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Образ человека будущего, Том 7
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Anyway, all those who declare the feeling of calling think that it is not accidental, that it has a special meaning in their lives. Calling reveals the need of fulfilment and living a useful life.

3. The definitions and the structure of the phenomenon of calling

Actually, students and teachers could explain their motivation of career choice using var-ious terms and not necessarily "calling", but when asked they would readily interpret their experience as a calling. For some of students who had difficulties to formulate their own notion of calling was given the definition: "A career that is not motivated by monetary gain or is for the betterment of society or the good work of a higher power is considered a calling" [Colozzi & Colozzi, 2000]. One of the Ukrainian students, Paola, put it in the same words: "Calling is what one wants to do paying no regard to material benefits of it."

Many students inclined to interpret calling as a "congenial work." The doctrine of "conge-nial work" belongs to the famous Ukrainian peripatetic philosopher of 18th century Hryhory Skovoroda. "The only way to happiness is to follow your heart and do what is congenial to you", taught the philosopher. His motto was Socratic: "Know thyself" [Skovoroda, 1994]. As Skovoroda"s philosophy is familiar to Ukrainian students, the "congenial work" is a paradigm of the understanding of calling for many of them.

Nevertheless, we tried to go further and get more specific definitions, which allowed us to see the diversity of the experiences. The obtained definitions could be classified by their intentions: 1) self-actualization, 2) socialization, 3) transcendence. Actually, it was possible and even inevitable to combine two or three of those intentions, but one of them would prevail for every person.

Self-actualization means calling for self-fulfillment. It can be shown in the words of the in-terviewees. Student Helen defines: "Calling is what one is interested in and what one succeeds in, because one has got ability to it." There can be also a self-manifestation aspect, namely to

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The Experience of Calling: Educational Aspects and Cross-Cultural Comparisons by Yevhen Muliarchuk

do what is congenial for a person. Another student, Mary, says: "Calling is when one wasn"t taught specially to do something, but it comes out good and easy for him or her." One reveals an intuitive competence in something, can do it naturally. It is a kind of being a true yourself. It could also appear like student Andrew states: "Calling is when one understands about some work or activity that one just wants doing it and at the same time cannot do anything else." It is rather emotional statement, although there has to be a moment of conscious decision to go for what one wants instead what gives one more benefits that are external. Moreover, it is not about a realization of all gifts, because one may have many of them, but just a single calling. Another interviewee, Faina, would add that calling holds one not in a sense of obsession, but as something fascinating. It is when one does not want to divert of something, can do it hourly.

Self-actualization is driven by desire and will of realization of personal abilities. According to student Tanya, "Calling is a steady desire that needs its realization." It is not necessarily an egoistic intention. Calling even obligates one to develop his or her talents and socializes the person. Socializing orientation of calling means that one wants to help other people or to serve for betterment of society. Helping people is an internal conviction and a pleasure at the same time. Christina says: "Calling is to help people and get satisfaction of that." The other student, John, agrees: "Calling is an activity that brings you happiness and benefits the society." Those two sides, happiness and social benefit, cannot be separated when it is a calling. Therefore, the formula of calling looks like that: Desire - Talent - Realization - Social Benefit. If one does something only for oneself without any obvious or at least indirect benefit for other peo-ple or society he or she will not prove that it is a calling. That line can be easily extended to transcendental motivation.

Transcendental intention means calling for the higher purpose such as God"s will or good-ness itself. It also means that personal actions are not confined to the limits of human life and society. Religious motivation is the first example. It prompts one rather to rely upon God"s will than on own understanding. Student Jane says: "Calling is a purpose which God intended for me." She prays God: "If Thou created me than lead me where Thou will, because I do not know myself entirely." The second example is a motivation on the base of regulative idea of infinite spiritual development. There are ideas about the purpose of life, values, virtues that give direction without limits. The commandments from the Bible or the non-religious "spiri-tual" aims of service for goodness in the world are the ways of transcendence. Therefore, the religious or spiritual construct of calling is: Faith - Gifts - Deeds - Religious or Spiritual Benefit. One has to realize one"s faith using one"s gifts for God"s sake or for the sake of the idea of goodness to prove that it is a calling.

4. Calling and morality

Actually calling appears as a living for a good purpose or for a good idea. Nobody would consider own calling as a bad one. Calling requires moral virtues such as devoutness, courage, responsibility, patience, tolerance. They are important not only to realize calling, but also to weigh it towards the other obligations. Calling itself obligates. "If it is a calling, one has to follow it, to fight for it to the last possibility", says Helen. I asked: "Can one betray one"s calling?" The answer of student Andrew was: "Nobody swears about calling and therefore cannot betray it. One should not forget his or her calling, but that is a right of a person to de-cide what is more important." Generally, more important are duties towards family, defense of own country, etc. Still, common is a position that one should seek the balance or at least keep

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The Experience of Calling: Educational Aspects and Cross-Cultural Comparisons by Yevhen Muliarchuk

a link with calling when cannot realize it for some time. Moreover, only those who are able to meet their obligations prove themselves as a mature people. Obligations are mainly social, whereas calling is personal. One must combine those social and personal levels. Responsibility enriches person and adds a value to the life in calling.

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