Procrastination – Day 231

Lilies – Photo: L. Weikel

Procrastination        

I think there’s a really weird dynamic going on, within myself at least, when it comes to procrastination.

I’m finding it just makes me sad.

The weirdness of which I speak comes from a perception I think a lot of us have. Or at least it’s a belief I’ve had when I thought about procrastination generally. And that belief is that one procrastinates because they do not want to do something.

In other words, if a person doesn’t want to do something, they put it off. We’ve all seen the sarcastic adage, “Why do it today if you can put it off until tomorrow?” I believe most people embrace that attitude as the primary reason people procrastinate.

Is it Fear? Or is it Anticipation?

But actually? I know from my experience with lots of creative people (and myself) that many people procrastinate because they don’t feel as if they deserve  to spend time on either the pursuits that make them smile (and their hearts sing) or the tasks that will make life better for them in some way.

In my case, for instance, I procrastinate on taking action toward my goals. I procrastinate on putting my self, my dreams, my ideas at the front of the line of my daily “to-do” list.

Funny thing is, if I saw one of my clients doing what I do, I would call them out on it. I would make them choose themselves. I would methodically pick apart each and every one of their excuses for not doing what they were ‘called’ to do. I know I would. And I would persist until I persuaded them to honor themselves.

But it’s a lot harder to call myself out; and it’s harder to persist with the relentless follow through I feel is often so effective in my relationships (and practice).

I procrastinated on something today, something pretty big that I wanted to announce. And yes, something beyond my rate increase, which technically went into effect today.

Perhaps I’ll announce it tomorrow. Yes; perhaps I’ll follow through with it tomorrow. It’s time to stop these shenanigans.

(T-880)