Imagine – you step off a plane in February, still carrying the grayness of Riga in your pockets, and suddenly someone has switched the seasons. The sun is shining in your eyes, the air smells of salt and flowers, and a volcano stands in the background, as if it were the scenery for some overly ambitious show. Welcome to Tenerife.
Of course, everything didn’t start so smoothly… It was night, my phone was dead and the necessary buses to my place of stay were no longer running. There were “chill” guards roaming around the bus station, who didn’t really care whether the transport I was interested in was still running or whether a 40-minute ride could turn into a 3-hour walk. Slowly charging my phone at a questionable-looking contact and glancing at the bus stop with the other eye, I decided to get on any transport that would take me towards the city.
And now imagine something else – you have come for courses on motivation and personal growth. In February, when motivation in Latvia is usually under a snowdrift and looks like a frozen flower patch. With the fatigue of the road and the stress of accommodation in your pocket. That’s exactly how I felt.
In February 2026, the Erasmus+ professional development course “Motivation and Personal Development” took place in Tenerife. Seven participants took part in it over five days – two from Finland, four from Germany and me from Latvia. A small European model with diverse voices, experiences, and internal dramas. And when the German colleague calmly talks about his professional doubts, and the Finnish participant admits that she is afraid to make decisions, you understand – motivation is alive, fragile and personal.
On death, yoga and uncomfortable questions
On the first day, no one told us to run over coals or shout affirmations into an ocean. We started with a question: Do you talk about death?
Calmly. With coffee and an introduction circle.
Turns out that talking about uncomfortable topics is one way to build self-confidence. Not in the dramatic “everything is bad” way, but with honesty. If you can look your vulnerability, your fear, your finitude in the eye – you become more stable. Strange, but liberating.
Human beings, not human doings
At one point, a phrase was uttered that literally sank into my spine: We are human beings, not human doings. We are not human because we are constantly doing. We are human because we simply are.
As someone who works, organizes, plans, teaches, creates, and tries to be a good parent at the same time, this was almost like a small short circuit in the system. If I don’t do it, who am I then? While networking with participants from other countries, it was not easy to define myself as myself, not as an employee or a family person. What interests me, what is important, what makes me move forward, and what gets in the way.
And here comes the interesting part – motivation is not about squeezing another 20% out of yourself. It’s about understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing. We talked a lot about values in the course. Not the beautiful wording on the organization’s website, but real, living values. If only management knows them, but the team doesn’t feel them, then it’s like a decorative fireplace without fire.
Motivation is like a spider’s web – if you break one thread (belonging, respect, growth opportunities, security), everything starts to vibrate.
Yoga mat and the five senses
There were also moments outside the auditorium. Yoga, meditation, working with the five senses.
Sitting with my eyes closed, trying to be “here and now,” I discovered that my inner sight is the most unruly. The moment I shut my eyes, a slideshow starts in my mind—next week’s plans and perhaps even a new project. In contrast, sound and taste draw me into a far deeper presence.
Mindfulness is not an esoteric hobby. It is a skill. And if we teach students to train their minds, why don’t we do it ourselves?
About small victories
Another thing that really struck me is how rarely we celebrate the small victories.
Hand in the project. Off to the next.
Run an event. On to the next.
Finish the article. Open a new document.
But if we never stop and tell ourselves, “Yes, this was enough, this was good,” motivation turns into an endless treadmill.
Maybe a coffee break on the terrace is enough. Or a minute of silence. Or maybe a simple “I did it”.
Decisions – emotions or values?
We also discussed about making a decision. Do we rely on emotions? Or values? In ideal world – values. Because when the goal is clear, our choices naturally become less chaotic.
For me personally, this journey was like a small inner inventory. What do I want? Where am I headed? What really matters to me – not beautifully written, but authentic?
The clearer your personal goals are, the more stable your professional foundation becomes.
Point of insight
Of course, it also helps that after class you can walk down to the ocean and watch the sun disappear into the water, as if it were a daily show put on just for you. Yet even without palm trees and a volcano, this course would still be meaningful.
It reminded that:
- motivation starts with relationships – with yourself and with others;
- trust grows from honest conversations, even about uncomfortable topics.;
- burnout isn’t heroism;
- and celebration is not a whim, but a necessity.
If someone asked me who would I recommend this course to, I would say – to anyone who leads the others. As well as those who lead themselves.
Because sometimes, to move forward, you don’t have to run faster. You just have to stop. Breathe in. And remind yourself that you’re a human – not a task machine.
And if you manage to understand this in February, in the sunlight of Tenerife—it’s even better.
Erasmus+ participant: Māra Viška
