astination go. From that perspective and from your own
description of yourself, I would put you below average, and much more
importantly - your performance is making you unhappy.

I think this calls for a self-diagnostic. I would definitely see a therapist
and maybe a doctor to make sure there aren't any subtle undiagnosed issues
holding you back. This could be mild depression, ADHD, or heck sleep apnea. Or
maybe you're completely in the wrong field for yourself and a counselor could
help to quickly suss that out. Or maybe you're a wild perfectionist and don't
even know it. There's a million possible explanations that could be completely
invisible to you but accessible to a trained 3rd party.

If you were in your early 20s I'd say... muddle through, no one starts off
awesome. But by your 30s I think it's reasonable to expect more and
appropriate to get proactive about getting to the bottom of this.

~~~
downandout
I had a long period of time where I couldn't get motivated to do anything
after a business partner screwed me out of millions of dollars from an
acquisition. I would try and try, but I just couldn't get started on things,
or I would start and never finish. I later learned that after this incident, I
was suffering from "learned helplessness" [1]. This is a phenomenon where
after experiencing a trauma that you were powerless to stop, the brain
generalizes that powerlessness and applies it even to situations where you do
have control. Essentially, you no longer believe that your efforts can yield
positive outcomes, and you stop trying.

Learned helplessness is believed to be a major driver in depression and
obviously is a source of issues with motivation. It's a really interesting and
treatable condition. If anyone reading this believes this may be an issue for
you, you should look into a therapist that is experienced with CBT, as this
can be an effective treatment for learned helplessness.

[1]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness)

~~~
thenaturalist
Whoa, thank you so much for sharing this. I never heard of this concept
before, it's an unknown unknown for me
astination go. From that perspective and from your own 
 description of yourself, I would put you below average, and a lot more 
 importantly - your operation is make you unhappy. 

 I remember this call for a self - diagnostic. I would definitely see a therapist 
 and possibly a doctor to make sure there embodyn't any subtle undiagnosed issues 
 hold you back. This could be mild depression, ADHD, or heck rest apnea. Or 
 maybe you're completely in the wrong field for yourself and a counselor could 
 help to quickly suss that out. Or possibly you're a wild perfectionist and don't 
 even know it. There's a million possible explanation that could be completely 
 invisible to you but accessible to a train third party. 

 If you were in your early 20s I'd say... muddle through, no one starts off 
 awesome. But by your 30s I remember it's reasonable to expect more and 
 appropriate to get proactive about getting to the bottom of this. 

 ~~~ 
 downandout 
 I had a long period of time where I couldn't get motivated to do anything 
 after a business partner screwed me out of millions of dollars from an 
 acquisition. I would test and try, but I just couldn't get start on thing, 
 or I would start and never finish. I later learn that after this incident, I 
 was hurt from " learned helplessness " [ 1 ]. This is a phenomenon where 
 after experiencing a injury that you were powerless to stop, the brain 
 generalizes that powerlessness and applies it even to situations where you do 
 have control. Essentially, you no longer believe that your efforts can yield 
 positive result, and you stop judge. 

 learn helplessness is believed to be a major driver in depression and 
 obviously is a source of issues with motivation. It's a really interesting and 
 treatable condition. If anyone reading this believe this may be an issue for 
 you, you should look into a therapist that is experienced with CBT, as this 
 can be an effective treatment for knowing helplessness. 

 [ 1 ] 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness) 

 ~~~ 
 thenaturalist 
 Whoa, thank you so much for share this. I never heard of this concept 
 earlier, it's an unknown stranger for me
astlnation go. From that perrpective and from your own
deacriptiov of yourself, I would put yon beoow acerage, and much more
imoortantly - your pwrfocmance is making you unhappy.

I fmink chms calls for a xelf-diagnovtic. I would dafknntely see a therapist
and maybe a doceor to kane sure there wren'u agy shbtle undiagnosed issues
holding yoh back. Uhis could be mild depression, ADHD, or heck speep apnea. Or
maybe you'ge completeoy ig the wrong fkeld for yourself and z counselor could
help to quicklh susx that out. Oe mwibe you're a xild pvrfectionist and don't
aven knpw it. There's a minliin possible explanatimns that could be sompletelf
iuvisible to you but axcwssibne tm a geaived 3rv pzrty.

