For most of my life I thought I was lazy.

Finding motivation to do anything other than binge-watch anime felt like a herculean task. I struggled to make meaningful progress on any of my goals. I could sleep 18 hours and still feel tired the next day.

It took everything I had just to get out of bed in the mornings and go to work or school.

I hated this about myself, but I just accepted that’s who I was.

Then, in my late twenties, I discovered the real culprit: I had chronic fatigue from food allergies. My physical energy was completely drained, and every little task felt like pushing a boulder uphill. It was never really about motivation at all—I was simply running on empty.

And that’s exactly what we’re talking about today: how to stop blaming yourself for “laziness” and start managing your energy in a way that makes motivation feel effortless.

The hidden key to unlocking your motivation

We talk about motivation like it’s a switch you can flip with enough willpower, but in reality, it’s more like a car engine.

If there’s no fuel, the car doesn’t move.

And for Fives, “fuel” doesn’t just mean rest. It comes from a balance of four different types of energy. When one runs low, motivation tanks, no matter how much you care about your goals.

Think of your energy like four bank accounts:

1. Intellectual – focus, problem-solving, learning.
2. Emotional – connection, creativity, processing feelings.
3. Physical – movement, rest, nutrition.
4. Spiritual – purpose, values, connection to something bigger.

Motivation is much easier to access when all four accounts have a healthy balance. If one is consistently overdrawn you’ll feel it, even if the others are full.

Unfortunately, most Fives never connect these dots until its too late…

Why most Fives get this wrong

When we feel stuck, our default is to think harder.

We try to solve the motivation problem with more information, more planning, more mental effort. The problem is, motivation isn’t purely mental. In fact, over-relying on intellectual energy while neglecting the others is exactly what creates the slump.

Here’s what happens when the balance is off:

• Intellectual overdrive leaves us mentally fried and emotionally flat.
• Emotional neglect drains meaning and joy from our work.
• Physical neglect leaves us sluggish and foggy, making tasks feel like they’re not worth the effort.
• Lack of spiritual connection makes even productive days feel hollow or aimless, pushing us toward cynicism.

Fortunately, these are problems we can solve.

It just requires paying extra attention to your daily energy balance and making small, intentional adjustments to refill the accounts that are running low.

The Energy Alignment System

Here’s a simple strategy to help you start finding your balance:

Step 1: Track your daily energy spend

At the end of each day, rate each account from 0–10 based on how much you invested in it.

If you need help, ask yourself:

• Intellectual – Did I engage in focused thinking or learning something new?
• Emotional – Did I connect with someone or express how I feel?
• Physical – Did I move, rest well, and nourish my body?
• Spiritual – Did I spend time on something that gives me meaning or perspective?

Step 2: Spot the imbalance

Notice which accounts are consistently low and which are getting all the attention.

Step 3: Make small rebalancing moves

• Intellectual low? Read, problem-solve, or learn something new.
• Emotional low? Call a friend, send a voice memo, do something creative.
• Physical low? Take a short walk, stretch, prioritize sleep.
• Spiritual low? Journal about your “why,” connect with nature, or read something inspiring.

Remember, when you learn to keep all four accounts healthy, you stop chasing motivation and start creating it naturally.

And once that happens, you feel unstoppable.

Your turn

For the next week, try tracking your four energy accounts each day.

Then, experiment with one small adjustment to rebalance.

If you want, hit reply and tell me: Which account is your biggest energy drain right now, and what’s one thing you’ll try to replenish it?

I read every response.

Cheers,
Josiah

P.S. If this idea of balancing your energy resonates, it’s exactly the kind of work we go deeper into inside the Fully Five Accelerator.

FFA is designed to help you get out of your head, align your energy, and take consistent action without burning out.

We officially launch Aug. 22nd and there are only a couple founding member spots left, so if you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time.

➡️ Click here to learn more + see if you're ready.​