A quest for a sustainable motivation

 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.

Motivation is not a single moment; it is a continuous process. And perhaps understanding this… allows us to remain, more often, in a state of quiet satisfaction.

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.

Why Do Values Motivate?

 

In many areas of life, values may seem… valueless. At least, that’s how I used to think.

Many years ago, Brahma Kumaris launched an initiative about values. One of its strongest supporters was Colombian, who invited BK to Manizales, where there was an educational project in need of deeper input on values. I went there, gave a few lectures and soon after, a local company hired me to work with their employees on values.

The long story short? When I began translating the abstract, intangible language of values into terms a corporate professional could grasp, I discovered the real value of values.

Values form the background of any action. They guide decisions and, above all, they motivate. In fact, values are natural motivators. We tend to do things aligned with our values effortlessly, without the need for external rewards or pressures.

You can see this clearly in vocational professions - doctors, nurses, police officers, members of the clergy. They perform under pressure and in the harshest conditions because their values are fully aligned with their work. That alignment is what we call vocation.

Now, maybe your present job is not really part of your vocation, but I am sure there are many areas in your life in which the alignment between actions and values take place. I am sure you can see the motivation whenever you have to do something related to that.

So, do you need a dose of motivation right now at some parts of your life? Look at your own values, align them with what you’re doing, and you’ll discover the lightness and joy of acting from the heart.

 

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

 

How to turn a vision of future into a source of motivation?

 

You can imagine what will happen tomorrow. Next month or year.

You can dream about a new house, a new job or a new… you.

You can have a vision of transformation, that something will be completely different, much better.

 

It works! It has worked for me so far and I know so many people who use a vision of the future as a means of motivation.

Particularly when things are cloudy, resources are scarce, the will is low, the capacity is not according to the need… A vision of the future can turn into a map to navigate troubled times…

 

A story tells about a military small plane that crashed on a mountain, in Europe. The survivors walked looking for shelter and they found a house that would protect them from the cold. However, as soon as they entered the house, they discovered a map; full of enthusiasm, they decided to leave immediately and, by following the map, they were able to reach civilization again.

The problem was that, in the story, the map did not correspond to that area of Europe…

 

So, what is your vision of the future? What is that motivating fuel that will make the engine of your will to find the resources and to generate the needed capacity?

And hold on that vision, the map of your future.

 

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

Be your own leader… and motivate yourself

 

Leaders motivate - that’s one of their main roles, regardless of the type of leadership they embody.
So, if you are the leader of your own life, shouldn’t you also motivate yourself? Let’s explore this comparison.

• Leading by example. Some leaders motivate simply through their actions. People follow what they see more than what they hear. Think of Gandhi, who reshaped his entire lifestyle so others could walk the path of his ideas.
• Leading with words. Others move the world with powerful speeches or writings. Martin Luther King and Karl Marx, in very different ways, stirred minds and hearts with the strength of their words.
• Leading quietly. Some leaders don’t look extraordinary at first glance, yet their impact is immense. Eunice Paiva, a housewife, changed her own life and transformed her family’s life after her husband was kidnapped; not only that, she became a pioneer in the fight for indigenous rights - opening a whole new field of social change.

Now, what about self-leadership?

• Discipline - no excuses. Sometimes you just have to act. Doing an action sets an example for yourself, proving you truly can.
• Read, write, record. The words you absorb become fuel. The words you express - whether written or spoken - strengthen your values and shape your world.
• Start small, move big. Small steps, especially during challenges, can transform everything. That one move forward might seem ordinary, but it’s enough to create momentum - and motivation to keep going.

Self-leadership is about becoming both the example and the voice that follows. When you learn to inspire yourself, you’ll find that motivation is no longer something you search for - it’s something you generate.

You are a champion

Did you know you are a champion?

 

You have won innumerable battles and conflicts…

You have conquered hearts and brains, hugs and positions…

You have won over your own mind, defeating many useless and wasteful thoughts…

You have won over your own limitations, beliefs that have been limiting your power…

You have won over your emotions and you moved on, even when situations tried to prevent you...

 

Do you remember when you were over the edge, ready to fall over an abyss? You won!

Do you remember when nobody believed you? You won!

Do you remember when you couldn’t believe in yourself? You won!

Did you know you are a champion?

 

Keep on winning, the world needs, more than ever, champions like you!

Have we grown up and just forgotten how to be children?

A friend of mine recently conducted a workshop about the inner child and it was very successful! But it was the bad side of the inner child: harming my inner child.

It may happen because we refuse to let that little child emerge and shine through us.

In fact, we are complete beings who have chosen, whether it is willingly or not, to play a part at some point in time. We choose to be what we think is to be 30 years old or 15 years old, but we have the main basic ingredients needed to be a 6 years old or 60 years old, at least in our awareness.

