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Passion is your Spark, Purpose is your Soul

June 25, 2025 By Shauna

Welcome to A Journey to Awareness, today we are going to have some fun as we kick off this episode as a follow up to the last episode! We are going to play with the space within ourselves where we explore how to live more authentically, more purposefully, and more in tune with who we really are and what brings us happiness. Today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever asked the question: What am I supposed to be doing with my life?

We’re talking about two powerful forces that shape a meaningful life — passion and purpose — and how do we find both?

SHOWNOTES

Hello, and welcome to A Journey to Awareness, I’m Shauna Hoffman. Oh today we are going to have some fun as we kick off this episode as a follow up to the last episode! We are going to play with the space within ourselves where we explore how to live more authentically, more purposefully, and more in tune with who we really are and what brings us happiness. Today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever asked the question: What am I supposed to be doing with my life?

We’re talking about two powerful forces that shape a meaningful life — passion and purpose — and how do we find both?

First, what is the difference Between Passion and Purpose?

Guess what? Passion and purpose are not the same thing. And that’s actually great news.

Passion is what excites you. That spark that makes you smile! That energy that jumpstarts your heart a little or a lot! And it’s creativity! Passion fuels your creativity. It opens your thoughts and mind to think and feel differently. And in the end passion is what fills your heart with joy! It’s the thing you love to do — even if no one’s watching.

Now let’s differentiate this from passion for another person! We are not talking about romantic passion. We are talking about your passion for something, not someone! Unless that someone is you! It’s a passion for something within yourself!

You might love to write, design, cook, hike, teach, or play music, speak, do yoga, play sound bowls, hang with dogs or cats or llamas. That’s your passion — it’s what lights you up, brings a smile to your face and a warmth in your heart.

Purpose, on the other hand, is deeper. It’s the why behind your life. It’s what gives your actions meaning. Purpose is often reflective of your morals, ethics and values. It can show up in how you help others, humans, animals, the planet, yourself. It’s what you stand for, or what you want to change in the world.

So here’s the difference in one line:
“Passion excites you. Purpose is what fulfills you.”

Now back to Passion… so, how do you find your passion? We talked a little bit about this in the last episode. But it can’t hurt to revisit it again today!

You follow your energy! This means that you take some time to become self aware. aware of self! HA! This podcast! A Journey to Awareness!

Ask yourself …When do I feel most alive? What am I doing? Or when I’m doing something I don’t like what do I wish I was doing instead? What feels like that thing that throws a huge smile on your face? Think about it right now and see if anything pops into your awareness.

Sometimes when we revisit our younger self we get clues as to what is still deep inside us that is waiting to come out again.

What did you love before life got serious? Remembering childhood passions often will jumpstart your adventure towards finding passion again. Or maybe it was something you loved when you were young that needs to be tweaked a bit to fit the you of today. When I was young we couldn’t have a dog. I lived in a condo with my mom, three brothers and our beloved cat. One more animal would be too much for a single mom to handle. But my soul longed for a dog of my own. So my best friend and I would walk the dogs in the neighborhood for hours on end! Often these dogs would never have gotten walks if it weren’t for us. Now I have my own dogs and I work with rescue to help dogs all over SoCal. Dogs are a passion of mine! AHHH but wait! I am crossing a bit into purpose… more on that in a bit!

You may still not know where your passion is. You just may not have found it yet! Try to find it without pressure. Don’t make it a stressful, What is my passion? Why don’t I know, obsession. Because then it becomes a chore. And when passion becomes a chore it will take all of the magic away. Think of it as an adventure! You are going down different paths on the way to finding your pot of gold!

Many of you are still asking, how do I find it? Where do I find the paths to go down? Here are some more ideas. There is an app called Meetup.com. I have so many of my clients peruse this app to see if there are any local fun groups to try out that spark something inside them to just try out. You meet likeminded souls and you try your hand at different things that may fill a long lost need in you. Or take a class in something that you have always wanted to try. I had a friend that wanted to learn how to make pottery. Talk about sparking her creativity and her creativity being brought to life!

You could join a group. Explore. Passion comes from action, not just desperately searching inside you to see what fits your soul. It can be like a dormant seed waiting to push up out of the dirt. Just water it and you will see it’s beauty! But you have to water it!

Try these journal prompts:

What do I get lost in?
What would I do if no one was watching?
I love this one…What makes me feel like me?
What is someone else doing that I am kinda jealous of… or wishing I could do?

