What Do I Want? A Path Back to Motivation, Meaning, and Self

Introduction

There’s a question we’re rarely asked once we reach adulthood: What do I want?

It seems simple—but this question is often buried under years of obligations, fears, expectations, and disappointments. Too many of us have stopped asking it. Too many don’t know how to answer it anymore.

The Quiet Epidemic of Not Knowing 

There’s a widespread malaise creeping through our lives. You might feel it as restlessness, sadness, or numbness. For many, it’s a kind of emotional fog. They’re functioning—but not feeling. Achieving—but not thriving.

It’s a quiet epidemic:

The loss of connection to our own desires.

And it often sounds like this:

“I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“I used to feel excited about life, but now I just feel… flat.”

“Everyone else seems fine—why do I feel so off?”

Where Did the Motivation Go?

Think back. When you were young, you probably had dreams. Curiosity. Passion. Energy. But slowly, life layered itself on top of that spark:

• Responsibilities took priority.
• Fear crept in.
• Disappointments made you cautious.
• People’s expectations became louder than your inner voice.

Eventually, your wants got buried. Not erased—but quieted.

How to Reconnect with Yourself

1. Ask the question—every day.

What do I want right now? What would bring me peace or joy—even just for 10 minutes? Ask sincerely, and be willing to hear the answer, even if it’s small.

2. Revisit your younger self.

What did you love before the world told you who to be? What brought you wonder? Play? Purpose?

3. Get quiet, not busy.

You won’t rediscover your desires through distraction. Sit in stillness. Take a walk. Journal without judgment.

4. Allow grief for what’s been lost.

It’s okay to mourn the time you’ve spent disconnected from yourself. That grief is part of the healing.

5. Take one step toward one want.

Any movement—no matter how small—restores your trust in yourself. It says: My wants matter. I matter.

Final Thoughts

If this resonates with you, you’re not broken. You’re waking up.  And that’s a sacred thing.

Desire is not a luxury—it’s a compass.

It’s your soul tugging you back toward aliveness.

So ask yourself—gently, bravely:

What do I want?

And be bold enough to listen. 

Be bold enough to visualize options. 

Be bold enough to self discover interests. 

Be bold enough to take action even if it seems minimal.  

Be bold and see joy around you.

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If you know someone struggling with motivation, please share this article. You never know who might need to hear that they are not alone.

 

Beyond the Veil: The Intelligence Within Autism

By Anna  F. Villa-Bager

There is a veil that often clouds society’s understanding of autism—a veil woven from outdated assumptions and misconceptions. Among the most harmful is the belief that if someone does not speak, they do not understand. For non-speaking individuals with autism, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Non-Speaking ≠ Non-Thinking

We live in a world that prizes spoken language. But for many on the autism spectrum—especially non-speaking individuals—spoken words may not be accessible, even when understanding and intelligence are fully intact.

“Just because I can't speak, doesn’t mean I don’t have something to say.”
— Naoki Higashida, non-speaking autistic author of *The Reason I Jump*

Tools like letterboards, AAC devices, and facilitated communication are revealing what many families have long suspected: their child is listening, thinking, and feeling deeply. What appears as silence is often a pause—waiting for a way in.

They Hear You—Even in Stillness

Let’s be clear: they hear you. Even when a child does not respond or engage in conventional ways, even when their eyes wander or their body is still—many are aware of every word spoken in their presence.

This is why it’s vital that caregivers, educators, and medical professionals avoid discussing limitations in front of the individual. Negative labels can quietly erode self-esteem. Instead, speak of their strengths, their interests, and their potential.

Shift the Conversation: From Limitation to Possibility

If we want to help autistic individuals thrive, we must begin by shifting how we talk about them—and how we talk to them. Focus on what lights them up. Notice what they’re drawn to: music, rhythm, nature, animals, visual arts, math, or storytelling. Interests are not trivial—they are clues to cognition, passion, and capability.

Let your child’s curiosity be your compass.

To Parents: Assume Competence

Dear parents, never underestimate your child. Be their strongest advocate, but also their believer. They may not speak today, or next month—but they are listening, learning, and absorbing everything.

Build on their interests. Offer choices. Invite their voice—whether through movement, typing, art, or music. Let your home be filled with possibility, not prediction.

In Closing: The Silent Flame

There is a flame within every person, and in some, it burns silently. But it is no less bright.

Speak love. Speak belief. Speak to the heart. You never know how much of your voice becomes their strength. #autism #autismawareness #creativity #creativearts #silentcommunication