Procrastination

Procrastination is often the cause of failures and less successful outcomes in our lives. We are unwilling to put forth the effort to begin a project, make it work, and see it to its completion. Though we are aware of the sense of satisfaction that is sure to come from completing the process, the mere act of starting can be more arduous that the task itself.

It is easy to conclude that procrastination is borne of pure laziness. Who else but a lazy person would let life pass him/her by all while suffering in the process. If we assume the majority of people in our society want to take active and positive roles in their daily activities, it would be too simple to assert that laziness is the root cause. Going deeper than the surface problem, we can see that at its core, fear is the culprit.

We fear that we are not equipped to handle a situation and so we put it to the side. Maybe we are overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the project. Perhaps we are missing components to make the process go along smoothly, or we are scared that it won’t be done correctly. Whatever the reason, we prefer not to deal with it. We expect that sometime along the line, at an appropriate time before the looming deadline, we will be either blessed with a miracle to occur and the issue will disappear altogether, or we will obtain some new knowledge/skill which will make the process so much easier than before and sure to be handled. Rather, what often happens, as the deadline approaches, our stress level elevates. Though the orphaned issue should not be taking up brain power, it does; a troublesome nagging in the back of our minds asking to be resolved. Our rising fear clouds our minds and we see the situation as even more dire than before; almost an impossible mountain. If we do not snap out of our fear induced reverie, we are sure to fail.

Problem solving strategies, coupled with good organization, will allow us to tackle any problem and seek help as necessary. Once we release our ego, our need to be perfect, we open ourselves to new ways of approaching our problems and previously unrecognized avenues to our concern’s resolution will appear. The mere act of starting, putting pen to paper, induces ideas to spring forth. Once started, the project will gain momentum and once in the flow, you will find that you have always had the tools necessary to master your doubt and worry. And once finished, the project can be put to the back burner, but for the right reasons.

Take the first step with purpose and all the following steps will naturally fall into place.

Learning and Growing

It is September; a time usually associated with the start of a new school year. Students promise their parents, teachers, and themselves that they will study hard and get good grades. In the lower levels of education, studying hard and getting good grades were the central focus. Very rarely was the admonition to “Learn a lot so that you may use the information well someday.” Rather our guiding idea has been the achievement of high marks and the acquisition of more prestigious degrees. The importance of the aforementioned notwithstanding, the journey of learning is a worthwhile endeavor all on its own.

When we open our minds to news ideas, we not only ingest the information presented to us, but we draw upon our past experiences to add context and value to our education. Therefore, rather than simply gaining knowledge about one subject, we are presented with the opportunity to make mental connections to other stored knowledge which increases our awareness and understanding of our environment.

When we are young, we are interested in a multitude of areas; our minds flitting about with boundless curiosity. As we age and allow ourselves to be confined within occupational labels, we often forget about our capacity to learn and explore new realms; resigning our educational exploits to yearly industry conferences and meetings.

Take the time to remember some of the things that interested you as a child. With the advent of the Internet, access to events and likeminded individuals is at your fingertips. Amaze yourself with your rediscovered talents and abilities and you will view your surroundings in a new light and with increased hope. Do yourself the favor of opening up to something new.

Make a commitment to continue to learn so that you never become stagnant and you always continue to grow.

Know Better and Be Better

How many times have we heard someone say, “I know this is my issue,” and then continue on to discuss or enact that issue. Sure, one can appreciate that someone recognizes his/her faults. However, sometimes there is a certain complacency that comes along with declaring one’s issue. It is as if acknowledgement has become some sort of get-away-with-it-for-free pass, because, after all, it is an issue he/she is confronting.

However, is it really being actively addressed, or rather being treated as an unfortunate, yet stubborn trait to be accepted? The issue itself takes on a tangible form as it is scape-goated in lieu of accepting responsibilities for one’s actions. How can you be upset with someone for forgetting important paperwork when, as we know, he/she is forgetful. Once we label ourselves, we take ownership of qualities that do not serve our best interests. It is easy to hold ourselves to lower standards because the set expectations are mediocre at best. Perhaps we should take the position that in the process of getting to know ourselves, we note our faults and failings, and as we periodically review our selves, we can chart our real progress in becoming our better selves. If we rest on our “knowledge,” we deprive ourselves of realizing a truer expression of our core selves.

Knowing that you have faults is vastly different from acting upon them to transform yourself into someone better. Know Better and Be Better.