You don’t have to commit forever. Just get curious. One tiny thought at a time. Then one tiny step to discover if you can find a spark in something you are journaling about.

Now let’s talk about purpose — the meaning piece.

Purpose usually grows slowly. Don’t rush it. Let it unfold. Your purpose does not have to be altruistic to the world. It may just be altruistic to you. Someone who grew up in an unhealthy family finds purpose in creating a beautiful safe home for their children. Someone who fought an illness and survived finds purpose in enjoying and giving thanks for every breath they take, every day they live now. For a survivor finding a purpose of filling their life with joy is absolutely not a selfish purpose. It is a much deserved purpose that brings the world one more smiling soul. And then the ripple affect occurs! Their smile ignites another person to smile and on and on!

Your purpose can be as small as feeding all the hummingbirds in your neighborhood. Maybe you have a passion for those tiny creatures and now they have given you a purpose to help them survive. And that brings me back to my love of dogs and how I turned my passion into a purpose by working in dog rescue during one of the hardest times in rescue history. One of my passions that is now one of the most profound purposes I live for. Don’t get me wrong! I have so many passions! Sailing! Travel! Lunches with my besties! But the one that I have combined into my purpose is animal rescue.

Look at your story.

What have you overcome? Often, purpose is born from pain, healing, or transformation.

Ask what you care about deeply.

What breaks your heart or fires you up? That’s a hint.

Think impact, not job title.

Your purpose isn’t limited to a career. It’s what you’re here to give, sometimes to others and sometimes to your self…

Here are some Journal prompts:

What do I want to be remembered for?
Who do I feel called to help?
What injustice or need moves me to act?

Here’s something people don’t say enough:
Your passion and your purpose can and probably will change. What you loved at 25 might not fulfill you at 45 or 60 or 80. Your purpose may evolve as you grow, face loss, become a parent, or change careers, experiment with life and new experiences, retire, get divorced, have kids!That’s being alive. We are not stagnant beings. In fact when we are stagnant is when depression creeps in!

When pickle-ball became the rage I watched a friend in her 40s find a new passion! When a client of mine got divorced in her 50’s she tried ballroom dancing and all of a sudden she is consumed with it in the most wonderful ways. And she lost 20 pounds dancing it away! Her new passion. But it became her purpose, to heal her soul after divorce and show others that it may do the same for them.

You’re allowed to outgrow things. You’re allowed to pivot. You’re allowed to rediscover yourself again and again and again.

Let yourself evolve. Passion and purpose aren’t final destinations — they’re living, breathing parts of your journey.

Here is the wonder…

When your passion and your purpose align? That’s magic.
Here are some Examples:

A photographer (passion) who captures stories for nonprofits (purpose)
A teacher (purpose) who brings theater into the classroom (passion)
A gardener (passion) who teaches people how to grow their own food (purpose)

Not everyone gets there overnight. And not every passion needs to become your purpose. But when the two touch — it can be profound. But let’s be clear. They do not have to coincide. You can find your passion in one place and your purpose somewhere else.

OOOOH. Now let’s look at the science behind it all! First Purpose!

This isn’t just feel-good talk — science backs it up.

People who have a strong sense of purpose live longer.
One large study found they had a 15% lower risk of death — even when accounting for age, income, and health status.”

Let’s look at mental health and resilience:

Purpose doesn’t just add meaning — it acts like a buffer.
It protects us. People with purpose have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and even substance abuse.
It’s like an emotional immune system.”

Physical health!

Want to hear something crazy?

Having purpose is linked to a 33% lower risk of stroke or heart attack. That’s right — it’s not just good for your soul. It’s good for your heart.”
Your brain is literally wired for meaning.
When you’re connected to your purpose, studies show your brain’s reward centers light up — and so does your decision-making and self-control.”

Now let’s talk about passion:

Passion brings its own benefits, too.

People who regularly engage in something they love show higher life satisfaction, greater persistence, and less burnout — especially if they do it for the love of it, not just the outcome.
It’s a kind of passion that fuels joy, not stress.”

I love this!

People with purpose report higher quality sleep, according to the Sleep Science Journal.
College students with a clear sense of purpose are less likely to suffer from academic burnout, and more likely to report better mental health.
In a 2022 Gallup survey, only 20% of people said they feel passionate about their work — but those people were 3x more likely to report high overall well-being.
A study of retirees found that those with a sense of purpose were less likely to develop mobility issues or disability over time.

It always comes back to the mind- body connection!

