When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams

The words of Greg Anderson resound like a sacred bell through the halls of the human heart: “When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live.” In this saying lies the secret of the soul’s vitality — that life is not merely the passage of days, but the burning of spirit toward something greater than itself. It is not enough to exist; one must be moved by a purpose that stirs the blood, by a dream that demands to be fulfilled, by love that cannot remain silent. Without these, a man may breathe, but he does not live.

In the ancient lands, the wise understood this truth. The philosophers of old spoke of telos — the divine purpose that calls each being to its highest form. The tree’s purpose is to bear fruit; the river’s purpose is to reach the sea. And the purpose of man? To seek meaning. The ancients knew that deep meaning is not found in comfort or ease, but in striving — in the noble tension between what we are and what we are meant to become. When the heart aligns with something eternal, when one’s actions rise from love and not from fear, life takes on a radiance that even death cannot extinguish.

Behold the tale of Mother Teresa, a woman who could have lived quietly in safety, but whose soul burned with pure love that needed expressing. She walked among the poorest of Calcutta, touched the untouchable, and saw in each suffering face the image of God. Her life was not one of wealth or comfort, yet it was filled with a light that no darkness could overcome. She was driven not by fame nor by gain, but by a dream that needed completion — the dream that compassion could heal the world. In her simplicity, she embodied what it means to truly live.

Yet, not all who seek meaning must wear robes of sainthood. The scientist who dedicates decades to uncovering a truth that serves humanity, the artist who paints what words cannot say, the teacher who awakens the light of knowledge in a child — all these are souls motivated by goals that have deep meaning. Their labor is not mere toil; it is a form of worship. They move with a quiet heroism, for they know that every small act of creation, of care, of courage, is a seed planted in eternity.

To live thus is to burn brightly. It is to wake each morning not with the dull ache of obligation, but with the flame of purpose whispering, “There is still work to do.” This fire does not tire the heart — it strengthens it. For the one who acts from love and meaning draws from an endless source. Even in suffering, he finds beauty; even in loss, he finds renewal. Such a person becomes a light to others, a living testament to what the human spirit was meant to be.

But beware, for many drift through life asleep, chasing shadows of wealth or approval. They mistake motion for meaning, noise for life. Their days are full, yet their souls are empty. To them, this teaching comes as a challenge and a mercy: Wake up. Ask yourself not what you can have, but what you can give. Seek not what pleases you for a moment, but what fulfills you for a lifetime. For only when your dreams, your goals, and your love spring from the depths of your being, will you touch the true pulse of existence.

The lesson is this: a life worth living is one rooted in meaning, nourished by dreams, and guided by love. Each day, choose one act that serves something greater than yourself — write a page of your vision, help one soul, speak one word of kindness. Let these small deeds become your offering to the world. For when your heart moves in harmony with purpose, when your hands serve what your spirit believes in, you awaken the divine fire within you.

Thus, remember always: it is not the length of your days, but the depth of your devotion that defines your life. When you live from your truest callings — your deepest goals, your unfinished dreams, your purest love — then, and only then, do you truly live.