FeaturedProductivity

I’m Not Lazy. I’m Avoiding My Own Potential

A personal breakdown of how “laziness” can actually be fear... Fear of trying, being seen, and living up to what I know I’m capable of.

January 22, 2026
7 min read
1,341 words
6 tags
MP
Melvin Peralta
Author
I’m Not Lazy. I’m Avoiding My Own Potential

#I’m Not Lazy. I’m Avoiding My Own Potential

Introduction

For a long time I thought I was lazy.

Like genuinely.
I used to look at other people who were consistent and disciplined and locked in and I’d be like…

“Why can’t I do that?”

Why do I randomly get motivated at 2AM but can’t move at 2PM?
Why can I plan my whole future in my head but can’t finish one simple task without getting distracted?

Wide awake at 2am energy

Why do I know what I should do… and still don’t do it?

And I’m finally realizing something that sounds crazy but makes too much sense:

I’m not lazy.

I’m avoiding my own potential.

Not because I don’t want to win.
But because actually going for it means I have to face the version of me I’ve been running from.

Lazy Is Easy To Accept

Calling yourself lazy is almost comforting.

Because if you’re lazy, the problem is simple.

You just need “more motivation.”
More discipline.
More routine.
More structure.

So you start doing the whole reset cycle:

  • new notes app plan
  • new schedule
  • new “lock in era”
  • new week, new mindset
  • new version of you on Monday morning

And then by Thursday you’re cooked again.

“Hardly working” mood

It becomes this loop where you keep trying to fix your actions

But the real issue is deeper than that.

Potential Is Heavy

Potential sounds like a compliment until you actually have to live up to it.

Because once you accept you have potential, you also accept something else:

You have no excuses left.

If I can actually become something…
Then why haven’t I?

And that question hits different.

That question doesn’t feel motivational.
It feels like pressure.

It feels like judgement.

It feels like your future self staring at you like:

“Bro… what are you doing?”

So instead of trying and risking disappointment…

You delay.
You scroll.
You clean your room.
You reorganize your files.
You do 5 side quests.

Side quest accepted

Anything except the thing that actually changes your life.

Procrastination Is Not Laziness, It’s Fear

This is the part I didn’t want to admit.

I’m not procrastinating because I’m tired.

I’m procrastinating because I’m scared.

Scared of what?

Not even just failing.

I’m scared of trying my hardest and still not being enough.

Because if I half-try and fail… I can blame the effort.

But if I fully try?

If I lock in for real?

If I show up like I mean it?

And it still doesn’t work?

Now I can’t hide behind “I wasn’t really trying.”

Now it’s personal.

So my brain does the safest thing:

It keeps me in the warm little zone where nothing changes.

Comfort zone loop

I’m Addicted To Comfort, Not Weed, Not Sleep, Comfort

I used to think my problem was habits.

Like, yeah, habits matter.

But the real addiction was comfort.

Comfort is sneaky because it feels like you’re “just taking a break.”

But break becomes a lifestyle.

Comfort becomes:

  • “I’ll start tomorrow”
  • “I need to be in the right mood”
  • “I’m too tired today”
  • “I’m not ready yet”
  • “I’ll do it when I have more time”

And it never feels like self-sabotage in the moment.

It feels like self-care. But it’s not self-care. It’s self-avoidance.

Doomscrolling = “self-care” disguise

My Brain Loves Planning Because Planning Feels Like Progress

This is one of my worst traits. I will sit there and plan my whole life like a movie trailer.

New goals.
New ideas.
New future.
New level.

And it feels good. Because planning gives me the dopamine of progress…

Without the vulnerability of actually doing the work. Planning is safe. Execution is the part that exposes you. Because once you execute, there’s a result. And results can hurt your ego.

So I stay in the part that feels good and looks productive:

“research mode”
“prep mode”
“watching videos mode”
“getting ready mode”

A lot of planning

Meanwhile my life isn’t moving.

I Don’t Even Fear Failure… I Fear Being Seen Trying

This is the one.

Because when you’re not trying, nobody expects anything. But when you start trying?

People notice. People watch. People comment.

Now you’re accountable. Now you can’t hide behind jokes. Now you can’t be the “I could if I wanted to” person. Now you’re the person who wanted it.

And wanting something is vulnerable. Trying is vulnerable. Building in public is vulnerable.

You can’t act unbothered when you’re actually invested. So I avoid the whole thing. Not because I don’t want it… But because I don’t want the embarrassment of caring.

“Hmm… planning…”

The Truth Is I Want A Different Life

I want a different life than what I have right now.

Not in a spoiled way.

In a “I know there’s more in me” way.

I want:

  • more control over my time
  • more money
  • more stability
  • more peace
  • more confidence
  • more purpose
  • more discipline
  • more proof that I can trust myself

And the annoying part? I know I can do it. That’s what makes it worse. Because I can’t even lie and say “it’s impossible.”

It’s possible.

I’m just not consistent yet.

I Keep Waiting For Motivation Like It Owes Me Something

Motivation is fake.

Or at least… motivation is unreliable.

Motivation shows up when it’s convenient, then disappears when it’s time to work. And if you build your life around “feeling like it”…

You’re going to lose. Because life does not care how you feel. Your future doesn’t care how you feel. Your bills don’t care how you feel.

The version of you that you want doesn’t care how you feel either.

That version of you is built off action.

Not emotion.

Doomscrolling menu

What I’m Learning: Confidence Is A Side Effect

I used to think confidence comes first.

Like you become confident, then you do the thing.

But it’s the opposite.

You do the thing…
and confidence shows up later like:

“Okay yeah, you’re really him.”

Confidence is built through receipts.

Evidence.

Proof.

Not affirmations.

I can tell myself I’m disciplined all day.

But one disciplined action does more for my confidence than a thousand speeches.

So Here’s What I’m Doing Now

Not a 30-day challenge.
Not a “new me” phase.
Not a fake motivational speech.

Just real habits that make it impossible for me to lie to myself.

1) Smaller promises, kept daily

If I can’t trust myself with small things, I won’t trust myself with big things.

So I’m stacking wins that are undeniable.

2) Doing it ugly instead of waiting for perfect

Perfect is procrastination in a suit.

I’d rather ship something messy than hold a perfect idea forever.

3) Stop romanticizing the future and disrespecting today

I keep imagining a better life.

But if I don’t handle today…

That future is never coming.

4) Accepting that discomfort is the price

Discomfort is literally the receipt of growth.

If it feels uncomfortable, it’s probably working.

“Clever little plan”

I’m Not Lazy… I’m Just In The Middle Of Becoming

And honestly, I’m starting to respect that.

I’m not behind.
I’m not broken.

I’m just at that stage where your old habits are dying…

and your new ones aren’t fully built yet.

That middle part is awkward.

It’s quiet.

It’s frustrating.

But it’s real.

So yeah.

I’m not lazy. I’m avoiding my own potential.

But I’m catching myself now.

And that’s the first time I can say that and actually mean it.

Because once you see the pattern…

You can’t unsee it. And once you can’t unsee it… You either change…

Or you keep living the same year over and over again with different dates.

And I’m not doing that.

Not anymore.


Me at 2am doing anything except sleeping

M

Melvin Peralta

Writer at WiredLiving. Sharing insights on technology, development, and innovation.

Related Posts