Boomerang desires
Here's a concept I've found helpful when thinking about vocation - boomerang desires. Boomerang desires are desires that can be thrown out only to see them faithfully return.
Finding a boomerang desire begins with the throw. To use a personal example, I’ve had the goal of balancing a handstand before. But circumstances in the past led me away from it. My strategy wasn’t effective and I had other interests consuming my time. So I threw the goal away and let it out of my grasp, perhaps never to return.
Then comes the return. About a year later, my context has changed and I’ve noticed an increasing desire to pursue the handstand again. It’s almost as if, in some way, instead of me choosing the goal, the goal is choosing me.
I think this is why some like to describe vocation as calling.