A friend challenged me the other day — “I think we all know what we SHOULD be doing, we just don’t have the energy to do it.”
This stemmed from a book about genies, Shubeik Lubeik. In it, one character has depression. After getting a no-strings-attached wish he struggles to figure out what he could wish that would actually help him. You can’t wish away depression — it’s a multi-faceted thing. Wishing to be always happy turns you into a smiling zombie. And what if it’s something no wish can solve? What if the problem is you?
In the book (spoilers), the kid wishes to always be able to help himself. This then gives him the strength to take criticism, make small steps forward, and gradually pull himself out of ruts.
My friend didn’t like this wish. As he said, “We know how to help ourselves, the problem is that we don’t have the energy to do so.” He would wish for energy and motivation.
Perhaps this is implicitly included in the kid’s wish: it does seem like post-wish he both knows how to help himself and has energy for it. But I find myself relating to my friend’s assessment. Sure, I know that I need to finish revamping my website, but it’s been four days now and I’m still not finished. If I were able to focus and have motivation I’d be done it for sure. And I don’t think this is laziness — I sit at my computer staring at it for hours… and then just don’t do it. Or do it and undo it over and over again.
Maybe it’s fear that it’ll suck? Or that it’s hard? Or that it’s all meaningless?
If I had a genie I’d take my friend’s advice and make sure “energy and motivation” is in there somewhere, because it would probably change everything.