Is it normal that i am confounded by unproductivity?

I'm a very low energy person, and I've been shackled with a crippling lack of anxiety for the better part of my life. It's less appetizing than it sounds. I stand in stark contrast to you - I'm confounded by goals.

Let me tell you a story:
During an art class in college, I was walking by a trash can when I saw a canvas peeking out from under the rubble. Intrigued by its stare, I took it out and looked it over for several minutes. It was searing with beautiful billows of color and texture and form. A classmate walked by and told me that it was hers - so I asked why it was in the trash, and she told me that it was a "mistake". She showed me a sketch of what she originally wanted. I took the trash painting home.

I am continually perplexed by our success-failure dichotomy. We live in a linearly goal-driven society, and our blueprints are marked with our current position A and our goal position B. Anything that strays from a straight line to position B is automatically deemed a failure. A "mistake", irrespective of its innate beauty.

This isn't meant to do away with goals - goals steer us to the most wonderful places. But it's important to let oneself be steered away from the road sometimes, because if we don't, we end up racing past the most scenic stops. I don't want to discard any more beauty. And I still have that trash painting.

Think about where we as a species have come from.

There was a time when merely surviving, protecting the family and reproducing would have been the paramount goals in our ancestor's lives. Forget about 'becoming successful in a business, getting a promotion, setting up your own business' etc. Forget about becoming internationally renowned for your brilliant work. Simply existing for as long as possible was the goal.

Since those times in many countries (not all) there exists a structure that makes it exceptionally easy for us as a species to achieve that goal. It's very easy for most people in rich countries to survive. In fact, so easy, that it opens the list of goals up to an abundance of varied options.

However, some people are content to merely achieve that initial goal. They are gratified by simply living. They desire very little.

The only contentious point is when people like this survive off the productivity of others and don't return the favour. That is being unfairly selfish. The solution to this is to remove the support enabling them to coast along on other people's labour.

But for those who provide the bare minimum for themselves, where's the problem? They don't necessarily want the things you want and vice versa.

It seems to me if someone's only goal in life is to live, then their ideal existence is one that is extremely obtainable. Sounds good to me :)

This story links in with a bit of psychology called the Jacob Goldsmith theory. It posits that there are two main types of personality: Type A and Type B (there is also a less common Type C).

Type A people are most commonly ambitious, target-driven, obsessive organisers and time-keepers and pro-active. They can also be hostile, easily irritated and exasperated and "short-fused".

Type B people are usually in direct contrast, often described as relaxed, easy-going and patient, but with very little sense of time-management, disorganised and lacking urgency.

Type A people often have better jobs because they're more driven and "goal-orientated", which our society tends to reward financially. It is also claimed that Type A people have a much higher chance of suffering from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), but this is much disputed to the point where it's unlikely to be true.

I digress; what I'm trying to say is that these personality types aren't things people can change. Just as you can't "take it easy", slow down and have fun all the time, the people of your inverse can't speed up, self-motivate, self-improve and constantly work.

They are as confounded about your behaviour as you are theirs; they don't understand why you have an internal drive to do things just as you don't understand their drive not to.

Hope this was interesting or useful, or at least worth your time. And excuse the psychological theory lesson!

I have little to no motivation to go anywhere in life. I want that to change, but I don't see it happening. I try to push myself to give myself a reason to accomplish things, but I can't find that reason. Nothing interests me enough to work towards it. Perhaps in a year or two I will become more motivated. I do college, but I don't have motivation to find a job, but I want to be motivated.

Some people have no guidence from their motivation to what they can achieve.

Believe me when it I tell you that people that don't work towards anything, some of them atleast, are confounded by their own lack of motivation towards achievement.

i think most of those people you mentioned probably have something to give, maybe they just don't give freely. or maybe what they create is invisible. some people seem to want to live off others and not create anythings, but among these people with some it is only an illusion, and with others it's closer to the truth. even though they seem to do nothing, they have created a sense of confoundment within you, and that is something.

I always advise teens to do everything while you are young and have the energy to do so - do not waste that time coz when you get old, you get tired and world-weary with the weight of responsibilities and kids :o(

I agree with you. While you have the energy for 2 or 3 jobs, get up and go!! Enjoy meeting different people and if possible stash the cash for when you get sensible :o)

I understand your point, but I fail to see how joining a hippie drum circle is somehow more productive than being a party person. They kind of seem like the same thing to me.

Anyway though, I think your complaints are legit.

But they are doing something with their lives- partying and freeloading.

@NeuroNeptunian yeah i was in my bad job & the college i was at messed my grades/ exams up but its all fixed now (: i get too resit in june & start my degree after summer haha. my friends act like 5 year olds & blame it silly things like not having the money too afford to college which really annoys me as i am homeless. again! WHATISMYLIFE. XD

I feel the same! i seem too be the only one in my friend grop that does anything! i finally get too start my degree this year & most of them dont even want too study fo a national certificate (the lowest grade here) ! they are ll out getting drunk/pregnant/laid & make fun of me coz i actually have ambition!!! i am livid.

Its coz they all get spoilt off their parents i think...