Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Hello, friends, and welcome back to Imagine the Possibilities. I'm Skip Pogue and I'm glad you're tuning in today.
[00:00:20] This episode was actually inspired by a request from someone very close to me. My daughter.
[00:00:26] She asked me to do an episode on apathy. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how important that topic really is.
[00:00:35] We've all suffered with apathy, maybe more times than we'd like to admit.
[00:00:41] The thing is, apathy isn't always obvious.
[00:00:45] It doesn't come with flashing warning signs or dramatic breakdowns. It's quiet. It sneaks in often when we're tired, overwhelmed or burned out.
[00:00:58] And before we know it, we find ourselves stuck in that gray space. Not sad, not angry, just kind of numb.
[00:01:07] So today we're going to talk about what apathy really is. Where it comes from, how it affects us, and most importantly, how we can break free and find our spark again.
[00:01:20] Okay, let's get to it.
[00:01:23] Apathy is often described as a lack of interest or enthusiasm or motivation.
[00:01:33] But I think it's more than that.
[00:01:36] It's a disconnect.
[00:01:38] It's kind of an emotional flatline where we just stop caring.
[00:01:42] Not because we don't want to care, but because we're simply tired.
[00:01:50] And let's be honest, the world today can be exhausting.
[00:01:54] There's information overload, non stop comparisons, burnout from constant productivity.
[00:02:02] It's no wonder so many of us feel emotionally drained at times.
[00:02:08] Sometimes apathy shows up in our personal lives.
[00:02:12] We stop reaching out to friends, stop enjoying things that we once loved.
[00:02:20] Sometimes it hits our work. We just go through the motions, doing what we have to do, but with no real energy behind it.
[00:02:28] Sometimes it touches our spiritual lives. We feel disconnected and we're just going through the routines without any meaning.
[00:02:38] Here's something important.
[00:02:40] Apathy is a response.
[00:02:42] It's our brain and body's way of saying something's not right.
[00:02:48] It's not a character flaw. It's a signal.
[00:02:52] I want to talk a bit about how apathy finds its way into our lives.
[00:02:57] Because it's not like we wake up one morning and decide, I think I'll just stop caring today.
[00:03:05] No, that's not what happens. Apathy builds slowly over time.
[00:03:10] And usually it comes from a combination of emotional overload, disconnects and unmet needs.
[00:03:21] One of the most common causes is emotional exhaustion.
[00:03:26] We give and give, at work, at home, in relationships, and. And somewhere along the way, we forget to refill our own cup.
[00:03:36] It's like running a machine nonstop without Maintenance. Eventually it doesn't break.
[00:03:43] It just slows down.
[00:03:45] Maybe shuts off or starts doing the bare minimum it can do.
[00:03:51] Another big reason for apathy is we become disconnected from our purpose.
[00:03:58] Have you ever worked really hard at something only to realize it wasn't actually what you wanted?
[00:04:04] Maybe it was a job that paid the bills but never fed your soul. Or a dream that belonged to someone else. A parent, a boss, society. But not to you.
[00:04:15] I've done both those things, and it took me a while to figure it out.
[00:04:21] When we don't feel connected, what we're doing, apathy creeps in.
[00:04:25] And it doesn't always show up as a dramatic burnout. Sometimes it's quiet. We stop showing up early. We stop asking questions. We stop getting excited.
[00:04:37] We just coast.
[00:04:40] There's also a kind of apathy born from repeated disappointments.
[00:04:45] If you've tried something and failed or poured your heart into something and it didn't work out, it's natural to start protecting yourself.
[00:04:55] We say things like, that's not worth the effort, or I'm done caring, or just, I'm done.
[00:05:05] But deep down, it's not that we don't care.
[00:05:09] It's that we're afraid to care again and get hurt.
[00:05:13] Apathy becomes like a suit of armor. And sometimes, especially after major life events grief, loss, a health scare, or even retirement we lose our sense of identity.
[00:05:29] Who am I? Without that job, without that role, without that person, we question it.
[00:05:36] That uncertainty can lead us to disconnect emotionally.
[00:05:41] Not because we want to, but. But because the ground underneath us feels unfamiliar.
[00:05:48] If you're like me, and you might be feeling a bit apathetic, I want you to understand this. Apathy doesn't happen overnight.
[00:05:57] And it's not your fault.
[00:06:00] It's your body, your mind, your heart, all responding to a season that's been heavy. The good news is, you're not stuck there.
[00:06:14] We've got to understand that the most dangerous thing about apathy isn't how loud it is.
[00:06:22] It's how quiet it is.
[00:06:24] It doesn't scream for attention like anger or fear. It whispers, it numbs.
[00:06:31] It slowly disconnects us from things that bring us joy, purpose and meaning.
[00:06:37] We stop doing the hobbies we once loved.
[00:06:41] We delay the projects we were so excited about last month.
[00:06:45] We avoid making plans with friends not because we don't like them, but because you just don't have the energy to engage.
[00:06:54] Even things like prayer, meditation or journaling feel flat.
[00:07:02] It becomes easy to say, what's the point?
[00:07:06] And when we have that mindset. It's really a slippery slope.
[00:07:11] Apathy can also affect our physical health.
[00:07:15] If we go to the gym or we run or whatever, maybe we start skipping a day.
[00:07:21] We start eating out of habit, not for nourishment. It's noon. I gotta eat lunch.
