There’s a lot of talk about finding your passion and discovering your purpose. Many of us spend years searching for one or both, only to feel discouraged when passion fades or what you thought was your purpose changes, leaving you feeling hollow, back at the starting gate and questioning all you thought you knew about yourself.

Passion vs Purpose: What’s the difference? 

For the sake of clarity, when I refer to purpose, I’m talking about “inner purpose”. Therefore, purpose comes from who you are. Passion relates to something you do.

Your purpose fuels your passion.

You can have many passions – art, music, poetry, writing, raising your kids, your business/career, swimming, golf – but regardless of what you do, it’s You who’s doing it. You bring your own secret sauce–your inner purpose–with you.

Your purpose is your singular, personal Why: the reason behind all you do.

Let me give you an example:

My inner purpose is to encourage people to believe in themselves so they own their value and all they have to offer to the world. This is the golden thread that weaves the pattern of my conversations, the work I’m drawn to do, how I relate to the world. It’s what I bring to the table each and every time and with each and every person. It’s the underlying reason people choose to work with me over someone who does something similar, whether they can articulate it or not.

My passions – writing, photography, my kids (that’s right, they’re not my purpose) – are fuelled by my underlying purpose.

What I’m most interested in writing about – how I raise my kids – the conversations I have with friends – books I read – all come from my inner desire (purpose) to help people (including me) believe in themselves so they own their value and all they have to offer to the world. See how it works?

Ask me to write about economics and I could care less.
Ask me to write about connecting to your inner voice and I’m all over it!
Why? Because the second aligns with who I am, the first does not.

This is where passion comes in…

Passions are passionate because they align with who you are (your purpose). 

Passions give clues to your purpose:

• You’re attracted to certain people because they help you feel connected with your inner purpose
• You choose hobbies that help express your inner being
• You’re interested in books and movies that support your inner voice

Passions can change. Purpose remains the same.

Passions can and do fade. But if you can stay connected with the purpose which underlies your interest, you can keep your passion alive, revive it, or choose to move on to the next without a feeling of failure.

Your purpose is who you are and can’t help being. It’s your Soul’s guiding compass for a happy life. Your passions are the many ways you get to express who you are. 

I used to think my roles as wife, mother and daughter were my purpose; my Why. So when, within three years, all those roles essentially or literally disappeared, I felt utterly lost – purposeless – because I didn’t know and couldn’t see my real value. I was looking through the wrong lens.

What I discovered was that my circumstances had changed but, at my core, I remained the same person.

Each of those roles had allowed me to live and express my purpose in the way that only I could. What I’m bringing into this next chapter of my life (and every chapter) is the essence of who I am, and that will never change. Except now, I know my purpose and can name it so I’m able to align with it.

Align with your purpose. Live with passion.

When you’re clear on your inner purpose, you’re freer to follow your joy because you can see and feel how your passions align with who you are. Therefore your passions help you express who you are in a way that feels fulfilling and joyful. (Sounds like the recipe for a happy life.)