What is my purpose in life, and how do I find it? What if my passion doesn't equate my purpose?

tldr; As humans, we tend to spend large portions of our lives looking for our purpose on this Earth. Some turn to religion while others may look to their hobbies. What if you cannot find a blend between your passions and your purpose?

What is purpose?

The dictionary describes purpose as "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." For us as humans, it is essentially discovering the reason why we live on this planet and we find our purpose as we go on about our lives. However,  many people don't really know what their purpose on this Earth is. Some wander aimlessly without a solid direction to move in while others keep looking to fill gaps and holes in their life with temporary fixes and measures. Some find religion and find purposes through that. Some volunteer in their communities and help out those in need. Some will fixate and focus on earning money so that they could live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

In what category do you fall in?

Do interests really equate purpose?

I think that a misconception about our purpose is that we tend to tie it with our interests. For example, if someone loves to help out people in need, they believe that their purpose is to become a doctor in some form so that they could continue to help others in need. This, in of itself, is not a bad thing. However, I think tends to narrow our field of vision where we believe that our sole purpose is in our interests, and we develop this tunnel vision. After a period of time, we begin to look at where we are at and wonder where all the years went. 

Of course, this is a generalization and does not reflect everyone. 

Attending school at Pacific has been a blessing in many different ways and I love attending this school. One thing that Pacific is well-known for is their accelerated programs in dentistry and pharmacy. After talking with some of my friends who are attending pharmacy school, many of them always say how they no longer have a passion for their career. They talk about how burnt out they are and how learning new things about science and pharmacology no longer interests them anymore. The only reason why they continue to push forward is that because they already spent so much time and money into schooling and their academics that it would be a waste for them to turn back now. 

That doesn't really sound like purpose, does it?

In conclusion, I think that we, as humans, change. Our viewpoints and perspectives are constantly shifting with the circumstances that we face in our daily lives. It makes sense that our belief and our purpose change as we also grow and mature. If you feel passionate about a certain career or life choice, then by all means, pursue with a passion and drive. But, do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and rethink your decisions and adjust accordingly with what's going on with your life. If you feel like you need to take a break, then take that break! If you feel like you want to alter your life path, do it! (after careful considerations, of course). The bottom line is: don't fixate on trying to find your purpose; This life is not guaranteed, so make the most of it. 

"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dream of meeting your heart's longing."