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Being Called Lazy
When I was working my first real corporate job, my boss called me lazy in front of my coworkers, which came as a huge shock to me. I still remember that moment, not just because it was embarrassing, but because I never saw myself as lazy. His accusation made me reflect on how out of sync our perspectives were. I realized I didn’t want to be seen as lazy, and that label felt like a personal attack, like I was a lazy person.
Rethinking Laziness: It’s Not Who You Are
Looking back, I probably wasn’t totally invested in the work I was supposed to be doing, and this appeared as lazy to my boss, while at the same time knew that I was a hard worker. I just didn’t realize that I wasn’t giving it my all, because I knew in the back of my head I wanted to get out of that job. I didn’t realize that anyone could tell. When you care about something and have a passion for it, it shows in your work.
The Damage of the “Lazy” Label
Often times, being called lazy becomes part of your identity, especially if you’ve heard it when you were younger, like at home or in school. This mindset can stick with you into adulthood, making you take on the trait and believe that you really don’t have a good work ethic. I think it’s important to see laziness not as a personal trait, but as a sign you haven’t found what you care about yet.
Find What You Care About
I used to hate reading because I was forced to read books I didn’t like in school. Later, I found books that genuinely interested me, and now I consider myself an avid reader, and love reading. I couldn’t see myself as a reader before, because I didn’t find what I cared about yet. I think the same is true with laziness. It’s not that you are lazy, it’s just a matter of finding the right interests and passions.
A Perspective Switch
If you’re feeling lazy, try asking the question, what do you actually care about? Don’t buy into the idea that you’re just a lazy person, you might simply be out of alignment with your passions and values. Don’t let “lazy” define you, it’s not who you are.
Let me know in the comments, has anyone called you lazy before?
This article was drafted with the help of AI (castmagic: podcast to text) but then reviewed and edited by a human being.