{"id":43,"date":"2021-09-24T16:08:35","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T20:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/center-for-faith-vocation\/vocational-reflection\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T09:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T13:24:29","slug":"meaning-purpose-vocation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/","title":{"rendered":"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg-primary-block alignfull\" >\n\t<div class=\"container grid-default wysiwyg__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"sidebar-menu \" aria-label=\"Site Menu\" id=\"page-nav\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sidebar-menu__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<header class=\"sidebar-menu__header\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sidebar-menu__headerLabel\">The Compass Center Menu<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"sidebar-menu__mobileToggle\" title=\"Toggle Menu\" :aria-expanded=\"mobileOpen\"><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"sidebar-menu__list\" v-show=\"mobileOpen\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/faith-spiritual-life\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Faith &#038; Spiritual Life<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/multifaith-communities\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Multifaith Communities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/interfaith-engagement\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Interfaith Engagement<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Meaning, Purpose, &#038; Vocation<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/spiritual-care-and-connection-request-a-conversation\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Spiritual Care Conversations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/religious-accommodations\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Religious Observances &#038; Accommodations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/prayer-meditation-reflection-spaces\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Prayer, Meditation, &#038; Reflection Spaces<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem initial-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/resources-toolkits\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Resources &#038; Toolkits<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/center-for-faith-and-vocation-scholars-program\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Compass Center Scholars<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/paid-internships\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Student Employment &#038; Internships<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/religion-seminar-series\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Series on Religion and Society<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/a-new-view-film-series\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >A New View Film Series<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/multifaith-baccalaureate-service-and-multicultural-graduations-ceremony\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >Multifaith and Multicultural Celebration<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"sidebar-menu__listItem hide-overflow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/cfv-staff-and-community-advisors\/\" class=\"sidebar-menu__listLink\" >About the Compass Center<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"sidebar-menu__desktopToggle\" v-text=\"desktopLabel\" :aria-expanded=\"desktopOpen\">More Links<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg__wrapper wysiwyg__wrapper--hasSidebar\">\n\t\t\t<!-- content from editor -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg__content wysiwyg__contentContainer\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h1 id=\"h-meaning-purpose-amp-vocation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">College is not only a time to prepare for a career. It is also a time to ask deeper questions about who you are, what matters to you, and how you hope to contribute to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Compass Center creates opportunities for students to explore meaning, purpose, and vocation throughout their Butler experience. This work is open to everyone, regardless of religious, spiritual, or secular background. You do not need to have your future figured out or know exactly what you believe to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-do-we-mean-by-meaning-purpose-and-vocation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do we mean by meaning, purpose, and vocation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meaning is the sense that our lives, experiences, and relationships matter and belong to a larger story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purpose is the direction we develop as we consider what is worth pursuing and how we hope to use our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vocation is the ongoing process of discerning how our gifts, values, experiences, and responsibilities come together in the ways we live, work, serve, and contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vocation is larger than choosing a career. It can include our relationships, communities, commitments, and the many roles through which we respond to the needs of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-questions-worth-exploring\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions worth exploring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions of meaning, purpose, and vocation rarely have simple or permanent answers. They often develop as we learn, change, encounter new people, and move through moments of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Compass Center invites students to explore questions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who am I becoming?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What values guide my choices?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What gives my life meaning?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do my experiences shape the way I understand myself and others?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What gifts and responsibilities do I carry?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can my work and relationships contribute to the lives of others?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do I make thoughtful decisions when the future is uncertain?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-practices-for-reflection-and-discernment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practices for reflection and discernment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exploring meaning and purpose is not only about thinking through abstract questions. It involves practices that help us pay attention to our lives and make choices with greater intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Compass Center offers resources and experiences that help students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Identify Their Values<\/strong>: Recognize the commitments and convictions that shape how they live, make decisions, and relate to others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Navigate Decisions and Uncertainty<\/strong>: Approach important choices with reflection, confidence, and openness, even when there is no obvious answer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Understand and Tell Their Stories<\/strong>: Reflect on the experiences, relationships, identities, and communities that have shaped who they are becoming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Explore Vocation and Contribution<\/strong>: Consider how their gifts, values, education, work, and relationships might respond to the needs of their communities and the wider world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Build Relationships with Mentors<\/strong>: Develop connections with people who can listen, ask meaningful questions, share wisdom, and accompany them through periods of growth and discernment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-programs-and-opportunities\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Programs and opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Compass Center integrates meaning, purpose, and vocation into student leadership, mentoring, classroom partnerships, workshops, and individual reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore our self-paced Canvas course for reflection exercises, practical tools, and resources related to values, decision-making, meaning, purpose, and vocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"link-list layout-links\" >\n    <div class=\"link-list__container link-list__grid-default\">\n                        <div class=\"list-list__linkWrapper link-list__grid-default\">\n                                <ul class=\"wysiwyg__ctaLinks\">\n                                                        <li>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/butler.instructure.com\/courses\/13124\" class=\"button-link-right button-link-right--color-blue-bright\" target=_blank\">Explore the Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation Canvas Course<\/a>\n                                <\/li>\n                                            <\/ul>\n                                \n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opportunities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Values and decision-making workshops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vocational reflection and storytelling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Classroom partnerships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mentoring resources and conversations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student leadership and employment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compass Center Scholars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individual spiritual care and reflection conversations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-partner-with-the-compass-center\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Partner with the Compass Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faculty, staff, student organizations, and campus departments can invite the Compass Center to facilitate workshops or conversations related to values, decision-making, vocation, identity, uncertainty, mentoring, and purposeful leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-begin-with-your-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Begin with your questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You do not need a perfect plan or a single calling. Meaning and purpose take shape over time through reflection, relationships, choices, experiences, and attention to the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Compass Center is here to provide questions, practices, relationships, and space for that exploration.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":42,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"revision_note":"","acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation - Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion at Butler University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-18T13:24:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/meaning-purpose-vocation\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/meaning-purpose-vocation\\\/\",\"name\":\"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation - Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion at Butler University\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-24T20:08:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-18T13:24:29+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/meaning-purpose-vocation\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/meaning-purpose-vocation\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/meaning-purpose-vocation\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Compass Center\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/compass-center\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/\",\"name\":\"Diversity, Equity & Inclusion\",\"description\":\"Building a culture of inclusion\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.butler.edu\\\/diversity-equity-inclusion\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation - Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion at Butler University","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation","og_url":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/","og_site_name":"Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion","article_modified_time":"2026-08-18T13:24:29+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/","url":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/","name":"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation - Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion at Butler University","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-09-24T20:08:35+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-18T13:24:29+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/meaning-purpose-vocation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Compass Center","item":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/compass-center\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Meaning, Purpose, &amp; Vocation"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/","name":"Diversity, Equity & Inclusion","description":"Building a culture of inclusion","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4734,"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions\/4734"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.butler.edu\/diversity-equity-inclusion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}