What do you do when you have no passion or drive?
249 Answers
Last Updated: 08/25/2022 at 7:22pm
Moderated by
Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.
Top Rated Answers
It's said that you can put the cart in front of the wheels. Basically, you just keep your head down, elbows up, just do it, do something. Small but positive feedback from your action might help provide the "drive". Another way would be to do things you truely enjoy and good at.
I watch videos. I watch videos of really famous people or people who are good at the things I want to be good at.
Anonymous
December 6th, 2017 3:21am
We don't need a 'passion' or 'drive' to work our way through anything. What if we were brought up with lies? All along? I think if we can be grateful for what life has brought. The suffering for shaping who we are and pain for allowing us to 'feel' things and the good times for building memories; is there really a 'need' for adrenaline to work through?
We can sure be lazy and allow us to be that. Isn't it time we got away from the ideas that the world keep shaping us into?
We can be real rather than be someone else's idea of 'perfect'.
I often lack drive, despite my strong work ethic. When I do, I first check myself; am I physically OK? All the parts are working? OK then, get something done, anything. Do dishes or laundry, sweep the floor, anything to get myself moving. Then I congratulate myself on getting something done.
The problem with passion and drive is that they are fickle and fleeting. They come sporadically and often you will have long lapses in them. The key isn't waiting for those things, but getting up and doing things anyway. I'm a musician so passion and drive are important in writing, but more important is consistent work. Take time 15-30 mins a day, everyday, to do the task you are lacking the passion for. You'll find that it will just become habit rather than something you need that kind of passion or drive to have to be motivated to do!!
I say say do some hard thinking of what matters to you in life. What are your dreams, hobbies, wishes. Find that passion to again move forward in your daily life. Good luck!
Just consider what I have in my hand. And enjoy it in the moment. I think it is not a bad thing that you have a free-spare time, those times are actually a gift to recognize what you have.
Sometimes we go through phases where we lose passion for everything. But getting back up and finding that passion can be easier than you think. Searching for things you enjoy or even doing things you may have enjoyed in the past can be a good place to start. But also remember that sometimes things happen naturally and one day you may realise that you’re drive and motivation has come back naturally.
You go out and learn something new. Go learn a new language online. Go out and get a puppy that you adore. Go learn how to skateboard. Go on YouTube, look up Binging With Babish, and cook along with him. Go to a lake/pond/river/whatever and learn how to skip rocks. Go outside and look for a broken branch that is disconnected from a tree. Bring that branch home and learn how to carve. Get some paper and make cute little origami frogs. Put some Bob Ross on, get some paint you have lying around, and just paint along with him. What I'm trying to say, is find something new. You don't have to do something big. Find something that will keep you going. You'll find it. I'm sure of it.
I put my camera on and i record until words starts coming out of my mouth- no matter how long it'll take, no matter how i look.
Find another!
There's always a reason to live and fight.
Something will calm you down, something will interest you and intrigue
Something will just look beautiful and you would like to learn how to do it.
Life can be tough, but there's blessings too.
We are stuck in our shells, but crack 'em. In pours a rainbow!
For me as a dancer, rejection and lack of passion are regular occurrences. I have found it hard to keep going, have wanted to give up on life but have found ways of dealing with it. I make a list of all the good things I have in my life, think about if I could live without it in my life and then take it one step at a time. A little step back can help you pick up your ambition again.
Anonymous
September 18th, 2016 5:16am
You could talk to your doctor or friends and family about this you could start exercising or change your eating habits
Try doing new things, gaining new hobbies and finding and meeting new people and becoming friends with them. Trying new things wont only help you overcome your problem, but it will also reveal your talents and maybe even lead you to success. Believing in yourself would be the first step♡
Anonymous
October 20th, 2016 2:57am
Sometimes feeling like you have no passion or drive can be an indication of burn out. When I'm feeling like this, I like to relax and take some time for myself. Once my head is clear, I can try to approach the situation again.
I force myself to get out of bed and make a goal to do one thing that I have been meaning to do. If nothing else gets done but that one thing I will be happy because I accomplished my goal.
I think about what I want in life, and what I want to become. And remember that this lack of passion is not forever.
I sit and think about my life and ask myself "What on earth am I here for?". I also think about my family who has been waiting their whole life seeing me grow up and give me guidance and support.
It can be feel hard to lose passion and drive but if i do i try to see people who love me the most as much as i can, and this helps me a lot to stay on track. Surrounding yourself by good people who love and care about you is a good way to get through a stressful time and they can help you take your mind off things. Sometimes just taking a minute to yourself can also help, listening to some music and shutting off from the world for however long you need can also help to reset your mind, and remember nothing is permanent.
