What IS this…?

[Mantis]

I must say that pollen really affects me sometimes. When the junipers release pollen I get real lethargic and unmotivated. I seem to handle the pine pollen just fine. I’m allergic to juniper.

 

[Raccoon1010]

hmm…I think that they think lack of motivation to do or acquire HAS to be depression, like…why won’t the hamster jump back on his wheel and busy himself? Maybe the hamster realized he wasn’t going anywhere important and it was just vanity!

LOL, yeah smart hamster then.

 

[Dropship]

Monks spend their lives shut away in monasteries and don't do any work in the worldly sense, but they seem happy enough, maybe we can learn something from them..

 

[Raccoon1010]

I must say that pollen really affects me sometimes. When the junipers release pollen I get real lethargic and unmotivated. I seem to handle the pine pollen just fine. I’m allergic to juniper.

My dad has problems with pollen too. I don't notice it for myself. I used to have bad allergies when I was young, but then I grew out of it. Guess I got lucky on that note.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

I have more recently been having an odd struggle. I’ve always been a pretty hard worker, but more recently, I cannot seem to rouse myself to it. I’ve chastised myself for why I’m suddenly so lazy. I can’t even cajole myself into doing some furniture to sell. I just cannot. And I love doing furniture. I really do like it. But I can’t make myself do it.

So this morning I was reading a book a friend wrote, and he said something like…having to give up all our worldly aspirations as they can only hinder us. And it struck me that what I’m chastising myself over and am so confused over is maybe Gods doing, in me.

This sort of thing has happened to me before, like…years ago I was looking for a job but couldn’t find one. I even applied at a dollar store and couldn’t find anyone, anywhere, to hire me. At a certain point I stopped and said, wait a minute, this is not natural…so I asked God what this meant, since Paul said if a man wouldn’t work he shouldn’t be fed. So I said, where is the work you will give me to do with my hands, Lord? Like, what I was struggling in, it became so apparent to me that God was preventing.

I can’t think of what else would make a hardworking person suddenly so…purposeless, unless it was Gods doing…

I can relate. It wasn’t until I was in my early forties that I read my first book. I realized I loved to write and wrote several books; convinced I’d found my calling. It was great for a while. I was so passionate about it but I begin to feel like I was hitting a wall…mentally and physically. Then I was diagnosed with MS and was so angry. I couldn’t understand “why!” when I had found something I was so passionate about. I can relate to what you shared because writing became like trekking up a steep hill where I was exhausted just thinking about it. Finally, I put it up. Still, when I think about a novel, it exhaust me. Strange thing is I can read His word and it doesn’t exhaust me. Just anytime I try to go back where I was going before. It has been years now and it has been a blessing. Point is, I truly get your questioning could it be God steering you some place new. I can’t say for sure it was Him that was the wall or the MS brain fog…all I know is that fog wasn’t there except when I pushed to be an author. It wore me out.

 

[Enoch111]

I can’t think of what else would make a hardworking person suddenly so…purposeless, unless it was Gods doing…

Since God encourages and approves hard work, this was certainly not God's doing. On the other hand, maybe you need to consider whether you should change your occupation so that you can continue to work hard at something you enjoy.

There could also be other factors -- diet, exercise, sleep, stress, weather, etc. So this is something else that needs a closer look.

 

[Lambano]

hmm…I think that they think lack of motivation to do or acquire HAS to be depression, like…why won’t the hamster jump back on his wheel and busy himself? Maybe the hamster realized he wasn’t going anywhere important and it was just vanity!

That sounds like middle-age malaise. (I've got that too, and it affects my work performance. Can I try some of your gummies? )

 

[Raccoon1010]

That sounds like middle-age malaise. (I've got that too, and it affects my work performance. Can I try some of your gummies? )

Pot can cause motivation issues. :Zzzzz:

 

[quietthinker]

I have more recently been having an odd struggle. I’ve always been a pretty hard worker, but more recently, I cannot seem to rouse myself to it. I’ve chastised myself for why I’m suddenly so lazy. I can’t even cajole myself into doing some furniture to sell. I just cannot. And I love doing furniture. I really do like it. But I can’t make myself do it.

So this morning I was reading a book a friend wrote, and he said something like…having to give up all our worldly aspirations as they can only hinder us. And it struck me that what I’m chastising myself over and am so confused over is maybe Gods doing, in me.

