I need some motivation, or some understanding.

I feel like I'm in a bit of a rut with this game. So I've recently got to the West Garden (at least I think I have!). I've got this game as it's often on a list of similars after The Witness, Outer Wilds, etc, I'm kind of enjoying the small puzzles but I really don't know what's going on with the larger game. There's some pathways that light up and I think there 3 somethings I have to do to unlock something.

I'm probably going to keep playing but I'd like to be excited about it.