When Motivation Fades: The Power of Letting Go Before Moving Forward

It's common to lose motivation when progress is slow. We want things to happen quickly and to see results fast, and when nothing seems to be changing, we’re tempted to walk away from the effort, dodge our responsibilities, pull the blanket over our heads, and forget the world.

There are many times when stepping back and doing nothing can actually be good for us. We don’t always need to bounce back immediately after a fall. Sometimes we need to sit with the fall so that we can eventually rise from it.

We’re often told to "think positively" to lift our mood, but this is not always realistic. There are situations where a person is too deep in the difficulty to simply shift into a positive mindset. At times, the real relief comes not from trying to change the situation, but from letting go of the constant effort to control it.

The constant drive to change and fix things can sometimes lead to further frustration and despair when things don’t improve.

How Can We Let Go of That Pressure?

No person wants to be in a tough emotional place, and our instinct is to get out of it as quickly as possible. And yet, change doesn't happen instantly. We can start by practicing how to release control in small ways.

For example, if you missed the bus and ended up late for an important meeting, you have a few options. You can try to reframe the situation, tell yourself it’s not such a big deal, and think positively. Or, you can allow yourself to feel disappointed and give yourself space to feel the frustration.

Once you’ve allowed yourself to fully experience that emotion, it often becomes easier to move through it and move on.

Frustration Is Natural

No person wants to feel disappointment or frustration. But when it happens, we have different ways of reacting- and all of them can be valid.

The idea isn’t to deny your emotions or to force yourself out of them, but to recognize that being stuck for a while is part of the process.
Sometimes, it’s the act of acceptance that frees us.

Ariel Goldstein is an emotional therapist with the "Nafshi B’she’alati" department.

Struggling with depression, anxiety, and low mental states? Contact the "Nafshi B’she’alati" department at Hidabroot. For consultation, call 073-3333331 or email sarap@htv.co.il