The practicality of life

 

Our minds easily focus on practical things - money, health, problems that demand attention. Particularly in difficult moments, this practicality has its benefits.

Many years ago, I met someone who shared his story with me. His father had abandoned him and his two brothers, leaving them in deep poverty with their mother. She worked as a maid, quietly and tirelessly, never complaining. Through sheer determination, she raised her three sons, all of whom eventually went to college. Later, she managed to buy her own home, without anyone’s support. When she retired, the family she had once served even begged her to stay on to care for their children.

When tragedy hits, a clear and practical vision can work wonders. It gives strength, direction and a reason to keep moving forward - often changing the odds in one’s favor. Pragmatism is a powerful motivator.

But there is another side to practicality: the risk of being pulled into a materialistic whirlwind without realizing it.

A deeply spiritual person, a close friend of mine used to say money wasn’t that important - he was even a role model for me. But later, he found a dream job: few hours, excellent pay, endless possibilities. I had already moved to another country, so we weren’t in close contact, but I heard about how things changed. Slowly, subtly, spirituality lost priority. Eventually, he recognized what was happening and it took him a real effort to pull himself out of that quicksand.

Money is not bad. It is good and it is absolutely necessary. Working few hours for a good income is even a sign of good karma. The problem begins when we lose sight of the principles and priorities that form the real wealth of the soul, in this case, spirituality.

Be practical - let it guide you.

Be mindful - so you don’t lose your balance.

And above all, stay anchored in what elevates you… because that is where true motivation lies.

This is a post in a series about motivation - starting from within.

Spirituality as a Motivator

 

I was… lost. OK, as a teenager, I guess that’s part of the profile - but I was in a worse situation than many of my friends.

What helped me find my own path? Spirituality.

That’s why I feel that being spiritual is not a passive thing. It’s motivational and dynamic; it’s transformational.

For me, spirituality gives me a reason to get up every day and a sense of comfort when I go to sleep at night. It reminds me that everything I create has a purpose - it might nourish someone, bring hope, or spark energy in others, without boundaries or restrictions.

Whenever I work, it’s not just for me or for the money; it’s for the universe. It’s about offering a little hope or a meaningful experience, even if only for a moment. Whenever I connect with someone, it’s an opportunity to send good wishes - and to receive the best they have to offer in return.

Spirituality motivates me because it lifts me out of the chaos and noise, bringing me into that wonderful calm within, from which I can move forward.

But is it always motivational? Not always.

Sometimes, you and I need to pause and reflect - to stop reality for a while. Spirituality offers many tools to do exactly that, and in those moments, it may not feel motivational. It’s more like an interval in a game: necessary and revitalizing. Yet, just like in a game, the coach becomes the motivator. During these spiritual pauses, there’s often a temptation not to return to the noise. That’s when an external agent - a wife, a brother, a boss, or a friend - might step in to remind us to go back to the field of action.

Try it out. If you ever feel hopeless or unmotivated, go within. Meditate, reflect, contemplate, pray. Let yourself experience that shower of energy - and then go back to action. You’ll feel the difference.

 

This is a post in a series about motivation - starting from within.

Your Purpose Drives You…

 

Once upon a time, there was a young man. He used to go to the river and collect berries to sell in the market. In fact, he didn’t just collect the berries - he also made sure the water was clean. He watered the plants (his city was in a dry area) and kept everything in good condition. Then he would go and sell those products - that was how he earned his living.

 

Just like this young man in our tale, we all produce something that others “buy.” It could be berries, vegetables, sandwiches, projects, profits for companies, or even a beautiful family.
Production is one of the main functions we all have - in fact, everything in life produces something.
But there is also something more…

 

Unknown to this young man, the water he spread around helped a family of animals in the area. They, in turn, helped pollinate the plants, making the land even more beautiful and productive.

 

Besides production, we have another duty on this earth - some call it a mission, others our dharma, or simply our purpose.
Purpose is our real function - it’s the reason others will miss us when we are gone; it’s the reason our Mother Earth smiles when she thinks of us.

Others may sell berries or vegetables, but not the way we do - not with that big smile.

Many people can prepare better sandwiches, but not with our awareness, that special flavor of sustainability.
Countless professionals can deliver greater profits, but not with our long-term perspective.
And our families - they thrive because of all the water of love we’ve poured into them.
A particular kind of love, unique to each of us.

But there is one problem - it’s invisible.

 

When this young man was no longer young, he passed the task on to his son, who was not as diligent. The boy liked to play more than work, so he simply gathered the needed berries and rushed back to sell them in the market. Unknown to them, a small tragedy began to unfold. After a year or two, there were fewer berries, the land grew arid like the city, and their livelihood was in danger.

 

Purpose often becomes visible only when things start going wrong - and by then, it may be too late to reflect.
If people were more aware of their higher purpose, they would be more careful with every action.
They would treasure their smiles while selling, stay conscious in their work instead of chasing blind productivity, value their long-term vision, and never stop watering others with love.

Yet it happens - we forget our purpose.
Sometimes because we never truly knew it.
And in those moments, we must trace our steps back to the beginning.
Or…

 

The boy, being clever, soon realized what was wrong. He remembered how his father had taught him - not through words, but by taking him to watch. Then, something happened: a spark. An energy he had never felt before.
The river was nearly dry, but water still flowed. With a bucket in hand, he began watering the plants again - every single day. Two years later, the river was flowing fully, and the land was greener than ever.

 

When we are connected to our purpose, our actions align with it. Even small acts - a smile, a project, a family gesture - gain new meaning.
The beauty of this kind of motivation is that it never expires.

Stay in touch with your purpose and you will feel its energy moving through you - quiet, steady, and always there.

 

One day, the boy became a man. And one day, he brought his own sons to the river. Beside it stood a prosperous shop, full of life. When he taught his children, he was careful to show them the whole picture - not only how to fetch berries, but how to keep the river flowing.

 

Your purpose makes your life flow.

Can values motivate?

 

Many years ago, I started exploring the topic of values. It was… interesting… but honestly, I didn’t see much value in values.

One day, I gave a lecture on values – actually, several lectures – so I had to explore, research and learn that values are much more than a nice thing: a value is one of the most vital aspects in life, part of our inner compass.

Values play two key roles in our lives, and both are deeply motivational.

The first role is to connect us with ourselves. Some would say that values are spirituality translated into the physical world. Motivation, in this case, arises when we live and work in alignment with them and it is important to avoid activities that somehow suppress them.

For instance, a doctor needs patience to deal with patients. When patience is one of their values, their motivation flows naturally. But if their focus is only on the technical or scientific side, they may feel drained or demotivated in their interactions.

The second role of a value is to encourage action. Many of the things we do - reading this post, talking with a child, taking care of a garden - are driven by an inner value. When what we do doesn’t align with that, it doesn’t matter how interesting or profitable the task is, it will still feel empty.

When I joined the Air Force school (EPCAR, Brazil), I felt inspired by the strong educational environment. Certain values - like self-improvement and social mobility - were almost pushing me to go there. However, because military values were not part of my own inner set, at some point I started feeling dissatisfied, even rebellious.

The good thing about values is that they can be developed. Through reflection, dialogue, and consistent practice, we can cultivate new ones. So, if you are that hypothetical doctor who struggles with patients, you can learn to treat them with care and empathy, developing the necessary values for that.

And perhaps, if I had insisted a bit more and overcome my rebellious feelings, I might still have found my place in the military, this time in the Navy.

In the end, any lack of motivation we feel might just be a sign that it’s time to rediscover and develop the right values.

 

This is a post in a series about motivation - starting from within.