“I can’t” and “I don’t want to” exist on a continuum in the brain—motivation isn’t an on/off switch. Motivation and motor control are part of a single unified process driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Examining how dopamine works provides an opportunity to question our assumptions about reward, anticipation, and self-control. This biological lens helps reframe challenges with task initiation and multi-step directions, allowing us to question our assumptions about procrastination and the Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA).