What are you putting off?

Is there a business you want to start, a book you want to write or a trip you want to take that you just haven’t found the time or energy for?

What about the small stuff; making that call, cleaning that corner, returning that item, changing that address or solving that issue with your phone? 

Many people beat themselves up – or others – for procrastinating, but procrastination may not be as much a character flaw as it is a nervous system response.

There are roots to procrastination that can stem from self-identity, fear or not enough motivation.

Programming of not feeling good enough – someone who was punished for mistakes in earlier years – or has a history of being criticized may associate risks of doing something new or solving an issue with danger. The judgment associated with the risk may put their subconscious into protection mode.

Fear of success is as crippling as fear of failure. Procrastination is a way to stay small, stay accepted and stay in familiar territory.  The soul’s gnawing to expand can put anyone in great conflict.

Some procrastinators are recovering perfectionists who typically want to control outcomes. If they don’t think they can’t achieve a level of acceptance or perfection, they’ll make excuses for laying off.

Procrastination can also be a survival reflex.  The nervous system simply freezes in response to a threat especially when overwhelm is triggered.  Even small stuff adding up is enough for the mind to say, “enough!”

What if self-identity, time, acceptance, scheduling and desire all line up?  Why do we still procrastinate on that which is important to us?

Aha! ~ Maybe there isn’t a big enough Why.

Rob Dial shared with Lewis Howes, that he often poses the question, “If I asked you what the probability is of you making a million dollars – legally – this year, what would be your answer?”

Dial asks because many people would love to make more, have more and do more but they don’t. 

Dial says that the responses of his audiences range from 0% to 5% so he suggests that the task will be to make $1,000,000 or everyone you love dies.  All other conditions, timing and fears are the same, only the motivation is different.  The percentage of people who believe they could earn $1,000,000 legally in a year was consistently 100%.

Now if we could remove any level of fear from the amygdala we might just be full-on risk-takers but that not being possible, we need something more.  That “more” must just be an ironclad Why.

What are you protecting yourself from?

If you’ve been putting things off, first, show yourself some compassion. Then decide that you are now safe to venture, to give and to gain. Build your confidence by doing and power-up with a Why that busts through any limiting belief always and all ways.

Procrastination loses its power when your purpose speaks louder than your fear.

Want some facetime to have a peek at what’s holding us back?  Join us in Human U and let’s tackle procrastination together!