Purpose, Passion, and Compassion

1. How do we find our passion?

Many people come to me when they hear me talk about purpose, confessing sheepishly that they don’t know what their passion is. Some are still waiting for a light-bulb moment where their passion and purpose will be revealed to them. I believe the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of what passion is.

Do you know what the original meaning of the word “passion” is? The answer might surprise you. Passion comes from the Latin word for “suffering”, used in Christian theology to refer to the sacrificial suffering of martyrs ("The Passion of Jesus”). In the 15th century, passion became synonymous with great love, which might cause suffering (Romeo and Juliet style).

Today, people think about passion in terms of an internal fire. And when they don’t feel “lit up”, they believe they lack passion in their lives. ?

However, we can simplify it by considering passion as something you care about. To say that you have no passion in your life would be like saying that you don’t care about anything. Surely, there are things that you care about – justice, equality, inclusion, human rights, animal suffering, or climate change. You might feel angry about social issues and want to change the situation. Conversely, you might be passionate about something that gives you joy, such as cooking, hiking, or music.?

2. Finding passion through compassion

I was at a meditation retreat in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, a few years ago. At some point, the facilitator asked us to write down our superpowers. When I wrote down passion and compassion, I realised the two are closely related, not just phonetically or etymologically. One can find passion through compassion and empathy towards others to ignite a new sense of purpose.?

Now that you know what “passion” means, you can also understand the word “compassion” – with suffering. Put simply, it is about genuinely being with someone through their suffering, sitting with them through the pain, holding them. It is not necessarily about offering advice or sharing what happened to you. Instead, it is about being fully present in someone else’s pain.?

When someone talks about their pain, we naturally think about our own experiences. But we must focus on the other person’s narrative. Empathy requires active listening (a skill children should learn at school) and compassion. It is not about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes (that might leave them shoeless!). Instead, we need to walk a mile with the other person, seeing and hearing them.?

3. Connecting the dots

So, what is the relationship between passion, compassion, and purpose? As I argue in my book and this newsletter, we need to consider the impact that we can create in the world to live a more purposeful life. Impact purpose is about finding meaning in life and work by making a difference.

Passion is like the petrol that fuels the car. We need it to feel energised and keep our momentum. But without a clear purpose, we might as well be driving in circles. Purpose gives us the direction in which the car is going.

The bottom line is that once you realise your passion, you can start using your talent and knowledge to make a difference in that space, be it equal pay or reducing plastic in the ocean. You might use what gives you joy, such as music, to address the things that upset you. And you do so with empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence because anything worth doing in the world requires it.