At times when I find myself lacking in passion; I try listening to motivational or powerful literary works. As I am listening to I will write down or type out lines that "speak" to me.
For example a long time ago I couldn't find the motivation to do anything as I felt I wasn't being true to myself. I reached this conclusion while writing down the entirety of "Man in the Glass" by Dale Wimbrow. After coming to terms with this realization I was able to formulate a plan to cope with the lack of sense of self I was experiencing which; Thereby beginning to rekindle that inner spark of passion and drive I had been lacking.
You keep looking until you find one! Often when people believe that they have nothing they live for, it is because their taste and interest are niche enough that they have not yet encountered anything that would spark their interest. Perhaps what would excite you is so incredibly unorthodox that you'll have to dig a while to find it. Or perhaps it is simply because you might have developed baseless expectations and your past interests simply didn't live up to them. Reevaluate your beliefs and keep looking for interesting things, dig around, try a little of everything. And if none of that works, make looking for drive your passion.
Believe me, everyone has a passion! You may have not found it yet... keep looking!!! Try everything: arts, sports, writing, taking some classes... until you find something you love! Just remember: Always keep trying. I didn't have a passion either until e.g. I found volunteering and online volunteering, I love helping people, I am sure you love doing something too. Don't worry a lot, the time will come and you will notice when it is here.
Try to remember happy, exciting memories. Sometimes recalling your old emotions can invigorate your current emotional state into good or bad, whatever you choose.
Choose passion by remembering a time when you were actively passionate. Sometimes it is possible to channel your past emotions from positive memories. They could be favorite, energetic people you remember. They could also be an experience you have gone through and had success as an outcome. They can also be the good feelings you get from reading a good book or watching your favorite tv show/movie.
I wish you all the best of luck in life and hope that you all find your peace and balance in this life.
if you feel you have no passion or drive it may be time to reach out to friends and family and they may join you in the conversation about how they relate and what to do. seeking professiolnal help like a Therapist may be in order to help get you back on track and you may remember what it felt like when you had passion, it probably felt great so you took on more challenges but somehow it went away like you hit a wall. it may be harder to do the things you were doing before. you need to push past what stands in front of you and ask for help from friends and family
I listen to music that literally relates to my life or what I'm going through at the moment. I find music to be almost euphoric it can make you feel something you might never have experienced before. Not everybody can talk to someone about their problems and when you listen to music it feels almost like the artist is speaking to you directly. And that they understand you better that you understand yourself. The artist that drives me and inspires me is Jahseh onfroy. He spoke about real world problems. And how to deal with hate and depression he was a really great person.
When I have no passion or drive, the best medicine I have found is to put something on my calendar that I can look forward to in the future. Something even better is to schedule an appointment for therapy. When I have something on my calendar that I look forward to, it helps me feel some hope and some excitement for what is to come. For example, currently, in April I have a larping event I am sO excited to go to, and at the end of February I have another therapy appointment and I get to see my test results! I am very eager for these two things and knowing they are coming up makes me feel a lot better.
Usually I stop and think about what I have enjoyed earlier. Or I make it exciting by trying something new. Like learning a different language or starting a new music instrument. Usually the hardest step for me is actually getting started; however, once motivated the drive usually comes. The feeling of being wanted or needed is a good one, and it starts with our own initiative. Do you have hobbies you enjoy, or ones perhaps you would like to try? Perhaps going for a small walk with a friend.
Anonymous
May 20th, 2020 6:15am
I ususally find something that I love to do. I go read a book that I loved or I play guitar. I may draw or write poetry, depending on the time I have. People often feel no motivation or passion, and it's a completely normal thing. The best way for me to get through it is do something that I love or talk to friends about it. Confiding in somebody when things go badly is a really comforting thing to do. I'll even go on 7 Cups and talk to some people about what's happening, or I'll talk to the people that I'm friends with on here. :)
Anonymous
April 24th, 2020 10:27pm
I like to think about possible explanations for my lack of motivation. Then, once I can generate a list of reasons, I like to tackle them one by one, little by little. This helps give continual feelings of satisfaction and encourages motivation. Attainable goals is key for boosting motivation, since it can become almost addicting when each one is achieved. It also helps to have a concrete representation of what's holding you back, so then you can physically destroy it and move on from it. It's not only an emotional release this way, but becomes manageable and visible.
Try something new, an activity that you have some interest in. Sometimes a change can help revive passions or gain motivation that can be channelled into different areas. Start small, but it is helpful to develop habits, no matter how small, whether it be writing a journal, exercise, meditation or anything else. Also, what helps me is getting a clear workplace or area - this can be doing a declutter or just cleaning your area to clear your mindset, which gives me more passion and motivation. It is good that you want to get out of this rut, it is just important to make that first leap and then make habits out of that.
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