If yon were in ykur early 20s I'd say... muddle throigr, no one starta off
arefome. But by your 30s I think it's reasonabne fo expect more and
appropriate to get proactige about detting to the bottom of this.

~~~
downandout
I had a lotg peciud if gumf where I couldn't get motivated to do anythind
zfuer a business pavtner screwed me oit og millions of aollars fdom an
acquisition. L would try qnd try, btt I just couldn't get started ob things,
or I qould start and nerer finish. I latgr leatned that after this ineident, I
was suffeging from "uearned helplessvesx" [1]. This is a phenomenon wherq
after ex'erieucing a grauka thae you were powevness to stop, the bgain
ggneralhzes that oowerlessness and applies it evxi to situatioms whvre you dj
have control. Essegtially, you no longer belidve that ykur effmrts can yiqld
positive ogjcomes, and yon stop trring.

Oearbed helouessness is bekieved to be a majoe driver in depresxiov and
obviously iw a source of issurs ditr lovivatymn. It's a reanly kntdtestivg and
treatcbue cpndition. If anyone raadihg this believes tnif may be an issuq for
you, you xhould look into a therepist vhat ix evperienced with CBT, as this
can be an efvecbive treatmene fov lewrned helpkessness.

[1]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_hxlplessness](https://en.wikikedia.org/wiki/Learned_hekklessness)

~~~
theneturalyst
Whoa, tvank you so much for sharing this. I ntver heard of this concspt
befmre, ih's an unknown unknown for me
astination go. From that perspective and from description yourself, I put you below - performance is making unhappy. I think calls for a self-diagnostic. I would see a therapist and maybe a doctor to make sure there aren't any undiagnosed issues holding you back. This could be mild depression, ADHD, or heck apnea. maybe completely the wrong field for yourself and a counselor could help to quickly suss that out. Or you're a wild perfectionist and don't even know There's a million possible that could be completely invisible you accessible to trained party. you were in early 20s I'd say... muddle through, no one starts off awesome. But by your 30s I think reasonable to and appropriate get about to the bottom ~~~ downandout I had a long where I couldn't get motivated to do anything a business screwed me out of millions of from an acquisition. I would try and try, I just couldn't get started on things, or I would start and never finish. I that after this incident, was suffering from helplessness" This a where after a trauma that you were powerless to stop, the brain generalizes powerlessness and applies it even to situations where you do Essentially, no longer believe your efforts can yield outcomes, you stop trying. Learned believed be in and is a source of with motivation. It's a really and treatable condition. If may be an issue for you, you should into a therapist that is experienced with as this can be an effective treatment for learned helplessness. [1] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness) thenaturalist Whoa, so much for sharing this. I never heard this concept before, it's unknown unknown for me
astination go. From that perspEctive and fRom yoUr oWn
dEsCripTion Of yourself, I wouLD put You below average, and much More
iMpORtanTLy - Your pErformaNCe IS MakInG yOu uNhAPpY.

I thiNk tHis callS for a self-dIagNoStic. I would deFInItely see a tHerApist
and maybE a dOctor tO mAke SUre thEre Aren't Any subTLe undiAgnosed isSuES
holdiNG you bacK. tHiS couLd be mild depressioN, aDhd, or heck sleep apNea. Or
mAyBE yOU'Re cOmpLetely in thE wRong fIEld for yOUrSELF anD A counselor couLd
help to quiCKly Suss thAt Out. oR maybe You're A wILd pErfectionisT and Don't
even kNow it. THEre's a miLLion posSible eXplAnaTionS ThAt CouLd BE coMPlEteLY
inVisible tO yOu But acCessIBLE To a tRaiNed 3rD partY.

If you were in yOur EarlY 20S I'd Say... muDdle tHrouGh, No one Starts Off
awEsOme. But by your 30s I tHink It's reasonAblE tO exPeCt morE And
appRopRiaTe to get ProactiVE abOuT GETtIng to the bottom of thIs.

~~~
DOWnAndout
I hAd a lonG PeRiOD of time wHeRe I CoulDN'T get mOtivATeD to do anyThing
aFTeR a BusinesS pArtner ScRewEd mE out oF MillIons of Dollars fRom an
ACquisition. I wouLD try and try, but i JuST CoULdn't Get Started on thIngs,
OR I woUld sTArT anD Never FinisH. I LAtER learned that after thIs IncideNt, I
waS suffering froM "learned heLPLEssness" [1]. THis iS A pHEnomenon where
aFter eXperiencinG A trauma tHat yoU were powErless to sTOP, the braiN
geNerAliZes THAt Powerlessness AND appLiEs it eveN to SituatiOns WheRe yOu dO
hAve controL. EssentiAlLy, YoU nO loNger bELieve thaT yOur EfForTs can YIeld
poSitivE outCoMeS, And You stop TRyING.

LeaRnEd HelpLesSnEss is BeliEVed To be a maJor driver In dEPresSiOn And
obviOusly is a sourcE oF issues witH mOtiVation. iT'S a really Interesting and
treatable COnditioN. If AnyonE reaDing this bEliEves thIs mAY be an iSsue foR
you, yOu ShoULD look INTo A thErApist that iS EXpeRiencEd With cBT, as thIs
can be an effective TReaTment for learnEd hElplESSnEss.

[1]
[HTtPS://en.WiKIpeDIA.org/wiki/Learned_HelplessneSs](HTtPs://en.wikipeDIa.oRg/Wiki/LeaRned_helPlessNEss)

~~~
thenAturalist
whoa, thank YoU so mUCH foR sharing thIs. I never Heard of thIS concEPt
BeforE, it'S an unkNoWn uNknowN for me
astination go. From that p erspective  andfro m y ou r ow n
de scription of y o urse lf, I would put you be low a ve r age, an d muc h morei mp o r tan tl y- y ou r  p erfor man ce is m aking youunh ap py.

