Recent research on calling has highlighted its nature as a ‘double-edged sword’ that—while conferring benefits generally—may create vulnerabilities in some cases. We suggest an explanation that complexifies our conceptualization of what calling is. Traditional conceptualizations of calling focus on differences in degree, measuring calling on some numerical scale to answer the question, ‘To what degree do you perceive a calling?’ Our proposed conceptualization of calling argues for differences in the shape of calling, arguing that calling can take different shapes based on three facets: scope (callings can differ between narrow and broad), time proximity (callings can differ between immediate and distal) and duration (callings can differ between short-term and lifelong). We present a new model depicting these shapes of calling, explain how each advances our understanding of calling above and beyond existing conceptualizations and taxonomies and offer propositions as to how this new conceptualization provides insight into individuals' experiences of pursuing their calling.

中文翻译：

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召唤可以采取不同的形式：范围、接近度和持续时间作为召唤的新复杂化

最近对呼叫的研究强调了它作为一把“双刃剑”的性质，虽然通常会带来好处，但在某些情况下可能会产生漏洞。我们提出了一种解释，使我们对呼召的概念更加复杂。传统的召唤概念侧重于程度的差异，以某种数字尺度衡量召唤来回答“您在多大程度上感知召唤？”的问题。我们提出的呼叫概念化主张呼叫形式的差异，认为呼叫可以基于三个方面采取不同的形式：范围（呼叫可以在狭窄和广泛之间有所不同）、时间接近性（呼叫可以在直接和远端之间有所不同）和持续时间（短期和终身的使命可能有所不同）。我们提出了一个描述这些呼唤形式的新模型，解释了每种形式如何增进我们对呼唤的理解，超越现有的概念化和分类法，并就这种新概念化如何提供对个人追求其呼唤的经历的洞察提出建议。