Passion vs. Purpose: Why Chasing the Wrong One Leaves You Unfulfilled
Most people confuse passion, meaning, and purpose—and it’s why they feel stuck. Here’s how to get it right.
Have you ever wondered why so many people chase their passions, only to feel lost when the excitement fades? Or why finding meaning in relationships, work, or experiences sometimes feels... temporary?
There’s a reason. Passion, meaning, and purpose aren’t the same thing. And understanding the difference might just be the most important self-development breakthrough you’ll ever have.
In this article, we’re going deep into the truth about passion, meaning, and purpose—what they are, how they work, and why only purpose has the power to bring you lasting fulfillment.
The Great Misunderstanding
Most people confuse passion, meaning, and purpose, lumping them together as though they’re interchangeable. They’re not. They’re distinct, and each plays a different role in your life:
Passion is about fun, excitement, and entertainment. It’s contextual and fleeting.
Meaning is about connection, happiness, and contentment. It’s borrowed, dependent on something external.
Purpose is about fulfillment, pride, and joy. It’s chosen, created, and entirely your own.
While passion and meaning are important ingredients for a good life, purpose is the only one that can give you lasting fulfillment.
Passion: The Starting Point
Think of passion as the spark. It’s the thing that gets you excited, lights you up, and fills you with energy. But here’s the catch: passion is fleeting.
Take a moment to think about the things you were passionate about in high school.
Maybe it was football or video games.
Maybe it was a favorite band or writing poetry.
Chances are, many of those passions have faded. That’s because passions are contextual—they depend on external factors. You need a football field, a game to play, or a gym to train in. Passion also depends on your interest in the moment. And interests change.
That doesn’t make passion unimportant. It’s a critical starting point for something deeper. Here’s how:
My passion for football led me to weight training.
Weight training became a passion that morphed into fitness.
Fitness became something I wanted to share with others, bringing me to...
Meaning: The Evolution of Passion
When passion grows deeper, it evolves into meaning. Meaning is when something you love becomes bigger than you.
For me, fitness became meaningful when I started sharing it with friends—working out together, teaching others, and helping them feel the same sense of empowerment I felt. Meaning gives you a sense of connection.
Victor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, describes meaning as something we find in:
Relationships
Experiences
Work
Meaning is essential for a fulfilling life. But here’s the thing: meaning is borrowed.
People leave, break up with you, or die.
Jobs can be taken away.
Experiences, no matter how beautiful, always end.
Meaning requires something outside yourself. And while it’s deeper and more lasting than passion, it’s still not purpose.
Purpose: The Core of Fulfillment
Purpose is where everything changes. It’s not fleeting like passion, and it’s not borrowed like meaning. Purpose is within you and flows from you to the world.
Purpose is chosen and created. It’s not something you find—it’s something you build by understanding yourself and your unique potential.
The 5 Ps That Make You Unique
To understand your purpose, you must first understand your "Purpose Potential." Every person is a one-of-a-kind "spiritual fingerprint," shaped by:
People: Those who have helped, hurt, or influenced you.
Personality: Your unique way of perceiving and responding to the world.
Passions: Your interests and the things that light you up.
Powers: Your talents, gifts, and natural abilities.
Pain: Your traumas, challenges, and the lessons you’ve learned.
Your purpose potential is the intersection of these factors. It’s what allows you to do something in the world that no one else can do in the way you can do it.
Purpose Is Chosen, But Not Unlimited
Here’s where many people get purpose wrong: they think they can choose to be anything they want, but purpose isn’t limitless. It’s shaped by your life experience.
I can’t choose to be a professional singer or actor—it’s not in my skillset, personality, or lived experience. My purpose potential lies in the realm of healer/teacher, and it has evolved over time:
My passion for fitness led me to study biochemistry and medicine.
That led to a purpose as a healer, helping people change their health and lives.
Over time, that purpose evolved into teaching—developing systems, certifying professionals, and creating transformative tools like BEEP.
Your purpose is always evolving, but it will always be tethered to the unique set of experiences and skills you bring to the world.
Why Passion and Meaning Aren’t Enough
Let’s get clear:
Passion is about fun, excitement, and fleeting joy.
Meaning is about connection and happiness, but it’s dependent on external things.
Purpose is different. Purpose:
Is entirely within you.
Flows outward to the world.
Can never be taken away.
This is why your spouse, children, or job can never be your purpose. They can be your meaning—but meaning is borrowed. Purpose is owned.
Big P Purpose vs. Little P Purpose
Think of purpose on two levels:
Big P Purpose: The grand creations you bring to the world—your work, your art, your mission.
Little P Purpose: The energy, example, and experience you bring to everything you do, no matter how mundane.
Both are essential. While Big P Purpose gives you something to strive for, Little P Purpose is what makes everyday life fulfilling.
The Emotions of Passion, Meaning, and Purpose
Here’s how these concepts affect your emotional state:
Passion gives you excitement and fun.
Meaning gives you happiness and contentment.
Purpose gives you fulfillment, pride, and joy.
Imagine losing a loved one. You can’t feel happy or content in that situation. But you can still carry fulfillment and pride in how you lived and loved them. Purpose goes deeper than happiness—it’s the foundation of a meaningful life.
Conclusion: Choose Your Purpose
If you want to live a life of depth, don’t settle for passion or meaning alone. They’re wonderful, but they’re not enough. Only purpose can give you the fulfillment you’re looking for.
And remember: purpose isn’t something you find. It’s something you choose, create, and evolve.
So, what’s your purpose? It’s time to stop searching and start building.