This is beginning to sound like vitalism, the idea that there is a 'spark of life', or elan vital, which is crucial to living things. It was popular during the 19th century, and even figures such as Pasteur supported it, but it began to run out of steam, as scientists could find no evidence for it. It also began to be mocked, as notion such as 'aquosity' were suggested to explain fluids, and 'elan locomotif', to explain motion.
You can still find it in New Age treatments and philosophies, which recommend toning up the vital spark by paying loads of dosh, while somebody waves their hands over you, plus VAT.