Do we choose a job or a profession because of an inner calling or simply because we have the aptitude and confidence to excel in a particular field? Being able to do something effortlessly does not necessarily guarantee complete satisfaction or fulfillment.
A talk by author and educator Sir Ken Robinson titled Finding Your Element addresses that point. He sheds light on how individuals can discover work that they truly enjoy and pursue it with a sense of contentment and purpose. This led me to reflect on a real-life story I once heard, an incident from nearly thirty years ago.
From Code to Compassion
One evening, my better half returned from the office with some startling news. A colleague of his was leaving the company, not because he had found a better job or he had been asked to leave, but rather because he had decided to enroll in medical school.
The news came as a complete surprise. John was an exceptional coder and highly accomplished in his role. Yet he believed he would find greater joy as a doctor and made the courageous decision to change his path entirely. Things unfolded just as he had hoped, and today he is a busy physician, devoted to caring for his patients.
This story is in sync with Robinson’s analysis that lays bare truths that we tend to ignore. I would like to bring forward the theories of his that struck a chord with me.
On the search for one’s element
Spanning close to 55 minutes, Robinson talks at length about the importance of individuals being in their element. It is that space which is essentially one’s niche.
Everyone is blessed with a natural talent that they may not have discovered yet. One could be proficient in multiple areas, but the real challenge lies in discovering the talent one truly loves. Only that can bring genuine pleasure and a heightened sense of achievement. This is what Robinson refers to as finding one’s element.
When a person does something he or she loves, it ceases to feel like work and becomes a passion that brings a sense of calm. Life takes a positive turn for those who find the opportunity to follow a calling they not only have the aptitude for but that they truly cherish.
One is at their most authentic state whenever they are in their element. Robinson brings up a situation when someone seems to be working but waits for the chance to get back to Facebook whenever the boss leaves the room. The individual may show up to work regularly, but there is a sense of disengagement that keeps brewing within. This is essentially because they are not doing the work that they love.
The existence of two worlds
There is a world that pre-existed us and that will continue to exist even after we leave the Earth. The other world is one that has come into being because of us and will end or change when we do. Our thoughts and beliefs shape the world within us. We must be bold enough to try new things that take us on a quest for our true love. We live in a world of constant noise and distractions which lure us away from looking deeply into our inner world and understanding our talents.
The creative instinct
Life is creative, and we can create our own life. What distinguishes human beings from other species is the power of imagination. With our powerful imagination, we can revisit the past and anticipate the future.
The non-linear quotient in our existence
Robinson, with his keen sense of humor, explains an interesting phenomenon. An applicant who prepares their resume for a job puts everything that they have done with specific dates and headings in bold and italics. They strive to convey and present a perfect picture of their career that has been executed faithfully with no hints of the actual chaos that may have been experienced. Life in reality is not akin to that resume. It is not linear but rather organic with constant improvisation that needs to be made along the way.
It is sad that most education systems have a narrow view of ability. Everything is confined to judging one’s IQ or academic ability whereas human talent is tremendously diverse and cannot be limited within those parameters.
The inner journey is about finding things that resonate with our spirit
A task may leave us physically tired, but the happiness that descends upon us transcends the exhaustion and elevates our mental frame to a higher state. This is the triumph of spiritual energy over physical energy. When we love something, intensely doing a job for an hour could feel just like five minutes. On the reverse, a 5-minute chore seems to stretch like eternity and feels like an hour of our mind and soul is not into it.
Through failures great minds have discovered their talents to reach the zenith of success. Robinson’s speech has references to Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchil who faced rejections in their lives. Yet they reached the top by believing in themselves and discovering their potential that was buried deep beneath the surface.
It’s all about finding the intersection of natural aptitude and personal passion
Being in one’s element is not about perfection or certainty. It is about alignment. It is the moment when what you love, what you are good at, and what gives your life meaning come together. When we quiet the noise of the world and listen inward, we give ourselves permission to explore, to fail, and to grow. Robinson emphasizes that finding our element is a lifelong journey, but it is one worth taking because in discovering it, we find our truest selves and not just enrich our lives but also of those around us.
rashmi writes 
Well said, Rashmi. As if you were speaking to me.