Understand And Overcome Procrastination

Author : Uta Roggendorf
Procrastination is a label we give ourselves when we feel we don't meet our own expectations. Procrastination in itself is not a bad thing, it's how it makes us feel that's the problem. If you climbed up a mountain and halfway a snowstorm would start – would you keep climbing? Hopefully not! Hopefully you'll seek shelter or return, whichever is safer. Does that mean you've procrastinated? No, it means in that moment you've chosen the most appropriate action. If on Monday you decide you want to build a house and on Tuesday you decide you actually don't have the knowledge – is that procrastinating? No, it's a sensible decision to then either look for another option to build the house (e.g. employ a builder) or to choose another path completely (e.g. buy a house that's already built). The important message is – first, look at what you mean by 'you procrastinate' and take away the label of 'bad', 'failure', 'not achieving things', 'never getting anywhere'.Changing your mind, not taking action is not a bad thing. If your head tells you one thing and the heart tells you another, you're in conflict. It doesn't mean your head is always right and your heart is always wrong or vice versa. It means that you have different choices in life. And you have to decide in each moment which one is the right one. And sometimes waiting is one option. Not doing anything is an option. Perhaps the goal you've set yourself is not right and the lack of drive is actually a sign from your inner guidance system that you need to change your goal.So first of all, stop all judgment of yourself that is associated with the label 'procrastination'. You are simply choosing not to take the action that you decided up on at a point in the past. Then find out if your goal is really what you desire and what it is that blocks you:Take a few breaths and connect with your heart centre. Just say to yourself 'I am now connected with my heart'. That's all it takes, energy always follows thought. Ask yourself, "Is ______ really what I want?" Whereby _____ is the goal or action you feel you're procrastinating with. Go with the first answer that comes into your head. This is always your inner voice that can very quickly get overshadowed by your ego's voice.If you feel that your goal or action is not the right thing to do, then look for something that resonates with your inner voice. It'll be something that'll make you feel excited. And perhaps your inner voice tells you that you shouldn't do anything in that direction. Perhaps you want to take a driving test to get your driving licence but you just haven't got round to it. And perhaps your inner voice tells you that you should just forget about it. Follow your inner voice because it is the voice of your higher self that knows all about you and your life. And perhaps it's a safety message not to take a test. Perhaps you would be more inclined to have accidents and your higher self is trying to protect you.If the answer you received was that your goal or action is definitely something you want to do, you need to find out what blocks you. Again, go deep within and ask yourself "What is it that stops me from taken action to _______" Whereby the blank space is your goal. Notice the first thing that comes to mind. It could be several things that block you and I would advise to repeat the question until you feel that you get no response, or the answer you receive doesn't feel true. You'll notice this in the difference of its energy compared to the first answer. Look up the explanation below.Time
If you feel you don't have the time to take the action ask yourself where your priorities lie. Is there something in your life that's currently taking up time that you could shorten or do without? Perhaps you're going to the gym 4 times a week and you could skip one visit to focus on your goal instead. If there genuinely is no time in your life then you either need to put your goal on hold for the time being until you are less busy, or you need to be more radical and make the time. Perhaps you can take smaller steps to reach your goal, be less ambitious but still get there. For example, if your goal is to set up a web site, instead of having 20 pages in one week, spend 20 minutes twice a week to build page after page. It might take you six months but you'll feel a sense of achievement and you'll probably get there faster than waiting for the magical 3 free days to set it all up.Fear of what others might think
I have this fear myself about many things. The most prominent is my business as a life coach. There are times when I'm terrified what people might think about me who don't know that I'm deeply spiritual and not only that, but my life's purpose is to help others by bringing through communication from God. Surely there must be lots of people out there who'd think I've lost my marbles!If you feel blocked by fear of what others might think about your goal, remind yourself that you're not here to meet others' expectations. You are here to live and express your truth, and your goals are part of that. You might be pleasantly surprised by people's reactions to your goal. Or you might get comments that could easily throw you off track. Remember that others' reactions just reflect what they think and feel. It's an expression of their own fears and beliefs which are not yours. You are unique in your own way and you have every right to live the life you choose, including your goals. Remind yourself that you are unique being with limitless possibilities and power. And what other people think about you does not reflect on who you truly are.Finance
Money – or rather lack of – can be a major hurdle to achieve your goals. And this is difficult to advise on in general terms but here are some tips. Make sure that your assessment of your financial needs is correct. Do your research – how much money do you need and how much do you have at your disposal to meet your goal? Don't base it on your gut feeling but do the sums. Maybe you can change the goal and break it down into smaller chunks to allow you to take your first steps and safe or raise more money at a later stage. Be careful though that you don't financially ruin yourself. Get advice from financial experts. Perhaps you can apply for grants to help you? Look on the internet which has a wealth of resources on financial grants and support. Can you be more innovative in raising cash? Do you have things you can sell on ebay or in a car boot sale? Do you have skills or services that you could sell to family and friends? Could you work extra for some time to raise money?If you are really stuck and can't see a way out, perhaps you have to change your goal or just put it on hold. Either way, don't beat yourself up over it. Ask your subconscious to guide you to a solution and then let the answer form and come up.Fear of the unknown
Another way to describe this category is the 'what ifs'. There's a healthy portion to fear that you should take note of because it might safe you from doing something really stupid. However, we also have the voice in our head that paints the biggest catastrophes when it comes to living our dreams, reaching for the stars, aiming for our goals. It comes up with the weirdest complications that are actually highly unlikely to happen. Know that this is just a voice in your head, one of many. It doesn't mean your schizophrenic. It's just your own expression of all the beliefs, views, opinions you have collected over time through experience or others' experience. You can turn down the voice in your head. Just say to yourself "I acknowledge the voice in my head but I choose not to listen to it." If you have trouble quietening the voice, ask yourself about the most scariest scenarios in your head: "Is this true? Is this really what would happen? Is there any evidence that it would happen?" Chances are that the answer will be no.Remind yourself to live in the moment. Right now, you're not quitting your job, buying the business, or do whatever it is that you want to achieve. Right now, you're taking only the next little step to get you closer. And in this moment, are you ok? If you are, then you can take the next small step and so on until you reach your goal – safe and sound.Lack of knowledge / understanding
If you decide you goal requires you to do something you have no knowledge of you have three choices: Give up, get the knowledge yourself, get someone else who has the knowledge. You have already established that you really want to achieve this goal so you have to decide if you can get the knowledge from someone else, or if you have to acquire it yourself. It might take time, effort, money to get to the end result but think of it in small chunks. Just take each day as it comes, be in the moment. What is it that you can do now to move closer to your goal? Perhaps it's researching courses on the internet, or ordering brochures. Your next step might be to enrol in classes, or buy and read books. Just give yourself time to learn what it is you need to know. Rome wasn't built in a day!Uta Roggendorf is a certified IHSC Certified Higher Self Life Transformation Coach and Teacher. Her work is to teach people how to be their authentic self and to find inner peace in every moment of their lives.Visit her web site for more information: www.authenticawareness.co.uk
Keyword : procrastinate, achieve success, remove blocks, achieving goal, stop procrastinate