The beckoning of love is a call to surrender

An intuitive inquiry on the experience of living out a calling among Filipino Millennials

Abstract

This study explored the experience of surrender in living out a calling among Filipino Millennials. Using intuitive inquiry, the research flowed through five hermeneutical cycles, incorporating imaginal dialogues, iterative meaning-making, and lens transformation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six Millennials actively living out their calling. Thematic content analysis revealed nine key themes: understanding my calling, wholehearted commitment, continuous discernment, how calling is shaped, the call changes, faith and trust in God, happiness and fulfillment, the cost of calling, and the consequences of control. Findings revealed that surrender is an essential part of living out a calling, facilitating alignment with a sense of “true self”, a higher power, and an other-oriented purpose. The willingness to relinquish control and trust a larger unfolding process contrasts with societal norms that emphasise independence and self-sufficiency. As calling evolves over time, surrender requires continuous discernment to navigate personal and external changes. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of surrender as a transformative practice and to highlight its implications for personal and vocational growth. Strengths, limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed.