Picture this – you’re sprawled out on your couch, your phone in hand, watching meaningless videos, while your to-do list keeps piling up beside you. The weight of procrastination is pressing down on your shoulders, and you can’t help but wonder: Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why can’t I just get things done? What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me? If that sounds familiar, you may want to read this article. With these powerful tips, you will understand why you procrastinate, you will break free from procrastination and find motivation.

Procrastination’s Role

Procrastination, the silent monster that lurks in the corners of our minds, affects us in more ways than we realize. It not only sabotages our productivity but also takes a toll on our mood, health, and career opportunities. It leaves us feeling like failures and doubting our abilities.

But what if I told you that procrastination might be serving a purpose? What if it’s not a sign of your incompetence but rather a reflection of a deeper, ancestral fear – the fear of failure and rejection?

Your Mind Listens to Your Words

Your mind is a powerful tool, and it listens to every word you say. When you constantly express your dislike for a task or your fear of being under pressure, your mind takes it as a command to delay and procrastinate. In essence, you’re telling your mind that you want to avoid these situations, and it complies by urging you to do something else.

But here’s the remarkable flipside: Your mind is equally responsive to positive words and intentions. When you choose to use empowering language such as ‘I’m choosing to do this and I’m doing this right now’ you send a clear message to your mind. You’re signaling that you are in control, capable, and ready to take on the challenge. In response, your mind provides you with the courage and energy to tackle that paperwork that’s been piling up. By applying these strategies, you can break free of procrastination. So why not to use this incredible power of positive language to your advantage and watch how it transforms your productivity and mindset?

Redefining Failure

At the core of procrastination lies a fear: the fear of rejection. Whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, or pursuing a new career, the fear of rejection and inadequacy often holds us back. We’d rather procrastinate indefinitely than face the possibility of being rejected or labelled a failure.

But here’s the truth: you cannot fail by trying. Failing to try is the same as trying to fail. Even if your book doesn’t sell, your business idea flops, or your project doesn’t go as planned, you’ve gained valuable experience and lessons. You’ve shown yourself that you’re not afraid to chase your dreams. By confronting your fear, you break free of procrastination and discover your true potential.

When do you really ‘fail’? It’s when you give up that you truly feel like a failure, but when you encounter setbacks and challenges, that’s when you have the opportunity to grow and improve. Even if your initial attempts don’t yield the desired results, you can look at it as part of the learning process. You can say, ‘Well, I did try that. I realized it wasn’t going to work out as planned, but I learned valuable lessons along the way.’ Embracing this perspective allows you to pivot, find a different dream, create a new plan, and adjust your course. We have the choice to redefine ‘failure’ as not an endpoint but as a catalyst that drives us forward, making us stronger, wiser, and more determined to reach our goals.

Procrastination Protects You from Rejection

Procrastination is a product of an ancient belief that failure and rejection equate to death, and even though it was a case thousands and hundreds of years ago, it is not now. Today, that’s far from the truth.

Let’s take a moment and think of human history. In the distant past, being rejected by one’s tribe or community was a matter of life and death. Our ancestors relied on the safety and support of their tribes for survival, making rejection a potential sentence to isolation and danger. That explains why our minds are hard-wired to avoid rejection at any cost, as it once posed a severe threat to human life. While the world has evolved over thousands of years, this primal fear still lingers in our subconscious minds.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that this fear, deeply ingrained in our evolutionary history, is no longer as relevant in today’s society. Unless we teach our minds otherwise, they continue to respond to this primal fear. By understanding the roots of procrastination and actively reshaping our beliefs, we can break free from its grip and embrace a more productive and fulfilling life.

When we realize that it’s often just more convenient to avoid trying altogether and justify it by claiming that we didn’t achieve something simply because we never attempted it. It hurts less than admitting our idea was not the best one or our product did not sell. That’s why we find solace in the excuse of not trying, rather than confronting the possibility of putting in effort and not attaining the exact outcome we envisioned. But could it be that in ‘failing’ we learnt something? Could it be that that undesired outcome has redirected our focus to other areas that did bring us success?

In my therapeutic practice I’ve realized something profound – often we’re not really afraid but we’re simply held captive by an outdated belief that no longer serves us. In modern times, failure and rejection can be the very catalysts that propel us forward, making us stronger, wiser, and more resilient in the process.

So, the next time you catch yourself procrastinating, ask yourself: ‘What am I getting out of this delay? What is the real reason I’m avoiding this?’ You might discover that procrastination is just a shield protecting you from the fear of failure and rejection.

Lessons in Resilience and Achievement

Consider the stories of successful individuals like Walt Disney, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling, who faced rejection but used it as fuel to come back stronger than ever. Walt Disney’s first animation company went bankrupt, and he was fired from a newspaper job for a lack of creativity. Despite these setbacks, he went on to create one of the most iconic entertainment empires in the world. Similarly, Stephen King’s first novel, ‘Carrie,’ was rejected by 30 publishers. However, he didn’t give up, and today he’s celebrated as one of the most prolific and successful authors of our time. J.K. Rowling, before becoming a household name with the Harry Potter series, faced numerous rejections from publishers. Her perseverance paid off, and she is now one of the best-selling authors in history. These remarkable examples emphasize that failure is not a ‘no’, but ‘not yet’.

Breaking Free from Procrastination Today

In closing, remember this: procrastination is a complex web of avoidance often stemming from the fear of failure and rejection. It’s the inclination to trade temporary relief from action for the long-term fulfillment of your dreams. Yet, consider the stories of luminaries like Walt Disney, J.K. Rowling and Stephen King, who weathered rejections and setbacks to achieve greatness. They understood that failure isn’t an endpoint; it’s just a small delay.

It may seem easier to justify not trying and shield ourselves from the potential of falling short of our aspirations. But herein lies the paradox: by not trying, we inadvertently reject ourselves, depressing our own potential. In today’s world, failure and rejection no longer equate to personal devastation; they’re opportunities for growth and resilience. The only true risk in life is the risk of never trying at all. Begin today.