Why Wait?

To do or not to do. That is the burning question. Procrastination- a topic very dear to my heart. In fact, I've been putting off writing this article in hopes that something magical will happen.

If you are among the fortunate who are not afflicted, procrastination, for you, may be occasionally lounging on the couch instead of doing the laundry. But if procrastination is a problem for you, images of your extremely cluttered desk, e-mails that you haven't returned, and projects left undone probably come to mind.

When we procrastinate and have unfinished tasks, it has a tendency to zap our energy. Procrastinators have a difficult time relaxing because even when they divert their mind with "fun activities" they always are thinking of what they have failed to do. Procrastination is the behavior of postponing. People who procrastinate may feel internal feelings of mild irritation to downright distress. Some of the beliefs that procrastinators hold can make it difficult for them to change their behavior. A common one is "I must be perfect." In essence this means if I can't create something perfectly then why bother with it at all? If you think you should be perfect, it may seem like a better option to procrastinate than to work hard and risk looking like a failure. Self-critical, catastrophic nervous thoughts can make it difficult for procrastinators to get unstuck. I think procrastinators put unrealistic expectations on themselves that are almost impossible to measure up to. Realizing that we are thinking unrealistically is a key step in overcoming procrastination, but it does not solve the problem. Procrastination has deeper roots than that. Many people who procrastinate are scared to be judged by others or by the the self- critic, who dwells within. Sometimes there can be feelings that our self worth is predicated upon the work we produce. Thoughts like "If I don't do well, who would want me?" Underneath, there is fear that we are somehow unlovable.

Are you setting goals for yourself that are doable and uplifting? Or are you being unrealistic with impossible expectations that just set you up for failure and disappointment? Remember. Progress... not perfection. In hypnosis there is an opportunity to set realistic goals and work on letting go of resistance.