You’re not lazy, you just lack purpose

I remember the day I hit rock bottom. I was sitting in my car, parked outside my office, dreading going inside, thinking, “Is this all there is? Is this what my life has amounted to?” I felt like a failure, and even worse, I felt guilty, beating myself up for being lazy and unable to change my situation. I was exhausted from forcing myself to care about things that didn’t resonate with me.

Do you often feel like you’re lazy or lack motivation? Do you struggle to find the drive to pursue your goals? If so, you’re not alone. But the truth is, you’re likely not lazy at all.

The key to overcoming a perceived lack of motivation is clarifying what you want and why. Without a strong sense of purpose and clear direction, it’s easy to feel unmotivated. It’s like rowing a boat without knowing your destination, being fed up with all this nonsense rowing. You might be making progress, but at what cost? Your arms are aching, your back is sore, and with each stroke, you’re thinking, “Why am I even doing this?”

The solution is not to try harder or beat yourself up for being “lazy.” The answer is to do the inner work to discover goals that truly resonate with you. Ask yourself: What do I really want to achieve? What kind of life do I want to live? What impact do I want to have on the world? Dig deep to uncover your core values and let those guide you.

Once you gain that clarity of purpose, you’ll find motivation flows much more easily. You’re naturally inspired to take action when you have compelling reasons for doing things that align with your authentic self. The key is ensuring your goals light you up inside.

If you find yourself procrastinating or dragging your feet on something, take it as a sign to reexamine your “why.” Do you think you should want this goal or truly desire it? Get radically honest with yourself. There’s no shame in admitting a goal isn’t right for you and choosing a new direction. It’s better to pivot than to force yourself down an unfulfilling path.

Remember, you’re not doomed to a life of feeling lazy and unfulfilled. You have the power to clarify your purpose and goals. Once you do, you’ll be amazed at the motivation and energy that arise to propel you forward. So rather than labelling yourself lazy, get curious about what you really want. The clarity and conviction you find will be the antidote to apathy. Your ideal life is waiting for you to discover and start building it.

That day in the car, I made a decision. I drove to a nearby park instead of dragging myself into the office. I sat on a bench, pulled out a notebook, and started writing about my dreams, passions, and the kind of life I wanted to create. As the words flowed onto the page, I felt a shift. I realized I wasn’t lazy – I just hadn’t been honouring my true desires. That moment of clarity changed everything. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but little by little, I began realigning my life with my newly discovered sense of purpose. And you know what? The motivation followed.

You’ll find the how when you have a why that makes you come alive, trust me.