The Negative Power of Procrastination

The best time to start is now. Right now. Begin now to intend a new mindset. Manifest and actualize a new you.

As I type these words, my mind wanders to so many other places. I'm pretty sure that this state of confusion is caused by simple underlying fear.

Before I began to write this morning, I visualized myself a few years from now. I imagined that as I continued to write daily for at least an hour, as my first task each day, that this new habit of writing would replace the old habit of thinking about writing, but procrastinating.

I realized that the best way to forge this new habit of writing each and every day, was to write each and every day. Still though, there's this fear-based ego part of me that wants to abandon this project and stay in fear.

There's a winter storm building here just outside my home. It began snowing last night. We have a foot or so of snow thus far, and much more is on the way. That's quite a lot for my area. And as a result of this my Internet service is down. This little nagging voice wants me to get stuck in worry. My usual routine was interrupted as I was not able to check my email and social networking sites.

I'm feeling anxious, wanting to procrastinate. I'm wanting to worry. My habitual fears want to run the show.

But embracing failure is also about embracing fear. Courageous people are not without fear; they simply choose to walk through it. So, I'm writing. I'm writing because I don't want to let fear, worry, and procrastination rule me.

The opposite of procrastination is action. The cure for procrastination is action. The solution is action. Whether I feel like working or not, I work. Whether I am afraid or not, I work.

I had a wonderful teacher a few years back. She told me that much of life is about trading addictions, about changing habits. So in the simple act of choosing to write on a daily basis, I'm creating a new habit, a new mindset, a new me.

I'm sure I will fail. Every day. Lots of small failures and disappointments and missteps. And maybe a few not so small. But I choose today to embrace them. They are, after all, a part of who I am. If I embrace my mistakes, I can quickly move through them and continue to flow. If I resist, if I procrastinate the act of accepting my failures, I become stuck.

I'm not, by the way, suggesting this is easy – it surely is not. As an example, I began this book over a year ago. I had it outlined and planned, but procrastinated for over a year. Breaking these old mindsets and habits that have ruled us for decades is not easy. But it is simple, very simple. It begins with recognition, moves through willingness, and lands at a choice. A choice to break free. A choice to act.

To break free of procrastination, simply work, simply take the next action. Right or wrong, be willing to take the next action. By embracing failure, we're indicating to the universe and to ourselves that we will continue on the paths we have chosen. By embracing failure, we're taking away the power of the habit of procrastination.

After you've chosen to be free of procrastination, it's still not so easy to actually take the action on a consistent basis that's required to really change the engrained mindset. Consistency is key. Start small, with one new action you'd like to habituate.

It's been useful to me to think in terms of a one-word business plan. I have many interests and am involved in several pursuits. But at my core, my absolute highest passion is writing. There are lots of facets of writing, especially when tying in publishing, marketing, promotion, etc. The list for a writer might include these actions: write, proofread, edit, collaborate, research, plan, outline, submit for publication, find an agent, find a publisher, design a cover, determine a brand, promote, market, attend conferences, participate in writers' groups, attend classes, etc. etc. etc.

A long and overwhelming list like this can be welcome and fertile ground for procrastination. The one-word business plan brings it back to simplicity. As a writer, my one-word business plan is “Write!”. Your one word business plan, dependent on your purpose, your gifts, your talents, your abilities, your passion, might be inspire, comfort, teach, lead, draw, paint, build, measure, count, or some other word.

When stuck, afraid, lost, confused, or simply in need of direction, I look to my one-word business plan. Write.

All the other stuff I'll get to. It's all important. But none is more important, or more pressing, than that one word.

• Are there things that you've always wanted to try but haven't?

• What are your daily habits? How many of them persist merely to serve your fear of failure?

• Can you see how simply taking action on a consistent daily basis can remove the power of the habit of procrastination?

• What's your one-word business plan?

• When would be the best time to begin to put an end to procrastination? Is today the day? Or will you put it off a little while longer?