As children, many of us asked meaningful questions about our lives, such as “Why are we here?”  As we got older, often the question changed to “What is my purpose?”  Some of us found answers that satisfied us, some didn’t.  Many of us eventually gave up on the big questions, instead focusing on practical questions like “How can I make enough money to support my lifestyle?”  

Life comes at us pretty quickly and it’s easy to lose our childlike ability to question.  However, it’s precisely our ability to ask those questions – big and small – that enable us to connect to the ever-changing answers that will move us fluidly through our lives. 

Many traditions share a concept of individual purpose that is inextricably linked with the natural flow of the universe.

• Hinduism introduces Dharma, which can be translated as one’s virtuous path, but also refers to the nature of the universe. 
• Taoism and Confucianism describe Tao, the way, which applies to one’s own path and the principles that guide the universe. 
• Judaism discusses Derech Eretz, which refers to an individual’s livelihood and is translated as the way of nature.

These teachings offer a perspective that the path of human beings is inextricably linked with the flow of the universe.  Rather than trying to change or control our reality, we are at our best when we behave in harmony with the principles of the natural world.

When we apply these teachings to our careers, we can find profound yet practical lessons. 

First, each of us was born with talents and affinities, just as each creature on this earth has its own special role to play.  To illustrate the metaphor, bees pollinate flowers, which bring forth the fruit that animals and humans eat.  By looking at the gifts and passions with which each of us is born, we can decipher what our gifts to the world might be.

A second lesson from nature is the predominance of diversity.  Just as no two leaves are exactly the same, no two people are the same.  While many of us assume that certain jobs are more desirable than others, each of us is born with different talents and dreams.  Yesterday, for example, I met with a client whose dream job was to walk dogs.  “But come on,” she said.  “Everyone wants to be a dog walker.” 

Does everyone want the same job?  I’ve found that when I ask the magic question, “If money weren’t a limitation, what would you do?” the answers are as diverse as the people sitting in front of me.  The bottom line?  Each of us came to this earth with interests and talents, and at the intersection of those guideposts lies the path through which we can shine.

A third natural principle can inform our career paths.  Nature is constantly changing, growing and evolving.  And so, too, are we.  As our experiences change, oftentimes our interests change along with them.  By paying attention to the desires bubbling up from within us, we can tune into our inner career coach.  This is the voice that tells us that while our job was fabulous when we started, it isn’t working for us anymore.  We may ignore this voice for various reasons – money, security, fear of the unknown – but it will persist in its message, showing itself to us through our lack of enthusiasm, feelings of being stuck, and – perhaps most dangerously – apathy.

The good news is that our workforce is adapting to better reflect the ever-changing nature of the world.  It is becoming more global, more diverse, and its employees are no longer expected to spend their lives working for the same employer.  That means that more jobs are open to more people more often than ever before.  And therefore the chance that the job that would suit you best at a given stage in your life is greater and greater.

So take a lesson from our greatest teacher, nature.  Identify your career ecosystem, which is made up of your skills, interests and experiences.  Ask yourself the big questions: Why am I here? If I could do anything, what would I do?  And go for it!  It would be unnatural not to.