Do You Have a Motivational Deficiency Disorder?

Take a look at some research recently reported in the British Medical Journal: "Extreme laziness may have a medical basis, says a group of high-profile Australian scientists, describing a new condition called 'motivational deficiency disorder' (MoDeD). The condition is claimed to affect up to one in five Australians and is characterized by overwhelming and debilitating apathy."

Do you know people who might have MoDeD? Are you looking in the mirror at a person who might suffer from such a disease? Have no fear. This quote comes from an April 1 report in the British Medical Journal on purported research by neurologist "Leth Argos" and a team at the University of Newcastle.  If you haven't guessed yet, this report is a spoof. It was created by David Henry, a clinical pharmacologist.

Were you ready to believe the disease existed? Maybe you, like other Americans, have been reading too many Inquirer articles on pop psychology. We love to make disappointment over a bad day depression. We make every boy's short attention span ADD. When an experience can be labeled a disease, there is obviously little the individual can do. We look for drugs to cure and therapists to save us.

Sometimes drugs can be indicated for some conditions, but no matter what the great game of life deals you, learn to play the hand to the best of your own ability. Learn to manage your own motivation and how to bounce back from disappointment into constructive action. Value what others can do to help, but learn to do what you can yourself to be part of the answer.

Even great men of faith know the importance of putting faith into action. Thomas Aquinas once said, "Pray as though it depends upon God. Act as if it depends upon you." Amen! Trade in your version of MoDeD for a little healthy action one day at a time.

(Source: David Henry, British Medical Journal, in Fast Company, June 2006, p. 41)