PROCRASTINATION

As we have officially moved into the Fall season, many of us may be wondering what happened to the year. The ‘holidays’ are staring us right in the face now, as is the end of the year itself, and we may be trying to figure out what happened to all those things we were going to get accomplished back when the year was tender and new. We may be tempted to blame it on the ‘speeding up of the universe’ that our physicists are telling us about, but secretly we know that for us, this is nothing new at all. This is a yearly pattern that repeats over and over again, and the cause is procrastination.

As I am working with clients who have this issue [those who have at least overcome it enough to get them through my door in the first place], it is apparent that there are many reasons for this behavior, and each person’s sub-conscious architecture is unique in regards to working through this issue [and the inevitable sub-set of issues which supports it]. As with any other behavior, it is important to find out what the behavior is ‘getting’ for the client, or put another way, what the behavior is ‘doing’ for them.

Some of these reasons may be related to a fear of failure. The procrastination habit may be ‘protecting’ the client from an experience of failure by keeping them from even attempting to do what it is that they feel they want to do or have to do. The subset of issues that may be supporting this ‘reason’ may be related to poor self-image [feelings of inadequacy, of not being competent, or prior experiences of doing poorly or being ineffectual.]

On the other hand, procrastination may also be the result of a fear of success. In this case the subset of issues may revolve around feeling overwhelmed and knowing that if they accomplish more, more will be expected of them. Fear of success may also have to do with lifestyle changes that could feel overwhelming to the client. In other words, if they became successful it may result in moving to a nicer part of town, getting a better car, and possibly alienating their current circle of friends and family. In the job situation it may mean a promotion which would alienate them from familiar co-workers.

You might have noticed that I used the word ‘may’ a great number of times. That is because, as I said earlier, each person is unique in their reasons for holding onto behaviors that are sabotaging growth and progress in their lives. I have merely outlined for you some of the more common dynamics underlying the behavior called procrastination. There are actually many other reasons or causes of this behavior that have nothing to do with fear of success or failure, and sometimes they could even include a combination of dynamics that may appear to be opposite on the surface, but are uniquely linked within the client’s worldview.

If you are aware that the years fly by, each one bringing you no closer to accomplishing your goals in life, you may be ready to address your procrastination head on. One thing that helps is to ‘stay in the moment’ as the Zen philosophers would advise us. Instead of living out the possible future scenarios of what might happen in your mind, just let yourself take it one step at a time. If you are ready to let go of limiting beliefs and thought patterns, disempowering behaviors, and are ready to get the most out of your life, then step out of the box you have yourself in, and do something out of the ordinary.

There are many positive steps to choose from. You can read self-help books and practice what you learn from them. You can take classes to expand your knowledge base, self-esteem, and confidence. You can join a group or organization that will support your growth. And, of course, you can pick up the phone and make an appointment with your friendly local Hypnotherapist to learn the tools which will help you bust through those limiting beliefs and thought forms and find the inspiration and motivation to move forward with your plans and goals. It’s up to you. After all, what could be worse than watching another unfulfilled year slip by?