Inner Drives: The Key to a Fulfilling Life

Man is inherently predisposed to survival and the continuation of the species—this is the fundamental motive embedded in the very nature of our soul. It is the inner faculty responsible for self-preservation that drives us to seek security and well-being. In this context, one cannot overlook the importance of setting personal goals. Each of us experiences a deep desire to bring to life ideas and tasks that reflect our individuality and inner world. Thus, the process of setting goals becomes a powerful engine that propels us toward new achievements and self-realization, regardless of external circumstances. Our need to feel significant is another undeniable factor that pushes us toward constant growth and development. This inner desire to recognize our own worth helps us avoid complacency and strive for new heights, filling life with meaning and energy. Even though many motives remain hidden in the depths of the subconscious, they are the ones that guide our actions, directing us on the path to satisfaction and happiness. The result is a harmony in which the basic instinct for survival, the drive to achieve goals, and the desire to feel significant merge into an inseparable whole, serving as the main engine in our quest for a full and happy life.

What inner motives prompt a person to strive for a happy and secure life?

The inner motives that drive a person to pursue a happy and secure life can be examined from several perspectives related to the fundamental nature of the human soul and consciousness. First and foremost, a person is guided by the deep instinct for self-preservation and the continuation of the species. As noted in one of the sources, “The fact of universal natural striving for self-preservation and the continuation of the species” (source: 680_3397.txt) emphasizes that this inner desire is fundamental to every individual.

In addition, the internal act of setting a goal plays an important role—specifically, the desire to realize a particular idea or task that holds deep personal meaning for the individual. One text states, “The idea of a goal is an internal, subjective act, which, through a purposeful process, is embodied in reality; the latter, in this sense, is to it what form is to content or external expression is to the intended meaning” (source: 281_1403.txt). This suggests that the very process of forming a goal, as an act of self-awareness, becomes a powerful internal driving force for achieving the desired well-being.

Furthermore, there is the significant aspect of the desire to feel one’s importance and to realize one’s individuality. At one level, the human desire to acknowledge one’s own significance is seen not only as a demand of the spirit and self-awareness but also as a potent inner stimulus: “The level of spirit and self-awareness includes the desire to recognize one's own significance” (source: 604_3015.txt). This inner drive continuously motivates a person to engage in self-development, improvement, and the search for inner satisfaction—even when external circumstances might temporarily meet material needs.

Finally, it should be noted that inner motives often manifest not entirely consciously, yet they form an integral part of the human psyche and shape the direction of actions in the pursuit of happiness. As one source states, “The inner world is just as strongly bound in all its parts by the law of causality… Internal reasons, in the form of motives… they are always present, for there is no action without a reason” (source: 1290_6447.txt). This underscores that even if a person is not always aware of what exactly drives them, inner motives continuously guide the search for feelings of satisfaction, happiness, and security.

Thus, the combination of internal drivers—including the basic instinct for self-preservation and the continuation of the species, the internal urge to set and achieve personal goals, and the need to feel significant and realize one’s potential—forms the basis of the desire to pursue a happy and well-established life.

Supporting citation(s):
“The fact of universal natural striving for self-preservation and the continuation of the species.” (source: 680_3397.txt)

“The idea of a goal is an internal, subjective act, which, through a purposeful process, is embodied in reality; the latter, in this sense, is to it what form is to content or external expression is to the intended meaning.” (source: 281_1403.txt)

“The level of spirit and self-awareness includes the desire to recognize one's own significance.” (source: 604_3015.txt)

“The inner world is just as strongly bound in all its parts by the law of causality… Internal reasons, in the form of motives… they are always present, for there is no action without a reason.” (source: 1290_6447.txt)