Over 2,500 years ago, Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

I think Aristotle got it right. Happiness is made up of two ingredients: meaning and purpose. The problem, though, is that most people confuse them and think they are the same thing. But they’re not. They are very different. So, in this post, I’m going to help explain the difference between meaning and purpose and why it’s important to understand both.

What is Meaning?

Let’s start with meaning. Meaning is all about our perception of the past—specifically, the stories we tell ourselves about the past. It’s how we make sense of the things that have already happened in our lives. It’s our cognitive understanding of everything that has shaped who we are today.

Happy people tend to tell themselves heroic stories. They look back at their struggles, traumas, and problems and see themselves as having overcome them.

Because of this, they feel “enough” in the present. They don’t have to prove themselves because they already understand that they’ve made it through challenges and are capable of handling whatever comes next. So, they carry that confidence forward. They know that when obstacles appear in the future, they will be able to conquer them just as they did before.

Unhappy people, on the other hand, tend to tell themselves a victim story about the past. They look back at their challenges and feel that they were thwarted, abandoned, or neglected. Their narrative remains one of not feeling “enough”—not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough. And because they don’t feel enough now, they don’t think they’ll ever be enough in the future.

The key difference here is that meaning is about our journey to enoughness. Happy people believe they were enough in the past, and so they feel enough in the present and future. Unhappy people feel they were never enough, and as a result, they continue to struggle with feelings of inadequacy.

What is Purpose?

Now let’s turn to purpose. Purpose is not about the past. It’s not about how we perceive our stories or what we’ve already gone through. Purpose is all about the present and the future. It’s about action. It’s about what we do with the time we have and how we choose to direct our energy and efforts.

Purpose is the thing that lights us up. It’s the sense of doing something meaningful in the moment—a sense of being aligned with our passions, values, and goals. It’s not a distant goal we set for ourselves and then pursue relentlessly; it’s a way of showing up every day with intention and joy, regardless of the outcome.

The crucial thing to understand is that meaning and purpose are two sides of the same coin, but they’re not interchangeable. If meaning is about understanding and integrating the past, purpose is about using the present to shape the future.

Why You Can't "Purpose" Your Way to Enough

Here’s where many people get stuck: They think they can purpose their way to feeling enough. They tell themselves, “Once I accomplish this big goal, once I become successful, once I do X, I’ll finally feel like I’m enough.”

This is where things go wrong. People often mistake purpose for meaning and think that by achieving their Big P Purpose—big, audacious goals—they will finally fill that inner void and find happiness.

But here’s the truth: It doesn’t work. Even when you achieve monumental goals, like a huge promotion or recognition in your field, you may still feel empty. The hole inside you doesn’t magically disappear because you’ve reached some external milestone. In fact, you might feel even more inadequate because the sense of "enoughness" never came from within; it came from external validation.

Take Elon Musk, for instance. He’s achieved monumental success—revolutionizing electric cars, space travel, and more. Yet, despite his immense achievements, Musk has spoken openly about struggling with personal happiness and feeling burnt out. His relentless drive toward purpose (innovating and reaching ambitious goals) hasn't necessarily led him to inner fulfillment or peace.

This suggests that even the most accomplished individuals can fall into the trap of thinking purpose alone can bring happiness. True fulfillment comes from integrating meaning with purpose, not just chasing big goals.

The Solution: Building Both Meaning and Purpose

So, what’s the solution to this dilemma? How do we get to a place where we feel enough and truly experience happiness?

1. Work on your meaning: If you’re telling yourself a victim story about your past, it’s time to rewrite that narrative. The first step to creating meaning in your life is recognizing that the stories we tell ourselves are powerful. If you’ve had challenges or traumas, you can reframe them. Therapy, particularly narrative therapy, can be incredibly helpful in helping you examine and retell your life’s story. Instead of seeing yourself as a victim, start seeing yourself as a person who experienced hardship but overcame it. You are a hero of your own story.
2. Shift to "little p" purpose: When it comes to purpose, focus less on the big, audacious goals, and more on the little actions that give you joy in the present moment. While Big P Purpose can be exciting, it’s also elusive and often unattainable in the short term. Instead, focus on small, process-oriented actions—things that light you up every day. These small, incremental actions are what help you feel fulfilled in the now, rather than waiting for some future event to make you feel “enough.”

By combining both meaning and purpose in your life, you create a sense of wholeness. Meaning gives you the understanding that you are enough, while purpose empowers you to take action toward building a future that reflects who you truly are. It’s this balance that leads to happiness—a happiness that doesn’t depend on achieving a singular, massive goal but instead on feeling aligned with both your past and your present.

Conclusion

Happiness is not a destination; it’s a delicate balance of understanding who you are (meaning) and living authentically in the present (purpose). Don’t make the cardinal mistake of thinking you can bulldoze through life with just purpose alone and somehow achieve happiness. Meaning is the foundation. Purpose is the action. Together, they make for a richer, more fulfilling life.