How do we improve our personal will and passion?

I was wondering something, and figured I'd bring this topic up for the sake of the discussion itself but also since I feel it could help me and others here who are likely having similar issues.

Although I am training as a Jedi, and although I am a father who is daily getting common things done to take care of my daughter, I find myself slipping in terms of my will to make progress beyond this. I have felt a real lack of passion about my work, about the things I want, and in turn, hardly even knowing what it is I really even want. I have literally spent whole days just sitting at the computer staring off into a chat or floating through youtube, with absolutely no will to jump back into any of my projects. I know it's not a difficult project or task, but I find it very difficult to just start things.

Why is it we do this sometimes and what, to you, would be the best way of pushing yourself out of such a lack of passion or will?

Edit: You're welcome to include advice to me personally, but I actually just used my story as an example. This thread was originally meant to not be about me personally, but just about the topic of procrastination and having a lack of will and passion in general.

Try staying sober if you drink, get lots of sleep or if you can take a holiday?. I get this all the time though, when I'm doing something completely pointless (like surfing endlessly through the tube of you...) and in my head I'm going 'STOP AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE'. On the other hand, perhaps you are just doing something that you don't enjoy doing and aren't passionate about, and it's hard to be passionate about something you aren't passionate about. It's a very negative way of looking at it, but look at what will happen if you don't do that thing well and the beneficial consequences of working hard and doing well.

I don't know what kind of work you do, but would it be possible to take a brief vacation? Maybe go camping with the family or do some volunteer work. Something to give you a brief change of pace. Or maybe just take the opportunity to think about a change of venues. Maybe request a transfer to a different position, or try for a promotion to a management/leadership position.

I struggle with this too. I feel as though there are some things that I am meant to do with my life, and if I cannot do them right at this moment...well then I don't want to do anything. I have definitely experienced periods of being much happier sitting around browsing the same websites every day than doing other, more productive things.

The first step is to recognize that this is not an ideal state of existence, which it appears you already have, so that's a good start!

Once that has been achieved, you can start thinking about how to change it. Now obviously, when the problem is a lack of motivation and passion, it is hard to put change into action, because you need to drum up the motivation to change. So, a good way of getting over this hurdle (well, this is what I did anyway...) is to think of things that you have really, really enjoyed doing in the past. Go and do it. Even if you only plan to do it once, for old times sake...just go and give it a try. For example, one of my things was going and doing hammer throwing, which I used to train for years ago. For me, the nostalgia, and the reminding myself what it feels like to do something you really love, was a catalyst for bringing back my motivation to get on and do things. It felt a little like rediscovering myself - my motivated, driven, passionate self. I found myself stood in the middle of an athletics track thinking "Wow, this is what it feels like to be alive! I remember!"

And if you discover something that makes you feel like that...don't let the unmotivated part of you convince you not to go back and do it again. MAKE yourself keep doing it. And try and hold on to that feeling in the other aspects of your life, until it is there all the time.

At least...this worked for me. I hope that it might for you too.

Actually a great topic...
I don't think that there are many people out there Jedi or not that haven't reached the same plateau of life that you have reached right now.
When you work out, at some point the workout is too repetative and you plateau, the workout has to be changed inn order to continue to reap the benifits.
With a diet, the body reaches a point where celery and boiled eggs aren't working any more , but the diet has to be altered in order to again reap the benifits.
So why do we go into a tailspin when it happens to us emotionally or mentally????
Sometimes the life we lead just needs a little shakeup....:woohoo:

Seriously though... you are a devoted Jedi...YES
you are a wonderful Dad....YES
your mental gymastics needs a shake up...YES

How do you think I found this sight...one of those awsome days that didn't feel like leaving the house, and surfed the net til my eyes bled....
Worked for me :laugh:

Give yourself permission to not be gung ho all of the time...everyone need to procrastinate and veg now and again.
When you've had enough kick yourself in the butt and "git er dun". :whistle:

For a short bit of advice, I'd say...

If you aren't "active", I would incorporate that into your day. Humans are not meant to be sedentary creatures. And, if they are, there's a reason sedentary people have worse health than active people.

Get more exercise.

Of course, people will say: "get more rest". But, in my opinion, if you are already sedentary, then you are getting plenty of rest.

If you refuse to be active, then at least do something focusing instead of Youtube. Focus on the Tao, or the Force. haha. Whatever works. Meditate on it. Figure yourself out.

Through self exploration, much internal wisdom and invigoration can be found.

Oh, also... Read "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama and "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. They both deal with finding purpose and the will to keep moving forward!

I have a difficult time with this as well. In fact, sometimes I want to get lost in things to distract myself from everything else I need to do, am thinking about, or whatever is causing a lot of negative emotions. The fact of the matter is.. regardless of if I want to or not.. I know that eventually I'm just doing to have to force myself to do it. You just get up and do it and even if you cry the entire time, complain the entire time, or whatever - at least you're doing it.
And of course, that's easier said than done - by far..
But if I were to sit around and wait for motivation or for my emotions to be where I prefer them to be - I would rarely get anything done.. ever.
And there are some days I don't...

Doing yoga helps me. Not slow, Hatha yoga.. but fast yoga like power or vinyasa - something that is constantly moving and flowing so that I have no time to think about anything but what I'm doing and how my body is responding right now. Then, at least, I'm not sleeping all day!

Call it what you will, you are doing what you prefer... What you want, you just don't like it any longer and wish for a change...

When that point comes, make a change...

I do things I like, teach TKD, come here to TOTJO...

And, I dont do the things I don't enjoy, pay bills, work around the house...

Im working on it though, things that need done, should be done, are getting done.. slowly...

+++++++++
Sometimes, It appears that we are doing nothing...

While, processes are working in our brain...

We learn all of these wonderful points of view here, and have them added to every day by posts such as this one...

Some of us, like myself have lived lives with exciting moments, (like being in a bar in Tijuana, not knowing a soul while my buddy is upstairs with a prostitute, and Im worried about making it back to the U.S....)

And some of us are merely knowledgeble in the book forms...

Both forms of knowledge are valuable, however, experience is important too...

It is like we say, balance...

Not just mental, not just physical, streching and working... There is always the experience...

As I said in one of the other threads...

You cant practice controling your anger if you never get angry, or, rather never have the chance for something to tick you off...

You have to get out there and live, help people... (I gave a guy a lift to the gas station the other day, and a ride back to his car)...

These are the things a life needs...

Not just sitting in front of a computer monitor, not just working out, or doing martial arts...

It needs experience...

I go through stages of poor self motivation and lack of passion. I recently wrote in my Journal that it was joining TOTJO and going through the Initiates programme that helped me get my ass in gear.
All the reading I was doing for the Initiates programme rekindled my joy in just plainly reading for fun. This in turn helped me get more physically and mentally active by reigniting my imagination.

That isn't the sole answer though. The hard part was telling myself to get my lazy ass up and get out and start training more often. I gave myself a talking too, dis guarded any drawbacks and concentrated on the benefits.
I'm now doing a daily exercise routine, I've upped my Kickboxing training and now I'm looking into taking up Kung Fu and hoping to learn Qigong as well.

Strengthening your will is a hard thing to do, but once you find something that fires you back up or you manage to convince yourself to pull your finger out, I think you'll find passion will gradually grow.

We reflect our will in all that we do every day. There are no small deeds or any more significant than any there that we do. All must be given special care and bring us closer to where we need to be.

What you need can be found within yourself… you just have to know where to look.