You Don’t Want To… But You Should Anyway

Feelings are not a strategy. They’re short-term. Discipline produces results.

“I don’t want to.” Chances are you’ve said it more than once this week.

• I don’t want to cut the grass.

• I don’t want to fold the laundry.

• I don’t want to go to the gym.

• I don’t want to make that call.

These “I don’t want to” moments are where growth, strength, and character are formed. The things we resist most often shape us into the people we need to become.

Think about Thomas Edison. He failed thousands of times trying to invent the light bulb. He probably said, “I don’t want to” more days than we can count. But his discipline to do the work even when he didn’t feel like it changed the world.

There are even writers who admit they hate writing. “I hate writing, but I love having written.” The process isn’t always fun, but the fruit is worth it.

The challenge is that our culture has started glorifying avoidance:

• “Do what makes you happy.”

• “Follow your energy.”

• “If it doesn’t spark joy, don’t do it.”

These ideas fuel trends like quiet quitting or Bare Minimum Mondays. The problem is that feelings are not a strategy. They’re short-term. Discipline produces results.

Let me offer three strategies to handle “I Don’t Want To” moments:

1. See Resistance as a Signal

That inner voice saying, “I don’t want to” isn’t a stop sign. It’s a signal. Resistance shows up right before things that matter. It might be a challenging project, a tough conversation, or the workout your body actually needs. Action breaks resistance, and momentum carries you farther than motivation ever could.

2. Shrink the Task, Not the Commitment

Most “I don’t want to” moments aren’t about never doing something, they’re about not wanting to do all of it at once. Break big tasks into small, manageable steps. If you want to run a 5K, start by putting on your shoes. If you want to write a podcast, start by jotting three bullet points. Momentum comes from starting.

3. Play the Long Game, Not the Short Game

Feelings want comfort now. Discipline cares about the future you. Every time you push past “I don’t want to,” you’re investing in your future self. A healthier, stronger, wiser, more capable version. The long game always wins, but only if you show up for the short game work.

You don’t have to want to. You just have to do it. Growth doesn’t come from what we want, but from what we do.

Next time you hear yourself say, “I don’t want to,” start small. Keep showing up. Play the long game. Your future self will thank you.