I’m a recovering procrastinator – and not at all afraid to admit it, especially now that I see this big bugbear for what it really is.
Who amongst us is not guilty of a little procrastination once in a while? We put off doing things we think aren’t terribly important or which can wait just that little big longer… or until a deadline looms uncomfortably close.
A few months ago, I finally figured out that it was my need for perfection that was the root cause of my procrastination.
In my quest for understanding more about this bugbear, I discovered my own twelve steps that put me pretty much on the road to recovery.
1. Understanding the dynamics of how things work
Everything in the Universe operates with Law of Attraction in the background. Each thought carries a vibration and therefore is capable of attracting thoughts that are on a similar vibrational frequency. This creates momentum which can move in any direction – beneficial or not.
Procrastination like everything else, is all about the balance of energy in one’s psyche. The thoughts we think, carry a vibration that is more real than any of us might care to admit.
2. Making peace with the ‘enemy’
People who procrastinate are actually wiser than those who rush into action. Procrastinators are sensible enough to know that their energy (their net balance of thoughts) is not lined up and they realize on a subconscious level that this does make a big difference.
Before I realized that the need for perfection was stalling my efforts, I too procrastinated without knowing why I found myself hesitating.
Simply put, no amount of action can compensate for energy that is not aligned.
3. What is this ‘energy’?
This energy is the chatter of thoughts that percolate our minds everyday. We want many things, but we often sabotage our own desires, with doubt.
4. Your power is in the ‘Now’
No matter how bad things may have gone in the past or how critically your actions have ever been evaluated, everyone’s true power really begins in each new moment. As conscious creators, we do have the power to direct our thoughts in a way that is more productive.
5. ‘And’ or ‘But’
Consider something you really want and then pay attention to the thoughts that follow. For example, take this simple statement of intent:
‘I’d like to write an article…’
‘I’d like to write an article but I’m not sure who’s going to resonate with it.’
Or‘I’d like to write an article and I’d like a lot of people to resonate with it.’
The first statement has plenty of doubt, while the second one is open to possibility.
(There’s nothing as frustrating as having split energy, when you want one thing but doubt that you can ever achieve it.)
I know this may sound like a trivial point, but it does make a huge difference. Try it for yourself and see.
6. Rev up your energy
Each of us gets to choose what we want in life and it’s up to us to get our energy moving in a direction that serves us.
Start with anything that you think is fun or interesting to do. It may not necessarily be on the subject that you are procrastinating about. But it creates a feeling of satisfaction which can be the starting point for some positive momentum. A happy vibe puts you in the right mood to approach your bugbear with less trepidation.
7. We’re all in it together
The Universe (or God) is certainly able to provide anything you desire, but you have to be a vibrational match to it. Religions call this faith, which is that certain ‘trust’ which allows you to surrender to a higher power, enabling you to move steadily towards your goal without diluting it with doubt.
I guess we all assume that hard work and action is the only way to yield results.
I buy into the philosophy that getting your energy aligned (i.e. creating a positive and fertile environment) before taking action, is the magic button that opens the door to anything you set your heart on. Circumstances and events line themselves up perfectly and things seem to fall into place pretty effortlessly.
8. Every step counts
Creating a cheerful atmosphere for yourself is the first step. Taking the teeniest step towards the very thing you had been procrastinating about is the next step. If it was an article you hadn’t yet got down to writing, maybe putting a few words down on paper might be a good start. It doesn’t even have to be something spectacular – just starting it is a great step forward. As the saying goes, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. And so it is. One cheerful step leads to another and another.
9. Use your emotional radar
It’s easy enough to slip into shades of dissatisfaction, especially if you are a born perfectionist and have some high standards to meet. But you can use your emotional radar to ‘feel’ if you are on the right path or not. A cheerful feeling means you are harnessing some positive momentum and have more likelihood to moving towards your goal, rather than away from it.
10. Harnessing your own cheerleaders
It’s great to have people who encourage your efforts but it can get exhausting for them too, especially if they feel duty bound to do so. I think the best cheerleader one will ever need, is a feeling of satisfaction. Each thought of satisfaction vibrates like a veritable cheerleader. And by harnessing more of these satisfying thoughts you can put together your own little team of cheerleaders tucked away quietly in the privacy of your mind.
11. Let everyone else off the hook
When you are focused steadily enough on your goals you are the only person who has any obligation to keep them in sight without worrying over any current situation that has the potential to derail or sabotage you. People might give you their perspective on what you should do, which can be dampening or maybe even infuriating. But it’s your job to calmly refocus and get your act together, so to speak.
12. Follow your path of least resistance.
Only you can truly know what floats your boat and what does not. There are many paths to achieving any goal and you decide what the best fit is for you.
Here’s a lovely insight I came across recently from Abraham Hicks, which makes perfect sense:
“Make a decision and then make it right. There just are no wrong decisions. You could go this way, or that way, and either way will eventually get you to where you want to be. But in the moment you start complimenting yourself on the decision you’ve made, in that moment, you come back into vibrational alignment with who you really are.” – Abraham Hicks.
Oh by the way, I did say I was a ‘recovering’ procrastinator, didn’t I? If I were fully recovered, this post would’ve been out much earlier;)
But I’ve made a big step in my own journey and if you’d like to take a leaf out of my book, you’re more than welcome to do so!
© 2018 G.A.I.L
Law of Attraction Really Works 