So, are you a little depressed? Things are not working right? Have you fought with your best friend? You have all the components of a 6 years-old, who would be joyful by running under the rain, always hopeful and looking for a way to make it up with their best friend.

Come on… stop reading this (not now, please, just one or two lines more), go outside and just be happy by seeing… things… All is awesome for your inner child’s eyes. Try it; I am sure you will enjoy a lot!

How to overcome fatigue

What is normal and what you expect is that after waking up, you have energy until night... but if that is not constant in your life, it is time to work internally.

We are not machines and although we are well oiled, fatigue, exhaustion or stress can take away our energy and prevent us from progressing or enjoying in the way we would want and could. Maybe you would like to have a few more hours of strength to enjoy your family, do something useful to the community, meditate or just enjoy watching the last movie.

If you really want to extend your energy a little more in the day, here are some tips that can be very useful:

1. Start with your diet and check well that what you eat is balanced.
2. Then, check the quality sleep time, that is, the sleep that refreshes and renews.
3. Develop the art of relaxation, that is, let go… a lot!
4. Self-organization contributes to avoid tiredness, preventing us from wandering when making a decision or doing some activity.
5. Strive to have excellent prioritization criteria, because it will prevent you from wasting time, one of the factors that causes fatigue.
6. Managing an adequate schedule helps minimize stress.
7. Dialogue and enjoy being with relevant people in your life.
8. At the end of the day or at times you identify that you feel a not very welcome tiredness, look for activities that are motivating.

Wake up

Wake up…

I wake up with the sound of a strange voice in my ear, but I notice very quickly I am still alone.

Can you guess where? Typical me – the bottom of a well! In my defense, it was a very well hidden well…

We are – family and me – at a friend’s farm, a beautiful place quite far from the horrors of a city clogged during a time that should be for celebrations, Christmas… Did I tell you today is Christmas day?

At least, I think so… You know, yesterday I was running around after a, well, a little fight with my cousin, Michael, who thinks of himself as the next multimillionaire. His wife thinks of herself as the next celebrity… Yeah, not that easy to talk with them and he started with the old you are a failure. He is that blunt! After much yelling and moderation from dad and mum, I decided to just leave the place.

I have been to this place before, we all have been but little Cassidy, so it was with pleasure I realized there was a full area of land to explore – and I did that exactly. Brilliant idea, right?

Wake up…

Hey, I am awakened! Who is there by the way?

It was the 24^th morning and as I started to feel hungry and decided to go back to the farm for lunch and maybe another fight…

Wake up…

I AM AWAKENED!

Short story: I feel into this well. This has been by far my worse Christmas Eve, passing down here. Something is broken and I can’t stand, I don’t see how to climb it and I am sick of shouting and yelling, I even called for my cousin to help me…

Wake up…

Another day passed by, it should 26^th today, or maybe I’ve missed one day, not sure. Someone has to find me, right? I mean, dad, mum…

Wake up…

Hey, what is it that you want? I am here, alone and the only thing you say is wake up?

Why don’t you wake up?

Ooops, it responded to me!! Hallucinations… well, at least I have someone with whom to talk.

‘Why do you say I am not awakened, Mr… Voice?’

You are living in the darkness of your own life. You are not valuing what you have got…

‘I am perfectly happy with whom I am, thank you very much! Has Michael put you to this?’

If you are that happy, why is there the sadness in your heart, masqueraded by the feeling of being insulted? And that was there much before your cousin started to poke you.

In fact, deep down, I can see you agree with your cousin, after all you expected to be a space engineer by this time, have a wonderful family and a beautiful house… A house on the beach, from where you could see the waves breaking on the shore…

I can’t speak… For some reason, I don’t have a witty response.

But think about how much you have conquered! Look at your health, the way you work, the friends you have got. Why do you prefer ignoring the good things and focus on those bad things? It is time you wake up…

My vision is blurred, if it is because of being two days with no water or food – I don’t count gums as food – or just because… just because…

Yes, I have been always in the wrong side of the road. Everything I have got in life was not even enough, it was not right. It is not right. I think I’ve missed the chance with studying, with people, with myself.

‘How… how do I wake up then?’

Silence on the other side, my hallucination is probably thinking.

‘I cannot set any record straight, but I can value more the job, the place I am living, the people around me and every single thing that is present. Would be that… adequate?’

It will be a first step. First, appreciate your own success and as soon as you leave from here, just make peace with your cousin and appreciate his success too.

First, let me appreciate my own success: I value my life story, the incredible path that has taken me to this point in life and I kind of hug myself, in tears…

I am about to tell to my hallucination that he has been badly informed, as Michael left by lunch time the day before, when I hear his booming voice… It is like music for me, I never cried so much! I start to shout and soon the guys are all there. A team of paramedics (I think) helps me coming out of the well, and we just embrace as if it would last forever!