🛎️ So here’s what I want you to contemplate from this podcast:

Passion is what excites you.
Purpose is what fills your soul.
You don’t have to figure it all out at once.
You’re allowed to change your mind.
You are becoming — as this podcast is named… you are on a Journey to Self Awareness!

You just need a little curiosity and a little courage.

I love this quote by Mark Twain.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

— Mark Twain

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who might be in a time in their life that would benefit from hearing it, too.

Now, beautiful listeners… go forth and have some fun! Play, learn and keep listening to the whisper inside you. It knows the way.

Have a fabulous week! And don’t forget to drink lots of water, eat nourishing foods, and surround yourself with loving beings.

Thank you for joining me today,.. and I look forward to popping into your life again next time!

The Magic Of Walking In The Rain

April 3, 2024 By Shauna

Why do we have so many rules that take away so much of the fun in life? I’m not talking about doing dangerous things. I’m talking about doing something so simple as walking in the rain and how just doing that becomes an adventure that gives you a feeling of freedom that you never expected. I realized that walking in the rain represented so much of the same things for so many people. So many reasons why we can’t do something. So many limitations we put on ourselves.

When we do something so out of the box, so unexpected and against all social norms, believe it or not, our creativity is unlocked. I mean that’s what creativity is. Thinking outside the box creating with no boundaries and no holds barred. Creating as if you are walking in the rain.

SHOWNOTES:

Hello, and welcome to A Journey to Awareness, I’m Shauna Hoffman. Oh this is gonna be a fun episode.

Last night my husband and I were talking about the fact that we want to go take the dogs for a walk today. We have three collies that need lots of exercise. But when I looked at the weather, it said it was going to rain. My husband turned to me and said, “Why don’t we take a walk in the rain!?” I paused and I looked at him, definitely perplexed, and then all the sudden I got so excited! I felt like a child again. Then I remembered some of the most fun days of my life were walking in the rain.

I mean, I know it’s crazy that every time we think about it our first instincts are, absolutely not. It’s raining out you can’t go outside. Or if you’re gonna go outside, you have to run to your car then run into the next building. You have to have umbrellas and raincoats, God knows you can’t get wet.

And then when I remember the times that I did walk and play in the rain I remember the feeling of total rebellion. It’s so funny I felt completely like a rebellious kid whose mom was saying, “you can’t go out and play in the rain! You’re going to get sopping wet! You’re going to catch a cold! You’re going to drag in all the mud! No, you cannot go.”

Then I remembered when my daughter dressed the kids up in their rain, boots and rain jackets and took them outside and just let them play in puddles and mud and feel the rain on their face. And they had the time of their lives! The free spirit of a child. And it made me wonder why when we become adults don’t we walk, sing, dance or play in the rain?

Oh, and with creativity comes romance. It is so romantic to walk in the rain with someone you love. Or just thinking about someone you love. I mean, you can’t help but smile when you think of the scene from singing in the rain where Gene Kelly is dancing in the middle of the street madly in love.

Do you remember the Neil Sedaka song “laughter in the rain”? Oh, I hear laughter and rain walking hand-in-hand with the one I love. Oh how I love the rainy days and the happy way I feel inside.

You smell things you never smelled before. The reflections of the water on the leaves, and on the ground have this magical beauty to them. And the feeling of rain on your face is a sensation so different than what you are used to, that you can’t help but smile.

But you don’t have to be with another human to feel romance. One of the definitions of romance is a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement and being remote from every day life. It’s the beauty and the romance inside you. Imagine your own romantic escapade.

Here is another adventure. Try running around in the rain with a bunch of friends! You have no idea how much laughter and lightheartedness it brings. I was on one of the islands with four of my friends late at night, and we were walking back to the ship, and it started pouring raining. It took us totally by surprise. And it was a blast! We were laughing and dancing in the middle of a Caribbean Road. We had so much fun!

Another time, my husband and I were in Venice, the city of canals and water. We got caught in a rainstorm and got so lost on the curvy roads of Venice that all we could do was realize this was totally out of our control so we may as well enjoy it! And we laughed and walked the streets of Venice, popping in for a coffee then out again onto the rainy cobblestone streets. Rain, snow, any weather is just a reminder that sometimes we need to just let go of control and let life happen.

I found this quote and forgive me, whoever said it, because I couldn’t find the author.

Walking in the rain is a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are the simplest.

Here is another one, author unknown.

Rainy walks, are a chance to find beauty in the midst of chaos, to see the world with fresh eyes.

