More Than a Push: Part Four – When Motivation Stops Working

“You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You just might be out of sync with your own values, choices, or capacity.”

The Illusion of Everlasting Drive

We live in a world that worships effort. The teacher who never clocks out. The nonprofit leader who sacrifices rest for the mission. The parent who pushes through for everyone else, even when they’re running on fumes.

In these stories, motivation is framed as heroic. But what happens when the “push” doesn’t work anymore? When the gas pedal is down, but you’re not moving?

We’ve been taught to fear that moment. To take it as proof that we’ve lost our edge, our focus, our purpose. But maybe the moment when motivation starts to break down isn't a failure—maybe it’s an invitation

Misalignment Is Not a Lack of Motivation

Over the past few reflections, I’ve explored how motivation isn't a simple force—it’s a system. A framework. And like any system, it can malfunction—not because you’re broken, but because something inside you is misaligned.

That misalignment might show up as:

• Doing a job you once loved, but now dread.
• Overperforming in a role that no longer reflects your values.
• Feeling stuck even though everyone else calls you “driven.”

You might still be moving, but it’s movement without direction. Performance without connection. Momentum without meaning.

What If We Asked Better Questions?

Instead of asking:

• “Why can’t I stay motivated?”
• “Why do I keep burning out?”
• “What’s wrong with me?”

What if we asked:

• “Am I still choosing this?”
• “Does this reflect what I care about?”
• “Do I feel like I can pivot without shame?”

Those questions point us to a deeper truth: motivation doesn’t just run out—it runs off course.

Introducing the 3A Model

In my upcoming white paper, I break down a framework called the 3A Model of Motivational Freedom—a tool for understanding the conditions that support sustainable motivation:

• Agency – The ability to choose your direction
• Alignment – The clarity to connect your work to your values
• Adaptability – The permission to shift, slow down, or change

When these three are in sync, motivation feels like flow. When they fall out of sync, we experience burnout, confusion, or paralysis.

But here’s the hope: we don’t have to stay there.

Motivation Needs Maintenance

This isn’t a call to abandon your goals. It’s a reminder that even ambition needs calibration.

Motivation is not a machine—it’s a relationship. One that deserves honesty, space, and repair.

So before you push harder, consider this: maybe it’s not time to grind. Maybe it’s time to realign.