What you say about motivation and paying attention is key to overcoming not only procrastination, but also the other unhelpful feelings we get – like jealousy, guilt and anger.

Everyone has a different way of doing things – I’m a night-before-the-assignment person and enjoy the intensity and drama. But taking things a step at a time is more effective but dull (to me).

I agree that paying attention to the messages of the information being fed to us through our feelings helps us achieve a workable balance between what we want and what works.

It is fascinating and thanks so much for contributing to the conversation.

So glad to have found your blog – very good post. I used to procrastinate – mostly around school work, and I think a lot of that was low self-confidence, and a fear of succeeding. It was much easier, more comfortable to be an underachiever than to step out into the light. How did I get over it? I am not really sure, though in grad school, I was very motivated to succeed, to the point that I did institute new behaviors – which is what I do now, which is taking things a step at a time, making progress slowly over time instead of all at once the night before an assignment is due.

I really like what you said about emotions and logic have to coincide. Emotion does rule all. So if we are feeling ood about ourselves, and in alignment with our values when we undertake a task, then we are much more likely to move forward. But if there’s a psychological block…I guess that could take many forms. Mine was fear of success, Robin mentions the need for drama. If we aren’t taking action, there’s something else we want more. Staying stuck. A different path. It may be negative, or it may be positive, but it’s informaiton, if we pay attention.

Thank you for a fascinating conversation.

Best,
Linda

I quickly discovered they didn’t want help – they wanted to complain!

To save the friendships, we have this unspoken agreement now – They don’t go overboard with their complaining to me and I don’t volunteer help!

I have conversations with clients that seem to go round and round in circles.

They complain about a situation, but won’t take action to fix it.

The fact that when they are complaining, they are energised, intrigued – almost excited about the drama of the situation. Wondering what will happen next – eager to share the latest installment of the situation with anyone tuned into to their unfolding soap-opera.

Taking the action would stop this drama-fed intrigue.

Yes, a negative spiral. One I find more and more people in.

Shine on, Reeta.

Robin
Robin Dickinson´s last blog ..What makes a mind truly great?

I suspect that the “not knowing what you’ll do with yourself” is an umbrella term for some specific thoughts you may or may not be consciously aware of.

In my next post I am outlining the basic steps that I use when I am working with my clients to help them get behind the fear and establish stronger thinking patterns. Keep an eye out for it – I hope it helps you.

The attention you talk about – is this some kind of validation that then spurs you on to finish the task?

I ask because there’s that type of procrastination that occurs while you’re getting your thoughts together and building your resources. I think this type of procrastination is like the calm before the storm and doesn’t actually prevent you from going forward.

What do you think?

Reeta?

Best as always. I really like your blog.

Robin
Robin Dickinson´s last blog ..What makes a mind truly great?