I have trouble trying to get my mom to understand why I do things and what I want to accomplish.

In many areas, she doesn't understand why people should do something unless other people see the accomplishment. She just doesn't get why people should do something unless it gets them something, like a raise.

For example, she thinks that me trying to get a defined stomach, is a waste of effort becuase I don't go around shirtless and no one will see it. She doesn't get that its one of my goals for my self and that it matters to me becuase whether it is seen or not, I know of the accomplishment and work. I would be proud of the accomplishment, becuase I know that I would have a six pack and be able to enjoy the fact I did something most people don't manage.

I could say much the same about other subjects, like lucid dreaming. She doesn't understand how someone could enjoy something that wouldn't get them anything physical, like a raise. She doesn't get that I lucid just for the experience, she doesn't get that the enjoyment of the ride is what I get out of it. She says that if she flys in a dream, that she will wake up earth bound and unhappy, therefor the dream was meaningless.

How can I explain these things to my mom? That people don't need to have others see an accomplishment for it to mean something and how can I explain to her that people don't always need to get some physical thing like money or a possession, or for it to be worth while, for someone to enjoy something?