There was a period in America’s near-history where the above phrase was, at least for a short time, part of our country’s pop cultural sayings. Taken from the acting community, this saying is meant to parody an actor’s honest struggle to get into a role when they cannot see for themselves what’s motivating their character to do the things they do. Used out of context, the phrase is a response to one’s feeling unmotivated or lazy when it comes to completing a task.
But really, there’s a lot to that question when we ask it, in sincerity, to ourselves.
What actually motivates us? Why do we do what we do, no matter what it is we’re doing? Why do we work the job we work, or why do we stay in certain relationships when they can be toxic? What’s the impelling force moves us? Do we act, or not act out of fear, or spite, or exhaustion? What, precisely, is our motivation?
When we’re able to answer those questions, and more, we’ll become people whose actions reflect their words, each movement reflecting what motivates us, each moment met with intention and meaning. We won’t take on things for egoic reasons, or out of some pathological need to volunteer. We won’t do something with ulterior motives in hopes to get what we really want later.
When our minds and bodies and spirits are moving together, as one, in the same direction, we become a force of change in the world; however, when our minds are at home on our unfinished Netflix series, and our bodies are at work performing menial tasks, how could we ever hope to unlock the key to laziness when the parts of our holistic-being aren’t even in the same location.
Today’s takeaway: When we’re feeling lazy, bring body, mind and spirit to the same place and time. In that moment, our motivation will make itself known.
Walk hand-in-hand with it out of laziness’ fog.
(See y’all tomorrow)