❗️You can read through the full story below if you want the context and insights, or
➡️ if you’re just here for the AI journaling prompt, scroll straight to the bottom.
🧵 WHAT FEELS ALIVE?
Lately, I’ve been wrestling with motivation—how to keep going when the ups and downs hit.
Some days, I feel sharp and focused, like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Other days, even simple tasks feel heavy. And in those moments, I catch myself thinking, “Just push through. Just do what you have to do.”
But that approach only works for so long. Motivation can’t be arbitrary. If I only move through life doing things because I “should” do them, I eventually burn out.
There’s a balance to strike:
• Some days it’s about discipline—showing up for what must get done.
• Other days it’s about listening—tuning into what actually calls to me and gives me energy.
That second part—listening—is harder for me. And it’s why journaling has been so important lately. Writing helps me “remember,” like pulling a word that’s on the tip of your tongue. It’s there, waiting, but you have to slow down and let it surface.
🔍 THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED MY DAY
Earlier this week, I had a rare moment of free time. Both kids were napping, my wife was busy, and I had no urgent work to do.
But instead of relief, I felt… blank. I could take a nap, clean the kitchen, fold laundry, do a quick workout—but none of it felt right. I just sat there, staring at my options, feeling stuck.
That’s when I asked myself one question:
What feels alive to me right now?
It’s a different question than:
• What should I do?
• What would be productive?
• What’s the most responsible choice?
Instead, it points to curiosity, energy, and aliveness. It doesn’t care about the “shoulds” or the long-term outcomes—it cares about what stirs me in this moment.
The answer surprised me: sewing.
✂️ A SMALL STEP, BIG SHIFT
I’ve had a little sewing kit sitting around for weeks. Honestly, it intimidated me. My hands are big and clumsy, and the thought of working with tiny needles and thread always felt awkward.
But I grabbed some scraps, learned a few basic stitches, and spent 30–40 minutes just practicing.
It wasn’t productive in any practical sense—nobody “needed” me to sew—but it was creative. It was something I did purely because it called to me.
And something shifted. I felt lighter. Energized. And from that place, finishing my chores didn’t feel heavy anymore. I put away dishes, knocked out some laundry, even fit in a workout—all riding the momentum of doing something that felt alive first.
🧠 WHY THIS MATTERS
This taught me something I keep forgetting:
When I focus only on what I should do, I get anxious and drained. But when I let curiosity and desire guide me—even in a small way—I create energy that spills into everything else.
Motivation isn’t just about willpower; it’s about alignment. It’s about paying attention to what’s calling to you and letting that spark move through the rest of your day.
And sometimes, the things that used to motivate you stop working. That’s okay. Seasons shift. The practice isn’t clinging to what used to work—it’s honestly noticing what feels dead, letting it go, and clearing space for what feels alive right now.
📝 A PRACTICE FOR YOU
If you want to try this yourself, you can do it one of two ways:
1) QUICK MEDITATION (5 MINUTES)
• Set a timer for five minutes.
• Sit somewhere comfortable.
• Keep this question in your mind: “What feels alive to me right now?”
• Breathe, relax, and let whatever comes to mind surface naturally. Don’t force it. Just notice.
• When the timer goes off, write down one or two things that came up—big or small.
2) JOURNALING WITH AI (MY METHOD)
If you want to go deeper or need more guidance, here’s what I do:
Copy and paste this prompt into ChatGPT (or whatever AI you use):
I want to slow down and get into flow of the day. Help me reflect on what feels alive to me right now, what I’m curious about, and what would feel nourishing rather than just productive. Use Taoist-inspired thinking (focus on harmony, balance, and effortless action). If I feel friction, help me explore where it’s coming from and how to simplify. Give me reflection questions and simple next steps so I can align my energy with what matters to me, not just what’s urgent. Help me see deeper parts of myself and gently challenge my thinking if it will help me flow more freely.
Start a voice note (or use ChatGPT’s voice feature) and talk through your thoughts for 5–10 minutes.
Drop that voice note transcript (or your typed thoughts) into ChatGPT.
Read the response and let it prompt you into more reflection or action.
Spend 10–15 minutes total. By the end, you should have new ideas, energy, or clarity to carry you into whatever’s next—whether that’s something creative, something productive, or just a little more peace in your day.