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Belonging to Tomorrow, Missing Today
Who among us has not put off until tomorrow what we should have done today - only to find that when tomorrow came our thinking was still: 'Well, there's always tomorrow...'?As far as procrastination is concerned, tomorrow seems to play an extraordinarily important part in our lives. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the very origins of the word procrastination mean 'belonging to tomorrow'.
Odd considering all we ever really have is today.
There seems to be no getting away from it, procrastination is just part of the human condition, something we all engage in from time to time.
It's nothing to become overly concerned about, of course - in fact, a little procrastination may even serve a useful purpose, affording us a welcome break or breather. We soon get back in there, taking care of those things that really do need our attention.
Yet with chronic procrastination, this simply isn't the case. Indeed, it can turn us into our own worst enemy.
When procrastination becomes a real issue is when it consistently prevents us from doing what really does need to be done and done now.
If we were to ask most people exactly why they procrastinate, we'd very likely get a whole catalogue of familiar excuses: 'I need to be in the right mood'; 'There's still time'; 'I work better under pressure'; and on and on.
What we're less likely to get is the truth.
Because the truth is that, most often, we have no clear idea why we procrastinate. We just seem to find ourselves caught in a web of delay and postponement, putting off things and missing opportunities.
And all the time the pressure builds until frustration and self-disappointment set in, which just complicates and compounds things, maybe even adding an element of guilt that makes us feel even worse.
If this sounds all too familiar to you, then read on, but be prepared for some adjustments in your thinking, because I'm going to list some of the real reasons people procrastinate, as determined by researchers at
Ohio State University.
As you read, it might be worth noticing just how many of these real reasons have to do with emotions and with self-belief.
Perfectionism -- When we equate performance with self-worth, procrastination seems to offer protection from failure. 'If I don't start, I can't fail.'
Need for Love -- When we feel others will only accept us if we perform well, procrastination seems to protect us from rejection. 'If I don't begin, I cannot be rejected.'
Anticipating the Worst -- When we can only imagine disaster as the outcome of our activity, then procrastination seems to protect us from anxiety. 'If I delay, then I might avoid catastrophe.' Self-Judgement -- When we judge ourselves too harshly, procrastination seems to offer protection from feelings of self-hate and shame. 'If I don't begin, then I can't beat myself up.' Depression -- When we feel overwhelmed, then procrastination appears to protect us from feelings of helplessness. 'If I don't make a start, then I won't sink.'
Rigid Identity -- When our image of our self is set in concrete, then procrastination protects us from having to change. 'If I don't begin, then I can remain as I am.'
Some pretty hard truths, right? Did you notice how many of these things have to do with feelings of self-worth and self-esteem?
Now, here's the essential understanding: the base and repository of self-belief is the subconscious mind. It's here that both self-limiting -- as well as self-empowering -- beliefs are maintained and stored.
It's in the subconscious mind that beliefs are most powerful, functioning and running just like programmes in a computer, driving outcomes, powerfully affecting our actions or, in the case of procrastination, our lack of action.
Yes, there are a good number of things you can do in order to cope with procrastination, but until the basic, underlying reasons for endless postponement are uncovered and neutralised, then procrastination will continue to rear its slothful head again and again.
And, so often, this involves a re-alignment of our internal self-image -- our sense of self-worth.
There are many ways we can address the beliefs and feelings that drive procrastination. And one really effective way is through the medium of hypnotherapy. With it, we can access the subconscious mind, re-processing and re-adjusting faulty and unhelpful beliefs. It really is a rapid and effective way of doing something about the underlying reasons for procrastination.
In terms of frustration, lack of personal growth and advancement, a 'putting off until tomorrow' attitude really can damage and hold us back. Yet as with so many other areas in life, we begin to make a difference just as soon as we allow ourselves to take that first step towards change.
After all, if today is all we ever really have, what sense is there in fooling ourselves that we belong to tomorrow?
You have it in you to take that first step today.
Why not start now?
"You don't have to see the whole staircase,
just take the first step."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
just take the first step."
Martin Luther King, Jr. Copyright © 2008 Peter Field - All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any form is prohibited
Reproduction in any form is prohibited
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