In a recent podcast, Latham Thomas, founder of Mama Glow and an inspiring advocate for women’s well-being, shared a powerful distinction between a passion and a calling. Her words struck a chord with me, as I’ve wrestled with this very question for years. There’s something deeply transformative about stepping into a calling, and as Latham explains, it’s not always convenient, but it’s impossible to ignore.
The Difference Between Passion and Calling
We often hear the advice to “follow your passion,” and for a long time, I thought that was the goal. A passion is something you enjoy—something that brings peace, joy, and even a sense of solace. As Latham describes, a passion is fulfilling but tends to stay within your comfort zone. But a calling is different. A calling is persistent, and sometimes inconvenient. It may start as a whisper, but it grows louder until you can no longer ignore it. You cannot escape it. As Thomas says, “A calling interrupts your life, expands you, and grows you in ways you didn’t think were possible.”
Recognizing My Calling Through Different Seasons
Looking back on my life, I realize I’ve had inklings of this calling in different iterations, even before I fully understood what it was. When I first enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America, it felt like I was chasing a passion. I loved food—crafting it, learning about it, and sharing it with others. It brought me joy, but I wasn’t yet listening to that deeper pull. It wasn’t until my externship at Esalen, where the connection between food, healing, and personal growth became apparent, that I began to sense something more profound.
Then came Cornell, where I delved deeper into nutrition and food science, understanding the relationship between what we eat and how we nourish our bodies. But even then, the whispers were just that—whispers. I wasn’t fully ready to surrender to this deeper call, and my path meandered as I sought to balance passion with purpose.
From the Kitchen to the Postpartum World
It wasn’t until I started working as a chef within the postpartum doula space that I truly began to feel my calling come into focus. Here, in the tender moments after birth, I felt an undeniable shift. The work wasn’t just about crafting nourishing meals—it was about holding space, nurturing new mothers, and offering the kind of care that goes beyond food. There was something sacred about being part of that postpartum journey, about helping women heal, and creating an environment that supports both physical and emotional recovery. This work touched my soul in a way that nothing else had.
"Does It Tire or Inspire?"
Latham posed the question, “Does it tire me or does it inspire me?” It’s such a simple but profound question. Passion can bring joy, but it can also exhaust you after a while. But a calling? It fills you up—even when it’s hard, even when the path isn’t clear. In the postpartum work I do now, there are long hours, emotional challenges, and so many unknowns. But it inspires me every day. It gives me the energy to keep going, to continue creating meals and holding space for new mothers. It pushes me to grow, not just as a chef, but as a nurturer.
Answering the Call
In retrospect, the whispers of this calling have been there all along—through my time at the Culinary Institute, my transformative experience at Esalen, my studies at Cornell, and now, in my work as a postpartum doula chef. Each step brought me closer to what I now understand as my calling: to nourish and support women in one of the most vulnerable and beautiful times of their lives.
As Latham Thomas said, “When you answer the call, the universe organizes itself to support you.” I’ve experienced this firsthand—resources, people, and opportunities aligning in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It’s not always easy, but there’s a deeper sense of purpose driving me forward.
Conclusion
So, what’s sitting on your heart right now? Are you following a passion that brings you joy, or are you leaning into something deeper, something that may feel inconvenient but pulls at you nonetheless? I encourage you to sit with the question “Does it tire you or inspire you?” The answer might lead you to your own calling, one that will expand and grow you in ways you never thought possible.
@mamaglow @lathamthomas
Comments