CAREER CHOICE: Going against purpose is going against yourself

May 21, 2025

I left my regular job two years back. I am totally enjoying living my purpose of helping out people in their development, except for one setback — to get people to understand my job. When people ask, “Tapain ko office kahan ni?” (Where do you work?) and I say I do not have a particular office, they frown with disapproval. They suggest with good intention that I should. It was so easy when I used to be in an office. People were not only satisfied but also looked up to me with admiration when I told them where I worked.

After knowing your name and hometown, the next thing people are curious to know is your job. So, you see how much importance society gives to a job. From childhood we are asked by numerous people so many uncountable times — what are you going to be in the future? If the child’s reply is doctor, engineer or pilot, they will be amused and tell others with pride. Who teaches all these to children? Till now I have never heard any child say, “I want to be a farmer or cleaner.” But what is wrong about doing these very important jobs?

In school and college we prepare ourselves for a career — so hard that we forget everything else. We are constantly taught by our elders and teachers how a career is important for us. I fully agree that a career is very important in life. Without it, you are nobody. But our understanding of career is limited to two things — running your own business or landing a good job in a reputed organisation. We need to broaden the understanding of career. I am touched by the saying, “True vocation is like a vacation.” And I have read in many books, “Do what you love and love what you do.” What makes vocation like a vacation? What makes you fall in love with what you are doing? It is the purpose. If your work is aligned with purpose of life, you will not be craving for a weekend or vacation. The motivation is intrinsic.

The greatest belief that serves in your life is that everyone is born with a great purpose. If I am asked what is the most important work in life, I would say — to discover the life’s purpose. Purpose guides everything, including career, or rather your calling to a career. What calls you from your inner self is your purpose. It is the source of joy and fulfilment. When it is not only money, fame or pride of a position, but the work itself that is the source of joy, you have found yourself a right career with a purpose.

We believe that success and happiness are opposite to each other. But this is true when your work deviates from your purpose. Generally teachers do not enjoy teaching. So, how will students enjoy studying? The aim of our education has been to prepare us to do something that we do not enjoy. It is because society believes that in order to make a living you have to be in the job which is far placed from happiness. Also, that if you pursue joy, you will not be successful. Perceiving the world in terms of duality is the source of pain. When your work is aligned with your purpose, you will be earning and blessed with bliss at the same time. You will not only be making a living but serving and contributing meaningfully in your sector.

(R. Manandhar is the lead facilitator at Kabule – The Wise Leader. He has been a regular columnist on leadership for ten years in The Himalayan Times, Nepal's largest-selling English daily. This article was originally published in the paper’s 'Leadership League' column. He can be contacted at kabule2020@gmail.com.)