Understanding the Connection Between Physical and Mental Well-being

The absence of motivation and purpose can be a result of a depleted body budget. In Western culture, physical experiences are often pathologized while mental experiences are not. Sometimes feeling fatigued indicates that the body is running a deficit and needs care. Mood can reflect the body's physical state rather than a problem in the world. Stress is the brain preparing the body for a big metabolic outlay, and experiencing it repeatedly can deplete the body budget. Recognizing these issues as body budgeting problems and taking care of oneself can lead to feeling better and having more energy and motivation.