The question is often asked, “Which is more important, Purpose or Passion?” I think that question puts the wrong focus on this issue. Purpose and Passion are both important, and the best answer to the Purpose and Passion importance question is: “It is best to live a life of purpose, passionately.”

What is purpose? Purpose can be explained as “Why we are here, living and breathing. The meaning of our life is our purpose. Purpose is not about a job or career, but how the job or career gives our life meaning, and not (just) to us, but to others. Purpose can be thought of as the “Why” of our life. When all is said and done, and it will be one day for all of us, will it matter at all that we lived?

Passion is the “How” we live our lives. It is the inspiration to wholeheartedly and enthusiastically employ all of our energies and resources into living our purpose. People with passion are fully engaged in living a life of purpose and meaning.

People of purpose and passion change things, and the changes are usually, but not always, improvements. Think of Mother Teresa, who improved the lives of those she touched. She did so in a quiet way, unlike motivational guru Tony Robbins, who many would agree helps others find their purpose and passion, and he does so in a very different manner than Mother Teresa. While both of these famous people lived (Mother Teresa) or live (Tony Robbins) lives of purpose and passion, the manner in which those are expressed was/is very different. Passion does not necessarily involve excitement. People of passion can lead quiet lives, expressing their passion quite differently than someone whose passion is out front.

If we love what we do and who we do it for, we will be people of passion. While that passion can be expressed very differently, the people it serves will know it and feel it. We will be living our purpose out loud, although not necessarily loudly.

If the purpose our life serves is only or mainly for self, we should not think of this as living a life of purpose worthy of others following us. While people may indeed follow the one whose passion and purpose is more self-focused, they will be doing so for their own benefit, not for the improvement of others.

Purpose and Passion give our lives meaning. A question worthy of pondering is, “When we are no longer alive, will it really matter that we lived?”