A healing journey isn’t the end of your road, it is an old cycle you close to step into a new one with new challenges to let you grow and prepare toward your purpose. A purpose is the deeper reason behind why you do what you do. It’s what gives your life meaning, direction and fulfillment. Purpose isn’t just about achieving goals. It’s about alignment with your values, passions and the impact you want to have on the world.
Key Aspects of Purpose
- Purpose comes from within, it is your inner motivation It is not just about external success or approval.
- Many people find purpose in connecting, helping, inspiring or creating something meaningful for others.
- Purpose isn’t always one fixed thing, it can shift as you grow and experience life. This is a natural way of evolving.
- When aligned with your purpose, life feels more meaningful and satisfying even in challenges. This is a sense of fullfillment.
Passion is what excites you.
Goals are what you want to achieve.
Purpose is the deeper “why” that drives both passion and goals.
Purpose vs Passion vs Goals
Let me give an example of the difference between purpose, passion and goals.
- A teacher’s goal is to educate students, but their purpose may be to empower young minds to believe in themselves.
- An artist’s passion is painting, but their purpose might be to inspire emotions and self-expression in others.
Questions you can ask yourself how to find your Purpose
- What lights you up? What activities make you feel alive or deeply engaged?
- What impact do you want to have? What kind of change or contribution feels meaningful to you?
- What struggles have shaped you?
Often, purpose comes from transforming your pain into something meaningful for yourself or others. Finding purpose isn’t about pressure. It’s about discovery. Sometimes, it reveals itself through experience, reflection and simply following what feels true to you.
Purpose vs. Passion vs. Goals: Understanding the Differences and Connections
These three concepts, purpose, passion, and goals, are often used interchangeably, but they serve distinct roles in our lives. Understanding how they differ and connect can help you navigate life with more clarity and fulfillment.
Purpose: The “Why” (Your Deeper Meaning & Contribution)
Purpose is the reason you exist beyond personal achievements. It’s what gives meaning to your life and aligns with your core values. Purpose is often connected to the impact you want to have on the world or the way you wish to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
Key Traits of Purpose:
- Internal and Deep-Rooted: Comes from within, not external validation.
- Lifelong and Evolving: Can change over time as you grow and experience life.
- Connected to Service or Meaning: Often involves benefiting others or fulfilling a deeper calling.
Examples of Purpose:
- A doctor’s purpose might be to reduce suffering and help people live healthier lives.
- An artist’s purpose might be to evoke emotion and inspire creativity in others.
- A teacher’s purpose might be to empower students to believe in themselves and think critically.
How Purpose Feels:
- A sense of fulfillment, even in challenges.
- Deep alignment with your values.
- A feeling that your life has meaning beyond just yourself.
Passion: The “What” (What You Love to Do)
Passion is what excites and energizes you. It’s the activities, subjects, or pursuits that make you feel alive and engaged. Passion often leads to flow states, where you lose track of time because you’re so immersed in what you’re doing.
Key Traits of Passion:
- Intense and Personal: It’s something you love and are naturally drawn to.
- Can Be Temporary or Change Over Time: You might have multiple passions throughout life.
- Doesn’t Always Equal Purpose: Just because you love something doesn’t mean it’s your deeper calling.
Examples of Passion:
- A musician might have a passion for playing the guitar.
- A writer might have a passion for storytelling.
- A scientist might have a passion for exploring the mysteries of the universe.
How Passion Feels:
- Excitement and joy.
- A strong pull toward certain activities.
- A sense of flow, losing track of time when engaged in it.
Goals: The “How” (What You Want to Achieve)
Goals are specific, measurable objectives that help you move forward. They are tangible milestones that bring structure to your passions and purpose.
Key Traits of Goals:
- Specific and Action-Oriented: Goals are clear steps you can take.
- Time-Bound:They have deadlines or timeframes.
- Flexible: Goals can change as you evolve.
Examples of Goals:
- A musician’s goal might be to release an album within a year.
- A writer’s goal might be to publish a novel by the age of 30.
- A scientist’s goal might be to get a Ph.D. in astrophysics.
How Goals Feel:
- A sense of progress and achievement.
- A clear direction toward something.
- Motivation to take action.
How They Connect
Think of purpose as the foundation, passion as the fuel and goals as the roadmap.
- Passion fuels your purpose. You often feel passionate about things that align with your deeper sense of meaning.
- Purpose gives direction to your passion. It helps you use your passions in a meaningful way.
- Goals bring purpose and passion into reality. They turn big ideas into concrete steps.
Example of All Three Working Together:
Imagine someone who loves cooking (passion). If their deeper purpose is to nourish people and bring families together, they might become a chef, nutritionist or food activist. Their goals might be to open a restaurant, write a cookbook or start a cooking show.
Each part plays a role, but they aren’t always perfectly aligned. You might have passions that aren’t linked to your purpose, or you might pursue goals that don’t fulfill you. The key is finding the balance that brings both meaning and joy.
Reflection Questions to Find Your Own Purpose, Passion and Goals
1. Purpose: What impact do I want to have on the world? What truly fulfills me?
2. Passion: What activities make me feel excited and alive? What would I do even if I wasn’t paid?
3. Goals: What specific actions can I take to live out my purpose and passions?