappiness/illness, and then being flexible and willing to change.

He also suggests that periodic changing of careers is not bad, and is often the case of multi-talented people who --like him-- end up in counseling or advising roles with others in their later years. Moore began with intentions of being a priest, but dropped out of seminary (in his words because he was not willing to work in the 'conservative' parish atmosphere, knowing what 'liberal' theology & philosophy he had learned in seminary). He studied with the archetypal psychology folk (Hillman, a student of Jung), and now also considers himself a writer.

It is an easy read, and would be a good book for anyone who is feeling frustrated about their life, future, and struggling with depression about their job, or the judgments of others who see 'success' as having mainly to do with salaries and prestige.
Some people don't have to choose; they can have both
LM