Overcoming the challenges of living an occupational calling: a study with veterinarians

Abstract This study aims to understand how individuals experience the challenges of living their occupational calling. We performed qualitative research using the grounded theory approach through narrative interviews. We developed a substantive theory that argues that: a) workers, veterinarians in this study, can experience an occupational calling under different self-constructed meanings; b) these different self-constructed meanings lead workers to experience distinct short - and long-term emotions and challenges; c) workers apply a variety of strategies to overcome these challenges. Thus, this work contributes to the literature on callings by parting with the traditional view that having an occupational calling reflects a monolithic meaning itself. In contrast, the study suggests that different meanings related to a calling may produce different effects on the subjects’ career path.