You never know what motivates you.

The words of Cicely Tyson, “You never know what motivates you,” strike with the quiet strength of lived truth. They remind us that the fires that move us are often hidden, waiting to be revealed in unexpected moments. A glance, a hardship, a memory, or even a wound may awaken in us a force greater than we imagined. We believe we know ourselves, but it is only when life tests us, when the world presses against our spirit, that we discover the mysterious sparks that drive us forward.

For motivation is not always born from triumph or reward. Sometimes it rises from pain, from injustice, from the desire to prove wrong those who doubted us. Other times it emerges from love, from duty, or from the longing to leave behind a legacy. We may plan our paths with logic and reason, but when the heart is struck by some unseen power, a hidden strength awakens. Tyson, who endured struggles and blazed trails as a Black woman in a world that sought to silence her, knew that what propels a soul forward cannot always be predicted.

Consider her own story: Cicely Tyson refused to accept roles that demeaned or diminished the dignity of her people. Though this meant long years without work, her choice was unwavering. What motivated her? Perhaps it was her mother’s lessons, perhaps the sting of injustice, perhaps the vision of a better tomorrow. Perhaps even she did not fully know. But the fire within her carved a path that made her not merely an actress, but a beacon of strength, inspiring generations to rise with dignity and courage.

History too gives us examples of this hidden power. Think of Harriet Tubman, who could have remained in the freedom she found after escaping slavery. Yet something unknown, something fierce and unyielding, motivated her to return again and again, leading others to freedom along the dangerous paths of the Underground Railroad. Was it love? Was it rage? Was it the voice of God? She herself could not have named it fully, but the strength of that hidden fire changed the fate of countless lives. Indeed, as Tyson said, we never fully know what motivates us.

This is the mystery and beauty of the human spirit. We are greater than we understand, and within us lie forces that remain dormant until the right trial awakens them. Do not despise your struggles, for they may reveal the source of your courage. Do not fear your tears, for they may water the soil of your strength. Do not question why the smallest memory or word stirs you to action, for in that stirring lies the truth of your purpose.

The lesson is clear: embrace the unknown sources of your drive. Do not wait until you can explain them, for explanation is not required for greatness. What matters is that you honor the fire when it appears, that you follow it when it burns within you. The unknown may be the very voice of destiny, urging you toward the path only you can walk.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: when you feel that sudden stirring of the heart, when a cause grips you, when a challenge awakens your soul—do not hesitate. Do not question too long why it calls you. Simply follow. For though you may never know what motivates you, that hidden force is the hand of fate, and if you trust it, it will lead you toward the fullness of who you were meant to be.

If you would act upon this teaching, begin by noticing what moves you most deeply. Write it down. Reflect upon the moments when you felt most alive, most determined, most unyielding. You may not know the full reason why, but you will recognize the power of those moments. Let them guide your steps. For in honoring what motivates you, known or unknown, you will discover the true strength of your spirit.