Final Chapter: What Nourishes the Roots of Vitality
//Summary - Level-B2//
The text argues that vitality is not about willpower but about a sense of fulfilment rooted in spirituality. True strength comes from feeling connected to something greater than oneself—nature, community, stories, rituals, or simple daily moments. Spirituality acts like soil nourishing a tree’s roots: invisible, yet essential for resilience. It is cultivated through quiet practices, reflection, and shared connections. By asking what transcendent ties shape our lives, we deepen our understanding of meaning and sustain the will to live. Ultimately, spirituality is a daily nourishment, guiding us through hardship and providing life direction beyond mere personal effort.
1)
Conclusion — Vitality is not willpower, but a sense of fulfilment in one's existence supported by spirituality:
Modern society is awash with phrases like 'generate motivation' and 'boost drive'. However, these are often understood as enhancing psychological energies, such as willpower or grit. In reality, the will to live is not merely a matter of willpower's strength or weakness; it is sustained by a deeper layer: a "sense of fulfilment in one's existence".
2)
This sense of fulfilment does not arrive solely in moments of achievement or success. Instead, it quietly yet surely fills us when, in daily life, we feel connected to the world and can situate ourselves within a narrative that transcends the self. This is precisely the work of spirituality.
Spirituality eases isolation and emptiness, providing a framework for enduring hardship.
It is not the "fuel" to stoke the will, but the very soil in which the will takes root. The deeper the roots, the more resilient one becomes against headwinds.
3)
Ultimately, what we need is not "ways to try harder" but to reclaim the soil of life that nurtures spirituality. This is built through the accumulation of practices: time set aside for stillness, connection with nature, self-transcendence through stories and rituals, and sharing within the community.
The vitality to live is not something forced out by sheer willpower alone.
It is the very sense of fulfilment that naturally wells up when one lives feeling a deep connection with the world.
4)
Spirituality is invisible, yet indispensable as the soil nourishing life's roots:
Spirituality belongs to a realm beyond form or measurement. It rarely manifests as visible indicators, such as economic wealth or health check figures. Yet, I believe it is like soil to a tree: seldom consciously perceived, yet its quality fundamentally shapes the very nature of life.
5)
If the soil is rich, a tree can sink deep roots and withstand seasonal storms and droughts. Similarly, if the soil of spirituality is well-nourished, a person can draw strength from an unseen water source to sustain them when facing hardship or loss. Conversely, if this soil becomes depleted, even if one appears outwardly robust, vitality gradually ebbs away from within.
6)
This soil is not acquired by chance. Daily practices—time spent in quietude, contact with nature, self-transcendence through stories and rituals, sharing with others—gradually enhance their quality. There is no instant effect, yet once cultivated, this spiritual soil sustains life's roots over the long term.
Ultimately, spirituality is invisible, yet without it, one cannot put down deep roots. To sustain the will to live, the most vital task is to cultivate and continually nourish this unseen soil.
7)
A small question for the reader:
What constitutes a "connection that transcends oneself" for you?
All people confront daily challenges and desires in their lives. Yet, deep within the heart lies a latent sense of seeking a connection to something greater that transcends these.
This may be a religious faith, a relationship with nature, art, family, community, or even an unseen future generation.
8)
I believe that discovering this 'connection that transcends oneself' is the work that gives life direction and depth. When one begins to see what one's life is connected to and where it is heading, difficulties cease to be mere obstacles and instead start to take on meaning as part of the story.
That is precisely why I ask you to pose the following question to yourself quietly.
9)
What is your 'connection that transcends oneself'?
With whom, with what, and how are you connected?
10)
The answer to this question varies immensely from person to person and shifts throughout life. Yet, the very act of continuing this exploration deepens the spiritual watercourse and nourishes the roots of life.
Ultimately, revisiting this 'connection that transcends oneself' is the most fundamental act for restoring and sustaining the will to live.
11)
Where does it sprout in daily life?:
'Connections that transcend the self' do not reside solely in special rituals or extraordinary experiences. Instead, they often sprout quietly in the most ordinary moments of daily life.
12)
The light streams in when you open the window in the morning.
The laughter of a child passing by.
The soothing sensation when you hold a steaming cup of tea.
A letter from a friend you haven't seen in a long time.
13)
These may seem like insignificant events at first glance. Yet, in those moments, a sudden sense that 'I am not alone' or a conviction that 'the world is still beautiful' can light up within us. That is precisely the sprouting of spirituality.
Naturally, sprouts cannot grow if they go unnoticed. When our minds are consumed by busyness or anxiety, these minor signs are easily overlooked. That is precisely why we need the habit of consciously pausing in our daily lives, feeling the world with our eyes, ears, and skin.
Ultimately, the 'connection that transcends ourselves' is not something to be sought far away; it is already buried as a seed within the soil of our everyday lives. Recognising that sprouting, watering it, and nurturing it is the surest way to cultivate the will to live.
14)
Afterword:
This book has traced a path that begins with the question, 'Why do we lose the will to live?' and explores the deeper, underlying cause of lost spirituality.
By conceiving spirituality not merely as religious belief, but as 'the fundamental human sensitivity to feel connected to something beyond oneself', we might shed new light on the isolation and emptiness of modern society. This conviction underlies the entire work.
15)
Now, while spirituality is invisible, its absence causes the roots of life to wither, making one more prone to losing support in adversity. Conversely, when spirituality is nurtured through practices such as stillness, nature, storytelling, ritual, and community, the will to live persists quietly, without needing to rely solely on willpower or grit.
The concept of "spiritual infrastructure" discussed in this book aims to broaden our perspective to encompass both the individual's inner world and societal institutions. We believe that integrating spirituality into public domains, such as education, welfare, healthcare, and environmental policy, is essential for safeguarding human dignity and building a sustainable society.
16)
Finally, a small request to the reader.
What constitutes a "connection that transcends the self" for you?
Where in your daily life does it sprout?
With these two questions in mind, I invite you to reflect on your life today once more.
The modest connections you discover there will, in time, become the sure watercourse nourishing the roots of your life.
17)
Ultimately, this book is offered not to impose a single conclusion, but as a light to help you discover your own spiritual watercourse.
I sincerely hope this light adds a little warmth to your journey ahead.
Final Chapter: What Nourishes the Roots of Vitality
