What to do when the initial energy fades…

 

There is a moment, at the beginning of anything new, when life feels brighter. An idea appears, a project begins, a relationship opens its first doors, something inside awakens. Fresh energy moves the mind; clarity feels natural and enthusiasm flows almost without effort.

Then, quietly, the initial spark begins to weaken. Routine settles in, doubts appear and the shine of the beginning slowly turns into a memory. It happens at work, in relationships, in personal goals and even in spiritual practice.

This is not a failure. It is simply the rhythm of life reminding us that beginnings are gifts, but continuity requires effort. First, the gift is opened and enjoyed. After that, it needs to be sustained.

Sometimes, fading energy is a sign that the original intention needs to mature. A small inner realignment may be enough: Is this still what truly matters? The question may not feel small, but clarity often returns when attention is brought back to what is really happening in life. That realization works like fresh air.

At other times, it is a signal that the pace has been too fast for too long. In those moments, slowing down becomes essential. Pausing, meditating or allowing life to flow again can restore balance. The spark that returns may not feel like excitement, but like clarity - and clarity is far more sustainable.

One thing matters here: restarting energy is not about forcing motivation. That rarely works. What truly helps is returning to purpose. Why did this journey begin in the first place? Reconnecting with that initial intention can reawaken momentum, gently and without pressure.

There are also a few practical ways to support this process.

• Simplify. When there is too much detail, expectation or demand, energy leaks away. Reducing a task to its essence often brings the spark back. The same happens in relationships: when emotional noise quiets down, what was beautiful from the start becomes visible again.
• Pause. A conscious, gentle pause resets the mind, softens the heart and allows energy to rise naturally. This may happen through meditation, by easing the workload or by walking in nature. What returns may not be excitement, but clarity - and clarity sustains movement over time.

The essential thing is this: don’t stop abruptly. Try again. Adjust. Explore different tools and perspectives. With patience and honesty with yourself, the initial spark often returns - changed, perhaps quieter, but deeper and more real.

Your awareness…

 

What you are is your awareness. It is the way you perceive and interpret what happens around you.

For some, ageing feels like a tragedy; for others, it unfolds naturally.

A job can be a torture for one person and a blessing for the coworker sitting beside them.

Clouds in the sky may worry someone leaving the office, yet for a farmer they are wonderful news.

The list could go on. Instead of trying to change age, work, or the weather, it is possible to change consciousness.

It is not easy, but there is already a whole range of awareness available to use. A person can be a mother and a manager, accessing the right consciousness at the right moment.

Returning to the examples, awareness may work in this way:

* As ageing happens, begin to refine your nature, reshape your personality, explore new interests and develop new tastes.

* Before leaving home for work, remind yourself why you are working, the benefits you receive and how meaningful it is for your life; walk into your workplace with that awareness.

* When clouds appear, remember the benefits of rain, find shelter and enjoy the fragrance, the soothing sound and the freshness it brings.

Shifting awareness is deeply motivating. So, when challenges arrive and you feel old, your job feels unbearable and you catch a flu because of the rain (and this article), that motivation will remain - enough to help you keep moving forward.

 

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

An attitude of motivation

 

For some of us, motivation comes in tangible forms: gifts, money, words of encouragement. For others, it is something far more subtle: an attitude, a way of standing in life. I recently heard a beautiful story.

A young man chose to go against his family’s expectations. Instead of taking a traditional job, he set out on a journey of exploration. Eventually he became homeless, not because he was idle, but because he was writing. His greatest opposition came from his own father. Yet one day, after receiving the most prestigious award in his country for his work, he brought the prize to that silent man who had never understood him. Without saying a word, the father accepted it. In that quiet gesture, the son felt the warmth of recognition, perhaps the deepest motivation he had ever received. One of his next books, he said, would be about that man who never encouraged him… and yet motivated him in his own way.

When we talk about motivation as an attitude, we are not asking how others inspire us, but how we sustain a motivated stage even in the face of resistance.

This attitude rests on three understandings:

1. We are following our purpose, our truth. No matter what unfolds externally, this is the path we feel called to walk.

2. We may be working on something beyond others’ perception. It is natural that others cannot fully understand our choices and therefore we cannot rely on their motivation or get bothered by their opposition.

3. We don’t expect immediate results. A motivational attitude is built for a marathon, not a 100-meter sprint. The fuel comes from inner energy, positivity and resilience rather than external conditions.

And yet, there are three risks we must remain aware of:

1. We may misread our purpose. Especially when we encounter opposition, it helps to check in with someone we trust; there is always the chance of being wrong.

2. Others’ lack of understanding may come from our own communication gaps. A friend, a mentor or a coach can help us clarify our message and reduce unnecessary resistance.

3. Long-term results require patience. Fatigue can creep in. One way to navigate this is to transform the tiredness into a plan by breaking the journey into short, sequential aims that keep the process alive and dynamic.

A motivational attitude does not guarantee perfection, but it does carry us toward a certain kind of success, the one built from within.

 

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

 

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.