“Passion and purpose are not the same thing. Passion brings you joy. Purpose brings you meaning. Passion gets you out of bed in the morning. But purpose allows you to sleep at night.” Harrison Ford (Go to 4:55 minutes for the quote.)
You can live with passion and miss your purpose.
Let purpose lead and passion serve.
Passion With Purpose
Purpose is your compass. Passion is your fuel. Apart from purpose, you run around but don’t get anywhere.
Without passion, purpose weighs you down. Without purpose, life feels dissatisfying.
Purpose answers: Why does this matter?
Passion answers: What gives me energy while doing it?
Don’t Ask
Don’t simply ask, “What do I enjoy?” Ask, “What contribution is mine to make?”
Move beyond, “What excites me?” Ask, “What is worthy of my life?”
Find Passion With Purpose
- What brings joy?
- What burden are you qualified to carry?
- What need can you meet?
- Who benefits most from your strengths?
- What problems keep you awake at night?
- What tasks leave you tired but fulfilled?
- What kinds of work feel like play?
- Where does your joy meet someone’s need?
- If your life were a gift, who is it for?
- How has adversity prepared you to serve others?
Which reflection question is most useful to you?
What is the secret to finding passion with purpose?
A blast from the past. Posted fourteen years ago: Overcoming the Destructive Power of Passion
Values, Passion, or Purpose — Which Should Guide Your Career? HBR
