What would we be without the things that set our souls on fire? What fun is a life without passion? And in that same vein, where would we be without the drive that pushes us ahead and towards our purpose? What good is time if it is not spent growing, changing, and giving to the world around us?

The key to a life brimming with meaning is finding the power that sits at the intersection of purpose and passion.

A legacy worth carrying on is one with a foundation of both of these things-but what’s the difference between the two of them? And how do we incorporate both passion and purpose into our lives?

Purpose (noun):The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

Passion(noun): An object of someones love, liking, or desire.

Your passion is the thing you are effortlessly fond of and sparked by. It’s the thing you find that makes your heart leap and your speech excited. Your purpose is the calling from your soul that propels your life choices. It’s what aims your decisions moving forward.

In life, you need both passion and purpose in order to not only have dreams, but chase them to the best of your abilities. Your passion is the “what” while your purpose is the “why”. They are dependent on each other to be fully realized, meaning they need each other in a way, and likewise, you need both of them.

A passion without a purpose will leave you with scattered bursts of motivation and joy with nothing sustainable to show for it. Meanwhile, a purpose without a passion will give you results that are lacking that spark which makes life all the more magnificent.

This is why it’s important to seek out your passions and use them as a roadmap that guides you to your purpose. Your purpose is what will be the driving force behind your life and the choices you will make. Harvard did a study in 2019 that found purpose to be crucial in achieving your goals-even more so than passion. This isn’t because passion is less important in life, but rather that purpose gives you the foundation and resilience to move and adapt in the world around you.

If you are running ahead on passion alone, you will hit ruts where that love or excitement isn’t enough to pull you through. You need a centered and strongly formed purpose if you want to see a life of meaning unfold in front of you. You need passion if you want to set others on fire around you and see them excited by your mission. That’s a huge part of successful leadership; being able to get your team as excited about the objective as you are.

Maybe you’ve found your passion-just not your purpose yet.

Maybe you’ve found your purpose but lost your passion somewhere in the middle.

Maybe you haven’t found either.

Maybe you’re sitting in that sweet spot right now.

Wherever you are right now,

Lead Well,