August 19, 2025  

Cracking the Code of Your Calling | WT #125

Darren Smith

Weekly TRUTH

Every person has a calling. But most people never discover it—not because it isn’t there, but because they’ve never been taught how to look for it. Your mission doesn’t usually arrive with clarity and certainty. It comes encrypted—woven into your experiences, relationships, talents, and even your struggles. And like any good code, it requires intentional attention to decipher. Many of us grow up asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” But the better question might be: “What is life trying to do with me?” After all, your life isn’t random—it’s encrypted with purpose. There’s a pattern underneath the surface of your story—recurring moments, deep pulls, quiet longings, even righteous anger that shows up when you see something broken in the world. These signals aren’t distractions. They’re clues. And while your mission may not come with a job title or a neat timeline, it will always involve a few consistent things: service to others, stewardship of your gifts, and a personal transformation along the way. Cracking the code of your calling doesn’t happen all at once. But it does begin when you stop waiting for your purpose to be handed to you—and start asking better questions about the story your life is telling.
  • Who has influenced you most deeply—and why?
  • What moments in your life felt like turning points?
  • Where do you sense a calling to make something better?
These are the kinds of questions that don’t just point you toward answers. They form you into the kind of person who’s ready to live them out. Your life carries meaning. Your story carries clues. And your calling is waiting to be revealed—not invented.

This article was last modified on August 19, 2025 .

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About the author 

Darren Smith

Darren Smith is Co-Founder of the Authentic Leadership Institute. He is a native Texan and a graduate of Dallas Jesuit and Texas A&M University. Over the past 25 years, Darren has visited 35 countries and led 100 strategy programs. He and his wife have five children.

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