Sometimes, it hits you like a gut punch: all this time you thought you were chasing a calling, but maybe you were just chasing attention. It’s not a small distinction. It’s the difference between building something that feeds your soul and spinning in circles trying to fill a hole that keeps getting bigger. The tricky part? The lines blur easily, especially in a world wired for likes, comments, and instant validation.
You wake up, scroll through your feed, and right there, a parade of carefully curated moments screams for your notice. You start to wonder—is your hustle fueled by a genuine purpose, or just the buzz of people watching? You’re not alone in this. Everyone dancing on the stage of social media, the creative, the entrepreneur, the writer, the activist—most of us wrestle with this question at some point.
The Mirage of Validation
There’s a seductive quality to attention. When someone notices you, it feels like a tiny spark of life saying, “Hey, you’re here. You matter.” That spark can glow into a roaring fire or fade fast, leaving you cold and craving more. If your work, your message, or your art hinges solely on external validation, you’re in dangerous territory. Validation from others isn’t bad per se—it’s human, after all—but when it’s the engine driving your actions, you lose sight of the core reason you started.
Think about your last project or post. Did you do it because it was meaningful to you? Or was it because you thought it would get applause? That applause might feel like oxygen, but it’s a shallow breath. The moment the crowd quiets, you’re gasping again. It’s exhausting.
What Does “Calling” Even Mean?
Calling isn’t a word you toss around lightly, and it sure isn’t about fame or recognition. It’s deeper, quieter, and often messier. It’s the thing that keeps you up at night—not because you want attention, but because you can’t shake the feeling that this is what you’re supposed to do. Your calling might be messy, it might be invisible to everyone around you, but it’s real. It has roots in your values, your gifts, and your truth.
A calling doesn’t shout; it whispers. It nudges you even when no one’s watching. It’s the satisfaction you feel from showing up to work, even on bad days. If your motivation crumbles without an audience, you’re probably chasing the wrong thing.
How to Spot the Difference: The Hard Questions
You can’t dodge self-reflection here. Ask yourself these blunt questions and take honest notes:
– Why am I doing this? Is it for the impact, the joy, or the message? Or is it for the spotlight and the pat on the back?
– How do I feel when no one notices? Do you feel empty, restless, or like you’ve lost your purpose? Or is there still something inside that fuels you?
– What’s my endgame? Fame? Influence? Or a quiet sense of contribution that doesn’t rely on applause?
– Can I survive the silence? The moments when your work goes unseen or unacknowledged. Can you keep going when nothing clicks?
Being honest here isn’t easy. It means stripping away the ego’s armor and standing naked with your intentions exposed. But it’s the only way to tell if you’re chasing attention or answering a call.
The Attention Trap: Why We Fall For It
Let’s get real—attention is addictive. The dopamine hit from likes and shares is a powerful drug. Social media platforms are engineered to feed this craving, making it harder to disentangle genuine purpose from surface-level validation. Even the best of us fall into the trap.
When you chase attention, you start bending your message, your values, your authenticity just to please the crowd. You tweak your content to fit trends, you inflate your persona to match expectations, and suddenly, you’re a performer in a theater you didn’t audition for. It’s a slow death of your true voice.
And here’s the kicker: attention chasers often feel lonelier than anyone. Because no matter how loud the applause, it rarely fills the void inside.
Calling Requires Patience and Grit
A real calling doesn’t always look like fireworks and fanfare. It’s often a quiet, stubborn thing. It requires patience because the impact may not be immediate or obvious. It demands grit because it will challenge you relentlessly. You’ll have to wrestle with self-doubt, criticism, and the temptation to quit.
But there’s a kind of magic in this struggle. When you’re aligned with your calling, even the toughest days feel worth it. You experience flow, purpose, and a sense of being alive that no amount of likes can replicate.
How to Realign When You’ve Lost Your Way
Lost in the noise? Don’t panic. Realignment is possible, and it starts with self-awareness. Take a break from the constant feedback loop. Step away from the screens and the “metrics” that define success online. Sit with yourself. What do you want, not what others want from you?
Journaling can help. Write without filters about what drives you. What lights a fire in your belly? What do you want your life and work to stand for in ten years? If you find that your answers don’t match your current actions, it’s time to course-correct.
Lean into projects that feel meaningful, even if they don’t have a built-in audience. Sometimes the quietest work brings the loudest satisfaction.
Stories of Real-World Calls
Look at people who’ve made big impacts away from the spotlight. They’re not always household names or viral sensations. Often, their work is deeply personal and motivated by a sense of duty or passion. That teacher who stays late to help struggling kids, the artist who paints in solitude, the activist who works behind the scenes—all show what calling looks like when it’s real.
Their reward isn’t applause but a quiet confidence that what they do matters. That’s a powerful place to be.
When Attention Becomes a Tool, Not a Goal
There’s nothing wrong with wanting people to notice your work. Attention can amplify your message and open doors. The difference is whether attention is the means or the end. Use it wisely, but don’t let it define you.
You want to build a platform, sure, but let it be a megaphone for your calling, not the other way around. Focus on the value you bring, the problems you solve, the truths you speak. Attention will come, but it won’t be the driver.
If you want to explore this journey deeper, this resource on understanding purpose can offer some fresh perspectives: discovering meaningful purpose.
When the Ego Gets in the Way
Your ego loves attention. It thrives on being seen, recognized, and praised. But ego can be a sneaky saboteur. It convinces you that you’re destined for greatness only if people notice, if your name is known, if you’re “successful” by society’s standards.
Recognizing the ego’s voice is crucial. Is your ego steering your choices or your heart? When you can quiet the ego’s roar, you hear the subtler voice of your calling. That voice is patient, humble, and relentless in its clarity.
Final Thoughts: The Freedom in Authenticity
Chasing attention is a hamster wheel with no finish line. The moment you start running faster, the goal moves further away. Chasing a calling feels different. It’s a path with bends, detours, and milestones invisible to the crowd, but crystal clear to you.
This distinction isn’t just about career or creativity. It’s about living a life that feels whole, honest, and yours. It’s about finding peace amidst the noise and standing firm in what really matters.
So, the next time you catch yourself craving the spotlight, pause. Ask if you’re answering a call or just chasing a shadow. Because when you follow your true purpose, you don’t just get noticed—you make a difference that lasts.
If you want to dive into the nuances of purpose and how to find your true path, check out this insightful guide on how to discover your deeper purpose. It’s a worthwhile detour on the road to clarity.
