Member-only story
Spiritual Energy: He Who Has A Why To Live
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)
The quantity of energy we have to spend at any given moment is a reflection of our physical capacity. Our motivation to spend what we have is largely a spiritual issue. Fundamentally, spiritual energy is a unique force for action in all dimensions of our lives. It is the most powerful source of our motivation, perseverance and direction. We define “spiritual” not in the religious sense, but rather in more simple and elemental terms: the connection to a deeply held set of values and to a purpose beyond our self interest. At the practical level, anything that ignites the human spirit serves to drive full engagement and to maximize performance in whatever mission we are on. The key muscle that fuels spiritual energy is character — the courage and conviction to live by our values, even when doing so requires personal sacrifice and hardship. Supportive spiritual muscles include passion, commitment, integrity and honesty.
Spiritual energies balancing a commitment to others with adequate some care. Put another way, the capacity to live by or deepest values depends on regularly renewing our spirit — seeking ways to rest and rejuvenate and to reconnect with the values that we find most inspiring and meaningful. When we lack sufficient spiritual energy, we must find systematic ways…