But I don’t move. I come close to the well and I feel others behind me, waiting. I feel respect from their side. I close my eyes and silently speak to that mysterious voice.

Thank you…

Motivate from the inside – Reason 48

Motivation has two basic streams: from outside and from inside.  There are people travelling around and giving, RIGHT NOW, a motivational lecture on how to be happy, how to enjoy your work or how to be an excellent magnificent fantastic parent.  it works for certain people, during some periods of their lives.

The outside perspective for motivation may come from the perception that humans are like holes to be filled with something. However, most of the time, the human need for motivation is far deeper than just yelling ‘Yahoo!’ or climbing on a chair and proclaiming to the world ‘How wonderful I am!’.

The inside motivation comes from realisations, deep experiences, reflection and meditation.  These practices help in developing a deep sense of understanding the world on a different level and empower the individual to take very good decisions.  Humans are like wells that never go dry, but at times there is a need to explore it deeper to find water.

A few years ago, a young employee was going through a very bad period in his life, which affected directly his work.  His boss, as young as him, called him for a meeting in a restaurant and let him talk and say whatever was in his heart.  It was a very deep and emotional meeting, without reproaches, orders or even suggestions from his boss.  Many decades later, the then young man still remembers how motivated he felt and how little his boss did, and yet, how much his leader’s attitude mattered to him.

Because of their constant inner motivation, leaders serve as a catalyst, reminding others of their own inner wonders, their powers and qualities.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

You will develop the full potential of your intelligence - Reason 22

By observation, there are three main components that compose what normally we define as intelligence: memory, synthesis and analysis.  That is, a very intelligent person will have an incredible memory, he or she will be able to gather information and give a meaning and context to it.

There is no scientific consensus on how to develop intelligence, but it is observed that mental exercise and stimulation coming from the need of the moment encourage this.  The point is you can develop intelligence, as much as you want, although for a normal person that is crushed by routine and a life without creativity.

It is not about the intelligence borne out of schooling, but that capacity we all have as humans to figure out our way in this world.

A leader will quickly gather all information needed, reflect, reach a conclusion and then act.  This encourages creativity whilst at the same time provides structure and focus so that everyone’s energy is best directed.

Over and above, a leader will be able to reach a point where solutions can be found and it will serve as lessons to learn and as a means of self-motivation.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

A failure will turn into an opportunity - Reason 18

Who likes a failure?  Very few people, if there is even one, because it is not only the moment a failure happens, but it is possible the impact stays with the person for some time, affecting life in general.

But, if you are a leader, a failure is seen as a wonderful chance to do the same in a different way, or taken as a good signal to change what you do.

Failure activates an ambiguous response from any person.  On one hand, this individual just wants to crawl under some rock and hope people will forget he or she even exists.  It is like sensing a knot in the stomach, but the person knows thata won’t stop so soon, as there are consequences to be faced too.

On the other hand, a boost of energy comes, trying to find a solution and a way out of this situation.  It is at that moment that being a leader is an advantage: by using true leadership qualities, she or he is able to calm down and to focus on the new possibilities ahead.

Failure turns into an opportunity, a moment when a leader discovers something great about the self.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Do you know where your heart is?

What really makes you get up every morning? Is it that job you hate? Or the boring school? Boring neighbors then?

As humans we need motivation all the time, so much that the most interesting thing can make you feel empty and thirsty for other experiences if you don't feel like doing it.

But it is not possible to have motivation coming from outside all the time. In fact, most of my life I felt as I was demotivated to do something by other people or situations. So, it is time to find motivation inside...

Yes, within there is something that help you to move on or keep you doing something that others feel is useless. Some people would call that your purpose in life, your mission. Other people will make reference as my guts or they will think it is their intuition. We can also call it your heart, because it is what makes you move around and feel alive.

By identifying where your heart is, that is, your inner motivation source, you will have many advantages in your life starting with enjoying every moment, no matter what is happening or what you are doing. After all, some things will give you pleasure, others attainment, some will give you a lesson and there will be situations when you will have all those at the same time.

How to do that?

• Past. Think about those things, situations or people that made you feel special, appreciated, very loved or honored. Now, reflect on your inner self; remember how did you feel or which thoughts were in your mind that time. It is quite possible they were similar even though situations were different, and if that is the case, you have found your heart!
• Present. If you wouldn't need money, what would be your job? That will give you a very important clue about your inner motivation. Try and use it in practice by being a volunteer and check your motivation behind. After being certain, just apply that in your day-to-day life.
• Future. How do you see yourself in the future? Visualize it. Check your relationships with others and your inner state (blissful? happy?). That shows you what you really want in life and it can act as a powerful motivation source too, working as a ruler against which you compare how you feel when you do what you are doing with your ideal inner mind state.

Remember one thing: when your motivation is inside you, you will enjoy everything that happens in life, no matter what it is. So it is worthwhile to find it out and to live by it.