<photo: taking a selfie at the summit of Kala Patthar (meaning 'black rock' in Nepali), 5645m in the Himalayas>
let's first forget about what's the definition of passion (a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something). start with a blank sheet of paper, and ask yourself the following questions about passion:
what am I passionate about?
how do you know if you are passionate about something?
do you know the difference between passion and interest (passion=something that you can't live without vs. interest=something that rouses your intellectual curiosity).
can you live without your job or is your job an interesting challenge that happens to help you pay your bills and lets you have a nice vacation each year?
are you really good at doing your job, or does your passion or interest mask your averageness at work?
passion is complicated. it's elusive. it's time sensitive - will you always have the same level of passion or even the same passion?
purpose is simpler and to the point - the reason for which something is done.
In his book Into Thin Air, author Jon Krakauer wrote that "There were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act—a triumph of desire over sensibility. Any person who would seriously consider it is almost by definition beyond the sway of reasoned argument." In other words, the people who want to climb Mount Everest are "at best such men are regarded as eccentric; at worst, mad. . . ."
Insane or not, mountaineers thrive on the journey and reaching the summit isnt't as important as the journey there.
"Getting to the top of any given mountain was considered much less important than how one got there: prestige was earned by tackling the most unforgiving routes with minimal equipment, in the boldest style imaginable."
This sense of purpose is the x-factor that drives mountaineers to attempt the most challenging routes to the summit. optional - taking a selfie at the peak if they reach the top.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” Oscar Wilde