Be Aware of Leakages

Some mornings, as I sit at my desk and look at the long list of my to-dos, unlike the days when I feel amazing and start plowing through them, I find myself unmotivated to get going. This is certainly not a new experience for me. I remember, even back in high school and college, I would find myself in similar situations. Back then, I often procrastinated until the last minute, relying on all-nighters to finish papers or projects. These days, however, with the sheer volume of tasks and the frequency of deadlines, pulling all-nighters is no longer a viable – or wise – option.

Over the years, I have read numerous self-development and personal productivity books. I’ve learned many hacks and tricks to get myself going. However, after experiencing a burnout that led to years of chronic fatigue, I decided to move beyond quick fixes and delve into the underlying reasons behind my lack of motivation. If I don’t have the energy or drive to complete the next task on my to-do list, why do I feel compelled to write this article or engage in other creative activities requiring equal effort?

This led me to some fundamental questions: What is the true source of our energy? Why are there moments when we just can’t get going? Does it make sense to push through in such times? And how is it that, in a state of “flow,” we seem to require no motivation at all, as the work itself becomes our source of energy?

What I’ve Learned

When we feel tired or unmotivated to work on something, it is often not our brain at fault but the accompanying factors. Fatigue can stem from physical strain—poor posture, tense muscles in the back or shoulders, eye strain from squinting at a screen, or discomfort in our forearms.

More importantly, I have come to learn that our lack of motivation or energy is telling us something – something about our source of energy and where it is being lost. The loss of energy is often tied to what I call “leakages.” Just as insulation is necessary to preserve energy within a building, we must address energy leakages in our own lives. These leakages can take many forms. External distractions, such as emails, text messages, social media notifications, and toxic relationships, pull us away from focused work. Internal leakages, such as anxiety, fear, greed, or envy, drain our mental and emotional resources and misalign us from the true and natural source of our energy, "creativity".

The Nature of Creativity

While the definition of work is personal for everyone, “good work” often involves tapping into our creativity. For some, creativity may mean painting or composing music. For me, it meant building complex financial models in MS Excel for many years. Paul Millerd, the author of The Pathless Path and Good Work, describes good work as “the kind of work that leaves you energized and aligns with the life you want to live, not just what you’re expected to do.”[1]

To access creativity fully, we will need to tap into certain muscles or powers that are inherent to us. Here are four “muscles” I’ve found invaluable to tap into my creativity and avoid energy leakages:

1. Awareness

The most fundamental muscle of all is our muscle of awareness. While books have been written—and many more could be written—on the topic of awareness, I will attempt to contribute my drop to the ocean. Awareness is our ability to realize and recognize our situation so we can intentionally choose our next action or state of being. Awareness is like the core of our physical muscles, the one that supports every other movement and function. Just as the core muscles stabilize and strengthen the body, awareness grounds and strengthens our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

2. Curiosity

A childlike curiosity about what lies ahead, or beyond what we see in front of us, can reignite our energy and motivation. As Albert Einstein once said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Curiosity fuels exploration and keeps us engaged in the process. It can also be described as an authentic desire for learning or knowledge.

3. The Joy of work

Joy of work is the pleasure of performing the work. Attaining such joy in work is seeing the work as the end rather than the means for rewards or consequences. The Bhagavad Gita beautifully explains this concept: “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”[2] To release anxiety and the fear of judgment about your work, it is essential to let go of pride, attachments, and the desire for credit.

4. Intrinsic Value

Understanding the intrinsic value of our work provides unshakable confidence. Even if others undervalue our efforts, the true essence of our work remains intact. This freedom from external validation allows us to focus on the meaning and purpose behind what we do.

Recently, I have noticed that some of my energy leakages stem from a combination of anxiety about completing everything on my plate, ambitions of expanding my business, and fear of falling short of my goals. My awareness of these patterns has been the first and most important step toward addressing them.

I encourage you to ask yourself: What are the sources of your energy leakages, and what “muscles” do you have in your arsenal to ignite your creativity?

[1] Millerd, Paul. The Pathless Path. HarperOne, 2021.

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[2] The Bhagavad Gita: As it is, 2.47. Translated by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 2000