You're not depressed. You've read the checklist-no hopelessness, no crisis, no catastrophe. But you're not okay either.
There's this flatness. This sense of going through the motions, waiting for something to make you feel like yourself again. You look at your life and it's fine. Good, even. Job, family, roof over your head. Nothing is wrong. And yet you feel... nothing.
You're not sad. You're not anxious. You're just empty.
If this sounds familiar, there's a name for what you're experiencing: languishing-the neglected middle child of mental health. It's not a disorder. It's not a diagnosis. It's more like a dimmer switch turned too low. You're functioning, but you're not thriving. You're present, but you're not alive.
Going Through the Motions is a gentle, research-backed guide for anyone stuck in that foggy middle ground between depression and flourishing. No toxic positivity. No "just be grateful" platitudes. Just honest understanding of what's happening-and a practical path back to feeling something again.
Inside, you'll discover:
- Why typical self-help advice fails for languishing (and why that's not your fault)
- The science behind emotional flatness and what's actually happening in your brain
- A three-part framework for rebuilding engagement, connection, and meaning
- Why you can't think your way out of not feeling-and what works instead
- Small, sustainable shifts that don't require overhauling your already-exhausted life
- What to do when the blah feeling comes back
This isn't about transformation or 30-day challenges. It's about understanding why you feel this way and finding gentle ways back to yourself.
You're not ungrateful. You're not dramatic. You're not broken.
You're languishing. And there's a way through.
Autorentext
Sarah Mitchell spent seven years as a therapist specializing in anxiety and life transitions before turning to writing to reach more people. Her books translate psychological research into practical strategies for readers who are overwhelmed, exhausted, and skeptical of self-help that ignores real-world constraints. She believes in the radical idea that you're not broken?you're just human, living in a world that asks too much. Sarah holds a master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Ben, their two kids, and a rescue dog named Biscuit who has never once reduced her stress levels.