This sort of thing has happened to me before, like…years ago I was looking for a job but couldn’t find one. I even applied at a dollar store and couldn’t find anyone, anywhere, to hire me. At a certain point I stopped and said, wait a minute, this is not natural…so I asked God what this meant, since Paul said if a man wouldn’t work he shouldn’t be fed. So I said, where is the work you will give me to do with my hands, Lord? Like, what I was struggling in, it became so apparent to me that God was preventing.

I can’t think of what else would make a hardworking person suddenly so…purposeless, unless it was Gods doing…

I put it down to periods. It happens to me as well. Anyway, the futility of acquiring gives me enough motivation to not acquire...at least not spend my thought life working out how to get a financial advantage. I have better things to think about.....things like the wonder of being loved and the hope before me.....and how to share it meaningfully with those in my orbit.

 

[Nancy]

hmm…I think that they think lack of motivation to do or acquire HAS to be depression, like…why won’t the hamster jump back on his wheel and busy himself? Maybe the hamster realized he wasn’t going anywhere important and it was just vanity!

Well to be fair, lack of motivation is a symptom of all kinds of depression...
and yeah, the hamster is tired of going nowhere fast

 

[Nancy]

I can relate. It wasn’t until I was in my early forties that I read my first book. I realized I loved to write and wrote several books; convinced I’d found my calling. It was great for a while. I was so passionate about it but I begin to feel like I was hitting a wall…mentally and physically. Then I was diagnosed with MS and was so angry. I couldn’t understand “why!” when I had found something I was so passionate about. I can relate to what you shared because writing became like trekking up a steep hill where I was exhausted just thinking about it. Finally, I put it up. Still, when I think about a novel, it exhaust me. Strange thing is I can read His word and it doesn’t exhaust me. Just anytime I try to go back where I was going before. It has been years now and it has been a blessing. Point is, I truly get your questioning could it be God steering you some place new. I can’t say for sure it was Him that was the wall or the MS brain fog…all I know is that fog wasn’t there except when I pushed to be an author. It wore me out.

Oh wow @VictoryinJesus , I'm sorry to hear about that. I have a close friend who has MS and have seen her brain fog on numerous occasions. God bless your heart! Seems He would rather you sit at His feet and feast on His Word rather than writing books...another chooses rightly, amen!

 

[quietthinker]

Pot can cause motivation issues. :Zzzzz:

you must have aluminium pots!

 

[Wrangler]

I think we are all being tested now, to prepare us for the tribulation to come.

 

[Lambano]

Pot can cause motivation issues. :Zzzzz:

One of my summer jobs when I was in college was working for a company that made high-speed printers and copiers. While it was listed as a quality-control technician job and we were trained to take electrical measurements, what they really hired us for was counting dots on a piece of paper. You heard that right. We were given a reticle and told to examine test print-outs and measure any residual block dots or lines on blank copy, or white dots or lines on black copy. Dots and lines where they're not supposed to be were considered defects and counted against the quality-control limits. Boring as hell, but it paid $1.90/hour more than minimum wage at the time. Well, one day one of the other college hires called in sick, so one of the full-time techs who normally only did the electrical measurements had to try his hand at counting dots. After half an hour of this, Lenny announced, "I can't stand it anymore! I need a break!" He stepped outside for about 10 minutes, and when he came back, he was absolutely reeking of marijuana. But you know what? Lenny was much more efficient going through those test print-outs stoned than we college kids were sober.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

That sounds like middle-age malaise. (I've got that too, and it affects my work performance. Can I try some of your gummies? )

Had to look that one up. It’s the new way to say “midlife crisis?” If I were unhappy I might consider that. In fact, I did consider it enough to read about it for about 40 minutes. That’s not it. If I ever had one, it would have been 40 to 42 years of age, when I saw the futility of everything and went searching for something solid and true.

As to your gummy remark, yeah, you should have deleted it. A tiny piece of one of them for pain every few days is not what this is and I don’t like passive aggressive digs and “hints.” I’m okay with that judgement and I know my open honesty sets me up for it and I always determine to keep being honest despite it. I would just prefer conversation that’s upfront.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Well to be fair, lack of motivation is a symptom of all kinds of depression...
and yeah, the hamster is tired of going nowhere fast

And I’m glad some threw up that consideration. It’s just not what this is in my case. My tendency to meticulously examine and take everything apart until I understand it is in my favor here, as I can toss out depression. I’m not unhappy.

