I am less curious about things

I can't read very well

I'm sloppy

recently the unattractive effects of anhedonia--or rather the inability to have interests--have been hard to hide

I must hold myself to a higher standard. I have been trying to raise my standards for myself recently

I hope for my higher standards to include:

-a fight to win attitude
-better indulgence of my hobbies so that I can follow my curiosity without feeling like killing myself
-ability to identify and follow passion
-less sloppy appearance
-cheerful and engaging attitude at work

in my opinion, if I just get a little more lust for life, and follow my curiosity to gain knowledge and experience, the effects of depression and failure will lessen

is this something therapy could help with, or just me? I'm curious what people actually ask their therapists about because every problem I have just seems like a self-solve situation

can I ask a therapist to help with these practical effects on my abilities to appear as a normal person?

can I literally say, "I have to perform to this standard (my own standard or that of my work) -- can you help me with reading or trying to be more curious again, or to work on social skills in the work place?"

can I say that I'm having problems exploring my interest in music because I am inhibited?

can I ask them to help me identify situations where I am feeling curious and how to follow through on the curiosity?

I just feel like most of it are things I should just work harder on or just get over. Has a therapist ever even helped anyone on any of these problems?

I don't want therapy to be unfocused. I don't want to recount every moment of my childhood. That is a waste of my time and depresses me. I don't want to be in therapy for years.

Ultimately my problem with therapy is this. I think that therapy is, in the end, self driven, but I don't know exactly where to "drive it". So it ends up being a waste of time with the therapist just kind of going in circles and not proposing any solutions.

I feel that I have to come up with the solution myself.

So please, I would love to hear any situations where a therapist helped in a practical manner, rather than just talking about the past in a roundabout manner.

(posted this in psychotherapy forum as well just to cover my bases)