Why do people struggle to find meaning in what they do?
Could it be because they dedicate themselves to activities that mostly neglect their soul?
Sport, the modern stronghold of productivism?
Everything we do, from morning to night, must be filtered through the lens of productivity and performance. The few enclaves meant to provide us rest do not, in reality, escape this paradigm. Sport, which is supposed to bring comfort — a bubble protected from daily frenzy — is often the very place where this diktat reaches its peak.
Whether we are compelled to be beautiful, strong, and muscular in gyms, or fast, flexible, and destructive in combat sports halls, everything urges us toward comparison and the desire to be someone else, or better than others.
This obsession with performance reflects the infiltration, at every level of society, of a productivist and utilitarian ideology — one that demands our time and effort be devoted to constant optimization.
But what is the point of optimizing everything, if we live without being guided by deep philosophy or values?
The profane is everywhere
If past societies seemed to have more depth and soul, it was because they were driven by a certain sense of the sacred that infused all aspects of life. Of course, that sense of sacredness was sometimes manipulated by the powers of the time, but still, each individual may have felt carried by something greater than themselves.
The daily moments that once allowed the soul to express itself have largely disappeared, and the few remaining options available to us have become moments of over-optimization or hedonistic pursuit.
Modern sport does not have a holistic dimension — that is, it does not consider the soul — unlike in the East, for example, where martial arts once rested on strong philosophical, moral, and even spiritual foundations.
The disappearance of esoteric education (from the Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός, esôterikós, “from within”) has left us only with instruction concerned with the superficial and the visible, whereas what once mattered most was the invisible.
Society needs amoral — even immoral — people
If your moral level is high, you are difficult to manipulate.
If you are driven only by greed and performance ideology, you become much easier to manipulate — and replace — because this philosophy is amoral.
Why is that? Because winning is not a value in itself.
If you win at a cruel and unjust game, you too can be called cruel and unjust. Conversely, if you win in a game that prizes virtue above all, you have likely developed your own virtue.
The ideology of gain or victory has value only insofar as the rules defining winners and losers are moral in themselves.
Learn to recharge your soul, then choose an activity
If you rush into countless activities, it may be because there is a void in your life that you cannot bear.
Perhaps you feel lonely; perhaps you need to prove your worth to others by excelling at something.
While it is good to surround yourself with people, it is preferable that your search for connection come from abundance rather than scarcity — otherwise, you may end up with the wrong company.
If you can take the time to center yourself — by connecting with God, for example — you will approach activities more deeply and authentically.
If you are used to working with your soul, it will be hard to find satisfaction in activities that link you to superficial people or toxic, competition-driven environments.
When your soul is strong, you no longer need a dazzling or muscular body — you know that the essential lies elsewhere.
A nurtured soul is the secret of happiness
If people are dissatisfied or indecisive, it is mainly because they have abandoned their soul.
A recognized and respected soul is a happy one — and a happy soul needs very little in the end.
Why do sages of the Himalayas or elsewhere live with so little? The answer is simple: they have invested everything in their soul, and it gives them all they need.
If your soul is weak and you don’t realize it, you will seek consolation elsewhere — in consumerism, pride, material success, shallow friendships, or physical performance.
This spiritual void can have countless consequences without your awareness. One might even say that the entire economy of a nation partly depends on the spiritual and moral unhappiness of its people.
Choose activities that elevate your soul
While it may be difficult to completely reshape your life for spirituality, you can still make choices that gradually realign your path.
One important step is to stop engaging in activities that drain your soul — unless you have no choice (such as school or work).
To know whether your soul is respected or elevated during these moments, observe your happiness while doing them. Would you be happier or less happy if you abstained?
If not, then attend those activities consciously, and devote your time, attention, and energy to those that fill you spiritually. “Less is more” — avoid always striving to do more: “the best is the enemy of the good.”
