What Is Emotional Energy (and Why It Matters More Than Motivation)
- Lauren Mercaldi
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Let’s talk about motivation for a second.
You know… that thing you were definitely going to start in the new year.
Or Monday.
Maybe next week
Actually… maybe February. After you “settle into” the year. Or once life magically calms down.
Motivation gets a lot of hype. But if motivation actually worked, none of us would be procrastinating, burned out, or staring at our to-do list thinking, I know what to do… so why am I not doing it?
Here’s the part most people miss:
Motivation isn’t the problem. Emotional energy is.
So… What Is Emotional Energy?
Emotional energy is the underlying state you’re operating from.
It’s the tone in your nervous system.
The lens you’re seeing the world through.
The internal “weather” that determines how hard or easy everything feels.
When your emotional energy is low:
Everything feels heavy
Decisions feel overwhelming
Even simple tasks feel like too much
When your emotional energy is higher:
You think more clearly
You feel more capable
Action feels… lighter
Same to-do list.
Different experience.
Why Motivation Doesn’t Stick
Motivation is a temporary spike.
Think:
A great podcast
A pump-up quote
A burst of “I’ve got this!”
And then…
Real life happens
Your nervous system gets activated
Doubt, fatigue, or resistance shows up
Motivation fades because it’s trying to override your emotional state instead of working with it.
It’s like trying to drive with the parking brake on.
Emotional Energy Is the Root Here’s the part most people find relieving:
If you’re stuck, unmotivated, or inconsistent—
it’s not because you’re lazy or undisciplined.
It’s because your emotional energy is signaling:
Safety vs. threat
Expansion vs. contraction
Readiness vs. overload
Your system is always trying to protect you. Even when it looks like procrastination.
A Simple Way to Think About It Instead of asking:
| “Why can’t I make myself do this?”
Try asking:
| “What energy am I operating from right now?”
Because:
Action taken from pressure feels exhausting
Action taken from alignment feels sustainable
And no amount of motivation can replace that difference.
This Changes Everything
When you start working with emotional energy instead of against it:
You stop forcing yourself
You stop beating yourself up
You stop waiting for motivation to magically appear
You learn how to shift your state first—and let action follow naturally.
That’s where real consistency comes from. Not hype. Not willpower. Not pushing harder.
But alignment.
Because when you understand your energy, you stop fighting yourself—and start moving forward with a lot more ease.
Let’s Work Together
Helping people shift their emotional energy and move forward with clarity, compassion, and confidence is at the heart of my coaching practice.
If this post resonates with you and you’re curious about how coaching could support you, I’d love to connect.
👉 Contact me here to learn more.
