What a 94-Year-Old in Portugal Taught Me About Living — Not Just Achieving
I went to Portugal to rest.
But I ended up unlearning everything I thought I knew about success.
As someone who’s spent years striving, building, and checking all the boxes — it took leaving the country to finally realize how much I’d been equating doing with living.
And I’m not the only one. In the U.S., we tend to live to work. But in Europe, they work to live. That difference in mindset? It’s more than just cultural — it’s biological. I felt it in my nervous system the moment I landed.
The Invisible Pressure to Achieve
Even in the peaceful streets of Lisbon and the rolling hills of Porto, I noticed something within me I couldn’t ignore: guilt. If I wasn’t doing something “productive,” I felt off. Like I was wasting time.
That voice in my head — the one that says, “You should be getting something done right now” — wasn’t mine. It was years of programming from hustle culture. My nervous system had been trained to believe rest was a threat. That if I slowed down, I’d fall behind.
Sound familiar?
A Moment in the Douro Valley That Changed Me
One afternoon, I joined a wine tasting tour in the Douro Valley — Portugal’s famous wine region outside of Porto. That’s where I met Sylvianna, a 94-year-old woman from Morocco.
She had the sharpest mind, the brightest energy, and a calming presence that filled the room.
I asked her a simple question:
“What’s your secret to living a long, joyful life?”
She paused, smiled, and said:
“I love people. I love animals. I love nature. And when someone is unpleasant to me, I don’t blame them. Something must have happened to them. So I smile. And if they don’t smile back… it’s no problem.”
I’ll never forget that moment. It cracked something open in me.
The Real Definition of Success
Sylvianna wasn’t measuring her life by productivity or accolades. Her joy came from presence, compassion, and simplicity.
And it made me reflect:
How many of us are delaying happiness until we hit a milestone… only to feel empty when we get there?
How often do we feel guilty for slowing down, as if rest must be earned?
The truth is:
You don’t have to chase success to deserve a meaningful life.
You don’t have to sacrifice your peace to be productive.
You don’t have to hustle to prove your worth.
What Portugal Reminded Me
Portugal didn’t just give me a break — it gave me perspective.
I realized that my value doesn’t come from how much I produce. It comes from how deeply I live. From how present I am. From how aligned I feel — with my purpose, my energy, and my peace.
This is the very reason I created the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ — to help ambitious professionals break free from burnout, hustle culture, and the pressure to perform… without sacrificing their success.
Because the life you want?
The one that feels as good as it looks?
It doesn’t require you to do more.
It asks you to be more — more present, more grounded, more alive.
Ready to Redefine Success for Yourself?
I believe you deserve a life filled with meaning, energy, and peace — without burning out.
Here are two free ways to get started:
✅ Download a free chapter of my book Success Starts Within — a mindset guide for high-achievers who are ready to feel fulfilled, not just busy: Click Here.
✅ Book a free discovery call to explore how the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ can help you break free from burnout and create a life that finally feels like yours: Click Here.
You don’t have to earn your rest.
You don’t have to chase your worth.
You just have to be ready to reclaim what matters most.
With you,
Chazz
Chazz Scott | Leadership & Mindset Coach | Founder, Supra Mentem Consulting
Creator of the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ – Helping ambitious professionals break free from burnout and build a life that feels as good as it looks.
