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TLDR: ask yourself "why don't I want to do this?" Pay attention to the feeling, be honest, and try to address the problem it points at. In my personal experience, negative emotions are strong indicators that should not be ignored, overridden by external motivation, or powered through with discipline. Emotions seem to be like mental shorthand for different kinds of problems, or like flashing signals from the subconscious trying to get my attention. If I interrogate that feeling, I have a chance to address the root of the problem. Or I discover that I'm never going to solve the problem, so I need to find a way to accept it. The reasons for being stuck, feeling unmotivated, or whatever, usually boil down to a few simple problems. I don't know what to do next, I don't know how to get started, I don't want to do this thing I have to do, I don't think I should be doing this at all, I don't think I can do this well... blah blah blah. All of those problems translate into the same kind of emotional malaise, but there are different strategies for addressing each. The strategies aren't very complicated, but I first have to acknowledge the feeling and try to understand it. (Note - as an ADHD-enhanced person, this experience may only be relatable to others with the same gift. Maybe neurotypicals have magical executive function juice that lets them power through anything, but then... why are they reading this article?) |