In your 20s, it’s common to feel drawn by passion, the things that excite you, spark your energy. But what if that’s not the same as your purpose, the deeper “why” behind what you do? Understanding this difference can bring clarity, offer life guidance, and help you live a more meaningful life.
What’s Passion?
Passion is what fires you up in the moment. It’s energy, excitement, things that make time fly, like a new business project or a creative hobby. As Oprah Winfrey said, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
Still, passion is about emotion. And with no clear idea of what your purpose is, that emotion, like all other emotions, can fade.
What’s Purpose?
Purpose gives your passion direction. It’s the meaningful reason behind your work or mission.
Where passion is inward, purpose is outward. Purpose acts like a compass; it is steady, deeper, and built for the long haul.
Aligning passion with purpose
The real power comes when passion and purpose align. You get the spark of passion with the grounding guidance of purpose. To start the process of aligning your passion with your purpose, ask yourself these questions;
What is so meaningful to you that you become enthusiastic about it?
How can you help others with that thing to create impact?
Explore where both overlap and that’s where purpose and passion meet. To create outer impact, you first have to discover your inner impact- passion.
Clarifying this difference can offer life guidance, help you choose paths that feel good and matter. It gives direction when you feel lost or are deciding on a career, project, or business.
As T. D. Jakes put it, “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose”. Learn how to know you are not aligned with your purpose here.