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Some people have stopped trying, in and outside of work. They may feel mediocre or worse, or that they've already accomplished what they can and that nothing else is worth the effort.
If that sounds like you, perhaps this internal debate will be of value:
PERSON: I'm just average and millions of people could do what I could do. So it's not worth doing more than the minimum I need to survive.
ALTER-EGO: You should stay busy if only because you'll go nuts without enough to do. It'll give you too much time to think, to worry, to get even more dispirited.
PERSON: I'd fill the time with fun stuff: movies, video games, painting, chatting.
ALTER-EGO: Isn't that wasting the precious time we're given?
PERSON: Stop being preachy. Besides, you're wrong. Even when I was trying hard, I didn't accomplish much.
ALTER-EGO: Even small contributions matter.
PERSON: Yeah, right. Like what?
ALTER-EGO: Like offering to mentor someone at work, or a friend, or family member.
PERSON: Mainly I don't care to be helpful.
ALTER-EGO: Fine, so sometimes do that fun stuff you talked about. Maybe that will reenergize you.
PERSON: There's a deeper issue. I feel like a loser. It's tempting to just get stoned and watch the tube or listen to music.
ALTER-EGO: Let's grant that you're no superstar but even though some of your friends and even family members now avoid you, somewhere along the way, didn't you do them some good?
PERSON: Maybe.
ALTER-EGO: What did you do that made some family members, friends, and students appreciate you, even if only temporarily?
PERSON: I dunno. Maybe when, instead of giving them advice, I let them talk and maybe asked questions to help them come up with a solution.
ALTER-EGO: I'll quit while I'm ahead.
PERSON: Not all problems have a solution.