And unless depression includes thoughts of suicide, I kind of think it’s a good thing that forces us to examination of what’s going on in us and with us.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I think we are all being tested now, to prepare us for the tribulation to come.

Our trust is always being tested. Even when we don’t know it.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

I have more recently been having an odd struggle. I’ve always been a pretty hard worker, but more recently, I cannot seem to rouse myself to it. I’ve chastised myself for why I’m suddenly so lazy. I can’t even cajole myself into doing some furniture to sell. I just cannot. And I love doing furniture. I really do like it. But I can’t make myself do it.

So this morning I was reading a book a friend wrote, and he said something like…having to give up all our worldly aspirations as they can only hinder us. And it struck me that what I’m chastising myself over and am so confused over is maybe Gods doing, in me.

This sort of thing has happened to me before, like…years ago I was looking for a job but couldn’t find one. I even applied at a dollar store and couldn’t find anyone, anywhere, to hire me. At a certain point I stopped and said, wait a minute, this is not natural…so I asked God what this meant, since Paul said if a man wouldn’t work he shouldn’t be fed. So I said, where is the work you will give me to do with my hands, Lord? Like, what I was struggling in, it became so apparent to me that God was preventing.

I can’t think of what else would make a hardworking person suddenly so…purposeless, unless it was Gods doing…

My wife and I sold furniture for ten years. She liked sales, I did it for the income and made the best of it. There is a sense of serving and helping the public that is gratifying, if you are doing an honest job but at the end the day it's about the paycheck for 8 out of 10 people. What you find in sales are lots of dishonest people out for their own profits and they will say anything to get a sale. I hated that aspect of the job, salesmen fighting amongst eachother for the customer, stealing your customer when you are not there, then not receiving credit. It can get ugly. I couldn't wait to retire from that gig, my heart wasn't in it. I was a professional singer/ musician in my twenties. - that job motivated me and I felt proud and loved what I did - but it didn't last a lifetime.
But if you are over 60, you are thinking of retiring and so motivation and ambition to get up everyday for most jobs dies. If retirement is plausible at this time, do it. Many people think if they wait til 67 then they can get more - If you live that long. If you do the math, it will take you at least 8 years past 67 to catch up to the social security total payouts if you started at 62. But then of course if you lived much longer in good health, then 25 % more income would be nice. I decided for early retirement. The idea of an extra five years of work to put more in the kitty and then maybe be unable to enjoy it healthwise was not worth it for me. I am approaching 67 and have had 7 awesome years of enjoying everyday, stress-free _ doing whatever I want to do. What day is? What time? Half the time I don't know nor care.
Another reason for enjoying life while you can is after watching America being destroyed and our freedoms dissolve, and you can't see it turning around, then what are we working for? The future? What future? The only future I see is in heaven. Just my two cents.

 

[Raccoon1010]

Had to look that one up. It’s the new way to say “midlife crisis?” If I were unhappy I might consider that. In fact, I did consider it enough to read about it for about 40 minutes. That’s not it. If I ever had one, it would have been 40 to 42 years of age, when I saw the futility of everything and went searching for something solid and true.

As to your gummy remark, yeah, you should have deleted it. A tiny piece of one of them for pain every few days is not what this is and I don’t like passive aggressive digs and “hints.” I’m okay with that judgement and I know my open honesty sets me up for it and I always determine to keep being honest despite it. I would just prefer conversation that’s upfront.

Sorry for suggesting that pot can cause motivational issues. I thru it in there to promote the question as to whether that is what you're experiencing. It wasn't passive aggressive. Just lightly tossing it into the pool of thought. Not trying to make too many ripples.

 

[Nancy]

One of my summer jobs when I was in college was working for a company that made high-speed printers and copiers. While it was listed as a quality-control technician job and we were trained to take electrical measurements, what they really hired us for was counting dots on a piece of paper. You heard that right. We were given a reticle and told to examine test print-outs and measure any residual block dots or lines on blank copy, or white dots or lines on black copy. Dots and lines where they're not supposed to be were considered defects and counted against the quality-control limits. Boring as hell, but it paid $1.90/hour more than minimum wage at the time. Well, one day one of the other college hires called in sick, so one of the full-time techs who normally only did the electrical measurements had to try his hand at counting dots. After half an hour of this, Lenny announced, "I can't stand it anymore! I need a break!" He stepped outside for about 10 minutes, and when he came back, he was absolutely reeking of marijuana. But you know what? Lenny was much more efficient going through those test print-outs stoned than we college kids were sober.