I am always up for a challenge. I relish attacking them with trial and error. In this case, a kaplifestyle.com reader came to me with a big challenge. I’m definitely in over my head here, but not a bit scared. Let’s dive in.

Hey Kap, this is maybe an odd question, but do you have any advice for someone who’s pathologically lazy? I’m 36 and just can’t seem to get it together. Struggled with depression and anxiety for years. Medication used to help but not so much any more. Probably 75 pounds overweight. Really, really want to get things turned around but can’t seem to do it. I can barely get out of bed a lot of days. I’m like the polar opposite of someone like you…I look at people with your motivation like you’re from Mars, I would kill to be like that. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Thanks man. And I really mean it when I say pathologically lazy, I lead a completely sedentary lifestyle, just addicted to laying in bed surfing the net, reading, doing absolutely nothing day after day. Sick of it.

There’s a lot packed into this one comment. Before we get started, I should make a few things clear. I am not:

1. A doctor
2. A psychologist
3. Pathologically lazy
4. Able to relate to the desire to be sedentary
5. Depressed

Do these things add a layer of complexity on to my ability to impact Sox Fan? Probably. Do they eliminate my chances of helping? Hell no. With nothing to lose, I’ll take a hard swing.

What I am:

1. Human
2. Empathetic
3. Interested
4. Resourceful
5. Patient (sometimes)

These characteristics allow me to at least devour another’s issue. In this case, I suggest one tiny step.

Sox Fan,

I’ve always collected confidence through the accomplishment of taking a small step in the right direction. Reaching a tiny goal whets my appetite for the next marker on my journey’s path.

Let’s not try to see your entire map now. Instead, we’ll pick a direction rather than endlessly searching for the perfect one.

Tomorrow, don’t force yourself to get out of bed. Instead, stay put, but pull out a pen and a piece of paper. Write down five things that inspire a strong, positive vibration inside of you. If that seems intimidating, a tepid thought with a plus charge is a start.

Here’s my personal example:

1. Wind
2. The crispness of an apple
3. Miles Davis
4. A Giancarlo Stanton line drive
5. A trip to Cape Town, South Africa

In bed, allow your powerful thoughts to permeate you. Connect with and appreciate the emergence of the tiniest twinge of zeal. Perform this process every other day for two weeks, and hold yourself accountable. It’s an experiment; if the net result is nil, we simply chalk it up to a good learn. From huffingtonpost.com:

Research has shown that writing down what you’re thankful for can lead to a multitude of wellness benefits. Keeping a gratitude journal can reinforce positive thoughts — something particularly helpful as the brain tends to naturally focus on what goes wrong. Putting pen to paper can also help you make more progress as you work toward personal goals.

In order to reap the full benefits of journaling, Emmons recommends writing for five to 10 minutes every other day. “You really need to commit to doing it, and if you write it down eventually it will become more automatic,” Emmons says. “It’s like exercise — you’re not just going to get up one morning and go running, you need to have a plan. You need to have a gratitude action plan, whether it’s waking up and writing in the morning or in the evening before you go to sleep — no one size best fits all.

Sox Fan, this alone won’t cure your ills. It’s a small step with one foot in the right direction. Move forward and check in with me. We can lift the second leg together with another dose (see what I did?) of trial and error.

You’re not alone,

Kap