[00:07:28] I don't really care what I eat.
[00:07:30] Our sleep patterns change.
[00:07:33] It can become an escape to go to sleep.
[00:07:37] Or sometimes we'll struggle to even get to sleep.
[00:07:42] It's kind of like life loses its sharpness and everything just feels dull to us.
[00:07:50] And socially, we begin to isolate ourselves.
[00:07:54] Not out of resentment, but out of emptiness.
[00:07:57] We stop reaching out.
[00:07:59] We ghost people. We tell ourselves, I'll text them back tomorrow. But tomorrow never comes.
[00:08:07] And here may be the hardest part. Other people don't often see it because we're still functioning. We're still going to work, still smiling in public, still checking off boxes.
[00:08:19] But for us, inside, there's a fog.
[00:08:24] Now, the longer that fog hangs around, the harder it gets to imagine what life felt like before the fog.
[00:08:35] But I want to tell you something.
[00:08:37] If you're in that fog right now, you're not broken.
[00:08:41] You're not alone.
[00:08:43] You're not beyond help.
[00:08:45] You're human.
[00:08:47] And you're allowed to feel tired.
[00:08:49] But you're also allowed to get better.
[00:08:52] So let's talk about the climb.
[00:08:55] Because getting out of apathy isn't about snapping our fingers or forcing positivity.
[00:09:02] It's about reigniting the smallest spark and then protecting it while it grows.
[00:09:09] Step one.
[00:09:11] We have to acknowledge it. We have to accept that we have apathy.
[00:09:17] Name it. Say it out. I feel numb. I feel tired. I feel disconnected.
[00:09:25] By naming it, it takes away some of its power. It puts us back in the driver's seat.
[00:09:32] Next, revisit your why.
[00:09:35] Not as some grand purpose, but in a quite personal way.
[00:09:39] Ask yourself the following.
[00:09:42] What used to excite me?
[00:09:46] When did I last feel energized?
[00:09:49] What makes me feel most like myself?
[00:09:53] Sometimes the answers will surprise you.
[00:09:56] It could be art, music, helping others, or learning something new.
[00:10:01] Even if it's something small, lean into it.
[00:10:06] Then take one step.
[00:10:09] Not five steps or 10 steps, just one step.
[00:10:14] If you used to love writing, open a journal and write one sentence.
[00:10:19] If you used to love walking, go outside and walk for five minutes.
[00:10:25] If you're just being overwhelmed, clear just one corner of your space.
[00:10:31] Movement creates momentum.
[00:10:34] Apathy wants you stuck.
[00:10:36] Prove it wrong by starting small.
[00:10:40] Another key.
[00:10:41] Change your input. What you feed your mind matters. We all know that if all you're Seeing is stress, conflict, and perfection. Online, of course you're going to feel bad.
[00:10:53] Curate your environment.
[00:10:55] Watch something uplifting. Listen to a podcast that stirs your thoughts. Spend time around people who bring light, not darkness.
[00:11:06] And perhaps most important, it's okay to rest without feeling guilty.
[00:11:12] You're not lazy for needing a break.
[00:11:15] Rest is not the opposite of growth.
[00:11:18] As a matter of fact, it's a requirement to grow.
[00:11:23] Sometimes overcoming apathy isn't about pushing harder.
[00:11:28] It's about letting go.
[00:11:30] Loosen your grip.
[00:11:32] Give yourself permission to heal.
[00:11:35] You won't feel better overnight, but if you commit to one spark each day, you'll find your way back to yourself.
[00:11:44] Now, when that spark turns into a flame, protect it, feed it, and share it.
[00:11:52] Because someone else out there might need your story to help reignite their own.
[00:11:58] I have struggled at times with apathy. So I want to say that if you're feeling apathetic right now, then I'm talking to you.
[00:12:09] You're not broken. You're not lazy, you're not unmotivated.
[00:12:14] You're just tired. And tired people need restoration, not judgment.
[00:12:21] Inside you, the spark's still there.
[00:12:24] It might be buried under stress and disappointment, but it hasn't gone out. So give yourself grace, be patient, and take one small step today.
[00:12:36] Not because you have to, but because you can.
[00:12:42] And that's where it all begins. That's where the healing all comes from. One step, one choice.
[00:12:49] One. Maybe. I'll try.
[00:12:52] Before we close, I want to leave you with this.
[00:12:56] Apathy doesn't mean you've given up.
[00:12:59] It just means you've been caring too much for too long without caring for yourself enough.
[00:13:06] So today, do something small. Breathe. Stretch, laugh. Write down one thing that brings you even the smallest joy, and do it.
[00:13:17] And remember, you're not alone in this.
[00:13:21] We've all suffered apathy more than once in our life, and we did the things I've talked about to push through it and get over it.
[00:13:32] I do want to say something. I've been doing this podcast for a year now and I've enjoyed it tremendously and I appreciate everyone that listens to it.
[00:13:44] From bottom my heart, I want to thank you.
[00:13:48] I wish you much success.
[00:13:51] Remember that your future belongs to you.
[00:13:54] Stay humble, be kind, love unconditionally, and laugh often.
[00:14:01] I hope that you have a super day and pray that God blesses you in a super way.
[00:14:07] And as always, more power to you.
[00:14:12] Thanks again and God bless.
