MANAGEMENT BRIEFCASE
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some
difference that you have lived and lived well. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
contentment. Passions are generally nouns or the “things” (art, cooking, wine, travel) about which we are passionate.
Many people believe the key to happiness and fulfillment is finding and pursuing a passion. However, we have not all been able to identify a true passion. Even fewer have been able to leverage it into a vocation. In fact, following one’s passion may be a dangerous career choice because passions can come and go, while purpose might have more longevity.
By the time we reach
adulthood, most of us have found activities that make us happy; we have identified a few passion areas.
Unlike a passion, purpose is the
reason, or the “why,” behind what we do. Whereas passions focus on our desires, our purpose is usu- ally related to what we want to contribute to the world around us. Sometimes, purpose is a hidden motivation behind why we have chosen a particular career and why it has meaning. A clearly identified sense of purpose can give us the for- titude to persevere in our careers and can be the foundation for success. Passion and purpose both have an important role to play in our lives. Without passion, life would be dreary. Without purpose, our lives would be aimless. Together, they help us create meaning and live our best, most authentic, and successful lives.
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Finding Our Purpose
By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have found activities that make us happy; we have identified a few passion areas. However, find- ing our purpose is more difficult. Researchers believe that finding a purpose in our lives is an evolution- ary process that develops as we identify our vocation and our pas- sions and can articulate how we want to make a positive difference in the world.
Many times, however, our pas- sions are entirely separate from our purpose. For example, we might be passionate about art and music, but that love might not be directly appli- cable to our purpose of ensuring that public education flourishes. As we age, our passions change and our purpose evolves. A good example is a spectacular French teacher who, in her younger years, was both passionate about—and
identified her purpose as—preparing American students to be independent in French-speaking countries. She dedicated more than 40 years of her life to this pursuit.
As she moved into her 70s and now 80s, she left the passion and purpose of French-language mastery behind. She shifted both passion and purpose to supporting aging peers in retaining independence and auton- omy. She was willing to spend hours learning and growing in this area and dedicating her time to mastering technology; she is now an expert not only in her state, but in the nation. She found a fulfilling way to merge passion with purpose, and this ener- gizes her and keeps her youthful. Whether you are at the beginning of your career, at a midpoint, or are ready to retire, considering your pas- sions and purpose will help guide you in making decisions that will bring you a more fulfilling, fun, and fruitful life.
Resource
Jon M. Jachimowicz, “3 Reasons It’s So Hard to ‘Follow Your Passion,’” Harvard Business Review, October 15, 2019.
Nan Wodarz is interim head of Linden Hall School for Girls in Lititz, Pennsylva- nia. Email:
nanwodarz@gmail.com
SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS | APRIL 2022 37
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