What’s the Point In Trying Syndrome

Imagine waking up every day, knowing exactly what you want to do… but feeling like you can’t make your goals happen. So why even try?

Sound familiar?

Welcome to “What’s the Point in Trying Syndrome.”

It’s that gut-wrenching state of mind - where you give up before you even begin - because you’re convinced that nothing good will come of your efforts.

Maybe you feel that way now - about….

• trying to lose that extra ten pounds

• writing the screenplay you’ve been talking about for years

• looking for a fulfilling relationship

• just getting out of bed and facing another day at a job you hate

This isn't just laziness or a bad mood kicking in.

It’s a deep, existential dread that what you do doesn’t matter - because no matter what - you’re screwed.

This mindset can hit anyone, at any age. But it tends to sneak up more aggressively as we rack up more life miles and face more failures.

The Science Behind Why We Stop Trying

Psychologically, this “What’s the Point Syndrome” is often called "learned helplessness."

It’s a term psychologists coined after doing some pretty cruel animal experiments (in the 1960s and 70s).

• Dogs were repeatedly subjected to adverse conditions - without the ability to escape.

• Eventually the dogs stopped trying to escape at all - even when the opportunity was blatant.

This negative shift in behavior was a “learned helplessness” conditioned response - a result of prolonged negativity and disappointment.

Humans aren’t much different.

When life repeatedly smacks us down, we start to feel that no matter what we do, it won’t matter. This leads to a cocktail of despair and apathy - that no amount of motivational Instagram posts can cure.

Plus, there’s a psychological theory called “Cognitive Distortions” - which causes us to give up.

Cognitive Distortions are when you have an exagerrated perspective - that things are forever going to suck.

• For example, you tell yourself things like "I’m too old to start," or "I’ve tried everything possible already."

Basically, Cognitive Distortion Thoughts are common rationalizations that lead to premature surrender.

The Brutal Reality of Giving Up

When you fall into the “What’s the Point?” mindset, it doesn’t just kill your dreams. It wrecks your life.

• Relationships suffer because you’re not fully present.

• Career stagnates because you’re not taking risks.

• Health declines because you’re too demotivated to take care of yourself.

It’s a downward spiral that feeds on itself, growing stronger with every missed opportunity and every untried attempt.

Yes, the situation is grim. But the good news is that you’re not as stuck as you think.

8 Tips To Get Out of What’s The Point Syndrome

Here are some helpful ways to lift yourself out of the pit of despair and start feeling like what you do matters again.

1. Collect “Against All Odds” Inspirational Stories

One of the most powerful tools to combat this syndrome is finding inspiration in the stories of others who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. These stories show you that success is possible - even when the odds are stacked against you.

Consider the tale of J.K. Rowling, who faced numerous rejections from publishers before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon. Or the story of Colonel Sanders, who founded KFC in his 60s after being rejected over a thousand times. These examples illustrate that age and initial failures do not determine your ultimate success.

So, take time to read biographies, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts about people who have achieved greatness against all odds.

2. Know Your Thoughts Are Liars

Your mind is a powerful tool, but it can also be a sneaky saboteur. Negative thoughts often masquerade as truths, convincing you that you’re not good enough, it’s too late, or you’re destined to fail.

• But here's the deal: your thoughts are often liars.

• Recognizing this is the first step in taking back control of your mindset.

Start by identifying your negative thoughts and examining their validity.

• Are you really too old to start something new, or is that just a convenient excuse?

• Have you truly exhausted all your options, or are you just afraid to try again?

Once you start questioning your negative thoughts, you'll often find they're based on fear rather than facts.

Write them down, challenge them, and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives.

3. Small Wins Matter

Big dreams can be overwhelming, especially if you’re bogged down by past failures. When you’re down in the dumps, even small tasks can feel monumental.

So, make them smaller. Break your goals down into tiny, stupidly achievable parts. Micro-goals!

• Want to write a book? Start by writing a paragraph.

• Want to lose weight? Focus on losing one pound at a time.

This builds a trail of small successes - which boosts your confidence - and dismantles the overwhelming aspect of your ambitions.

Celebrate your tiny victories too. Plus, recognize how they add up to big victories over time.

4. The Power of Yet

A powerful mindset shift is to add the word "yet" to your self-defeating statements.

• Think you can't finish that marathon? You can't finish it yet.

• Feel like you’ll never be happy at work? You aren’t happy at work yet.

It’s a simple trick that keeps the door open to possibility.

5. Visualize Success

Visualization isn't just about dreaming of success. It's about actively imagining yourself overcoming specific obstacles. This mental rehearsal can enhance your real-world performance.

• Research by Dr. Biasiotto at the University of Chicago reported an interesting study about basketball players. Those who visualized throwing successful free throws wound up improving their performance nearly as much as those who actually physically practiced.

So merge doing what you gotta do with visualizing your success - and get double the success benefits.

6. Reframe Your Failures

As you move forwards to your goals and dreams - mindfully reframe how you view your failures. See them not as insurmountable barriers - but as stepping stones to success.

• View “failure” as “fullure.”

• After all, each failure is full of lessons to learn - and full of inner strength to be gained - because you are building up your resilience.

So, embrace a mindset that views challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than evidence of your incapacity.

7. Engage in Positive Self-Talk

The language we use with ourselves influences our mindset tremendously. So mindfully swap your negative self-talk with positive affirmations.

• Instead of saying, "I can’t do this," try, "I am capable of doing hard things."

This positive self-talk can reduce stress and increase your belief in your own abilities.

8. Do Something Joyful or New

If what you’re doing now feels pointless, do something that brings you joy or novelty - so you shift out of your negative mindset.

It doesn’t have to be big.

• Go for a long walk.

• Read a new book - maybe in a genre you normally wouldn’t touch.

The point is to break the cycle and shake up your neural pathways a bit.

When you engage in new and joyful experiences you wind up making life feel more meaningful.

Recap: What’s The Point In Trying Syndrome

Getting trapped in a "What’s the Point?" mindset is like walking through life with a blindfold. You miss out on opportunities because you’ve convinced yourself they don’t exist. But they do exist.

• And yes, trying might not always lead to success.

• But not trying guarantees failure.

So take off the blindfold, shake off the despair, and start small. Life’s waiting for you to give a damn again!

Remember, it's never too late to change the course of your life… one teeny, tiny, do-able step at a time.

If you need further support, I’d love to be your Mindset Reset Coach. Book a FREE exploratory call here now.