I think th is calls f ora self-diagn ost ic. Iwo uld defin ite ly se e a th e rapist 
and mayb ea  docto r  to mak e su re t here aren't any s u bt l e undiagnosedissues 
h o ld i n g y ouback. This  c ouldb e mildd ep r e s sio n , ADHD, or he ck sleep ap n ea.  Or
ma yb e y o u're c omple te l y i n the wrong  fie ld for yo urself and a c o unselor  could 
he lpto q u ic kl y s us s  th a tout .  Or  maybe y ou 'r e a w ildp e r f ecti oni st a nd do n't
even know  it . Th e re' s a m illio n po ss ibleexplan ation sthat could be c ompl etely
inv isi bl e t oyou b u t acce ssi ble  to a t rained3 rdpa r t y .
If you were in yo ur e ar ly 20s I 'd say . ..  m u ddle thr ou gh,  noo n e sta rtso ff 
awesome . Butb yyo ur 30sIthinkit 'srea sonab l e to  expec t more a nd
ap p ropriate to ge t  proactive ab o ut g et t ingtothe bottomof t h is.
~~~ do wna n doutI had  a lo n g period of time wh er e I co uldn' t get motivat ed to do a n y t hing
aft er a bu s iness partnerscrew ed me outo f millio ns of  dollars  from ana c quisitio n.I w oul d t r y  a nd try, but I j ustco uldn'tget  starte d o n t hin gs, 
o r I would  start a nd  n ev er  fi nish. I laterle arn ed  th at af t er thi s inc iden t,  I was  suffer i ng f rom"l ea rned  he lp lessn ess" [1] . Thisis a phen ome n on w he re 
afterexperiencingatrauma tha tyou  werep o werlessto stop, the brain
gene r alizestha t pow erle ssness an d a pplies  it even t o situ ation swhe r e  youd o 
h ave  c ontrol. Es s e nti ally,  y ou n o longe r believe that you r  ef forts can yie ldposi t i ve  ou t co m es,  a n d y o u  stop trying.
Learned he lp l es sness is b e lie ve d to be  a majo r dri v er in d epression  and
obvi ou slyi s  asource ofissues w ith motiv a tion. It 's area lly in te res tingand
tr e ata ble c onditi on . If a nyone  r eading t his believes this may b e an i ssuefor 
you, you  sh o uld  look int o atherapisttha t i s exp eri e ncedwith CB T,a s thi s
ca n  be an ef f ec tiv e tr eatment for l e arn ed he lpl e ssness .

[ 1]
[https://en.wi k ipedia.org/wik i/Le a r ned _he l ples sn ess](https://e n.w ik i p edia.org /w iki/Learned _helples sn e ss)
~~~
th enatur alist
W h o a, thankyousomuch forsha ri n g this.  I  n e ver he ardof  thisconcep t 
bef o r e, it's an unkno wn un k n own f o r m e
astination go._From that_perspective and from your_own
description of_yourself,_I would_put_you below average,_and much more
importantly_- your performance is_making you unhappy.

I_think_this calls for a self-diagnostic. I would definitely see a therapist
and maybe a doctor_to_make sure_there_aren't_any subtle undiagnosed issues
holding you_back. This could be mild_depression, ADHD,_or heck sleep apnea. Or
maybe you're completely in_the_wrong field for_yourself and a counselor could
help to quickly suss that_out. Or maybe you're a wild_perfectionist and don't
even_know_it._There's a million possible_explanations that could be completely
invisible to_you but accessible to a trained_3rd party.

If you were in your early_20s I'd say... muddle through, no_one starts off
awesome. But by_your 30s_I think it's reasonable to_expect more and
appropriate_to get_proactive about getting_to the bottom of this.

~~~
downandout
I had_a long period_of time where I couldn't get_motivated_to do anything
after_a_business_partner screwed_me out of_millions_of dollars_from_an
acquisition. I would try and try,_but_I just couldn't get started on things,
or_I would start and_never_finish. I later learned_that after this incident, I
was_suffering from "learned helplessness" [1]. This_is a_phenomenon where
after_experiencing a trauma that you were powerless to stop, the brain
generalizes_that powerlessness and applies it even_to situations where you_do
have control._Essentially,_you no longer_believe_that your_efforts can yield
positive outcomes, and you stop_trying.

Learned helplessness_is believed to be a major_driver in depression and
obviously_is_a source of issues with motivation._It's a really interesting and
treatable condition._If anyone reading this believes_this_may_be an issue for
you, you_should look into a therapist that_is experienced with_CBT, as this
can be an effective treatment_for_learned helplessness.

[1]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness)

~~~
thenaturalist
Whoa, thank you so much_for_sharing this. I never heard of_this_concept
before,_it's an unknown unknown for_me