There is such spontaneity that comes with walking in the rain. You don’t know when it’s gonna stop. You don’t know when it’s gonna get stronger. And you don’t know when you’re going to see a rainbow. For me walking in the rain is one of the most magical things we can do.

Oh, The freshness that rain brings. Whether it’s a hot day in the Caribbean or a cool walk in the mountains, it brings a refreshing feeling to the air. And it’s so invigorating to breathe in the crisp, clean scent of rain-soaked earth and see the glisten on the trees plants.

Did you know that there is an actual scientific reason why walking in the rain is so peaceful? It’s something called the petrichor effect. Petrichor happens when rainwater releases micro organisms hidden in the earth and they mix with the smell of plant oils and the ozone. And it all gets released into the air.

Scientists believe it’s one of the most calming and mood boosting properties. They also think it could be because it stems from a cultural imprint that goes all the way back to our ancestors who would’ve found food and water more plentiful in times of rain than in times of drought. That’s why we always love the smell of the outdoors right after a rain.

I love this quote about the Petrichor effect

It’s when raindrops kiss the arid land, and the magic happens. It smells like a secret.

This wonderful woman named Susie Nightingale is the one who said that. It smells like a secret. I love that so much! I also kind of love her her name, Susie Nightingale.

Ha! Bob Marley says, “Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.”
So let me just throw out a few reasons for you to walk in the rain the next time your weather app says rain is in the forecast.

Serenity: The sound of rain hitting the ground, leaves, or the top of your head can create a soothing and calming environment. It helps clear the mind and reduce all your stress… if you let it. Why do you think they use raindrops on so many calming apps?

A connection with Nature: Rainfall is such a vital part of nature, and growth. Walking in the rain can help you feel more connected to the environment. But what I love most is that it’s a reminder of the cycles of nature and the importance of water.

And did you know that sometimes it rains cats and dogs? I mean, if that isn’t a great reason to be walking in the rain I don’t know any other!

Solitude: Rainy weather often keeps others indoors, which means you might have the streets or parks to yourself. These moments when you’re alone are the times that you can feel the deepest, without anyone seeing you.

Charlie Chaplin said, “I always like walking in the rain so no one can see me crying.”

I take that to mean there is beauty when you can find comfort and privacy during the most vulnerable times. And there’s no better way to do it than walking in the rain Go ahead. Do it! I dare you. See if you can get a sense of peaceful solitude and privacy.

We talked about the adventure of it. But I wanna add that one of the reasons it gives you a sense of adventure is because of this feeling of braving the elements. We feel it every time we sail our sailboat. And what a wonderful simple way to do it right outside your front door?

OK I have a confession. This entire weekend it’s supposed to rain so as my husband and I talked about walking in the rain I woke up this morning and thought I really wanna get crazy. So I threw off all my clothes, ran out into my backyard and danced in the rain, totally nude. My dogs were running all around me, and I surely hope my neighbors didn’t see it because they would either think I was crazy or who knows, maybe they thought I’m one of the happiest people in the world. I wanted to really test all of what I was talking about here. And it was magical!

Oh…now let’s talk about the moodiness of a rainy day and how it can inspire introspection and reflection. It’s a great time to think deeply, sort out thoughts, or come up with new ideas.

Creativity!

Have you ever really looked at photography that was done out in the rain? Try it yourself! Grab your phone, go outside in the rain and take pictures! Rain can create stunning photo ops. Think about the reflections in puddles, raindrops on leaves, and the diffused light creating such a unique atmosphere. And if your lucky you will catch a rainbow!

We have all heard about Native Americans performing a rain dance. They would summon the spirits of the gods to cleanse the earth with rain. But in the Native American culture the rain dance was also a symbol of forgiveness. Think about that for a minute, how we can let the rain wash away our past, our hurts, our anger, our betrayals from others and to others. What if you could walk in the rain and forgive yourself and forgive others?

Who knew that walking in the rain could offer us so much self-awareness? For me, I think the one most important lessons this morning when I ran around in the rain was remembering how to enjoy the Simple Things in life. It was a reminder I don’t have to play by anyone else’s rules.

So, I hope that soon you’ll have an opportunity to go play in the rain! I hope you let go of everybody else’s rules, go outside and let the raindrops keep falling on your head. And I hope it sparks a new journey to awareness.

And most of all, may there be a rainbow at the end of your journey.

So my beautiful listeners, thank you for letting me into your life this week, and I look forward to popping back in again next time.

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