Motivation is good; as human beings, we all need it. Otherwise, even very necessary - and urgent - tasks won’t be performed. But things are more complex nowadays, with the demands of our jobs, family life, spiritual endeavors, and even our health.
So, I would like to explore motivation as a quest, through a few
stories.
A close friend once had a very important
role during a program for almost 1,000 people. His task was fundamental… yet he
was late. We met at a bus stop, and while I was feeling anxious because of the
delay, he was completely tranquil. After some time on the bus, we also became
calm, influenced by his attitude. Then, suddenly, he started to get agitated.
Eventually, he literally ran from the bus towards the auditorium, leaving us
stunned. For many, motivation arises at the edge of anxiety; for others,
that same edge creates worry. But this type of motivation can also feed the
habit of procrastination - and quietly damage productivity.
Someone once changed jobs for a better salary. After a while, something felt missing… Looking for
that same sense of drive, he moved again - and then again. Each time, the
promise was greater, the reward slightly higher. Until he found himself
repeating the same cycle: arriving, adjusting, and soon after, searching again.
Material motivation - money, possessions - works well, but it carries a
subtle side effect: satisfaction is short-lived, and sometimes it even deepens
dissatisfaction.
A person had always dreamed of a house in the countryside, and one day, she made it happen. So much
happiness. But slowly, the silence became heavy. Loneliness appeared, as it
often does in rural areas. At some point, fear crept in. And when anxiety took
over, clarity disappeared. She couldn’t find a way forward and drifted into
despair. Even the most beautiful dream can turn into a nightmare. First,
work on it, shape it, prepare for it and only then… live it.
I met her many years ago. She was young, vibrant, full of life. Then illness came - a
deteriorating condition that changed everything. It was hard, painful, and at
times heartbreaking. But something shifted. Over time, she learned not only to
cope, but to transform that experience. She wrote a book in Spanish, The
Healing Energy of Sickness, and began to share a different perspective:
that even illness can become a source of growth. Today, she spreads hope - a
hope born from a motivation she never expected. Motivation comes from how we
perceive reality. Even the most difficult situations can become a source of
strength.
There are people who naturally motivate others, and others who don’t. I know someone whose presence
feels… wholesome. Being around him is both a pleasure and an honor. He doesn’t
push; he invites. He inspires people to look within and discover their own
potential - not just what they can do, but who they can be. And perhaps most
importantly, when he leaves, something remains. True motivators are measured
by the lasting effect they have on others.
And then, there is another path. I’ve faced many obstacles in my life - moments when I
almost gave up. But I kept returning: making effort, meditating, studying,
refining my attention. At some point, something became clear. I realized that I
could become my own source of motivation. Since then, I’ve tried to sustain
that awareness. In such a complex world, self-motivation carries a quiet
strength - but only when it comes from self-leadership, particularly self-control
and self-empowerment.
