Meeting Procrastination Head On

Procrastination is insidious. We can become stuck in the thick mud of inertia, unable to move forward for days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years. Projects lay collecting dust, abandoned and neglected, lifeless and without hope. We can see them everyday without even acknowledging them, until finally we don't remember why we ever felt excited about those things. We become disconnected from our passion, because it's easier, life is less complicated that way, we tell ourselves. Passion is messy and it stirs up too many feelings. I'm just fine the way I am, thank you very much. 

But the truth is we're not fine.

Not at all. 

Because an essential part of who we are has been locked away. Our pilot light is a mere flicker of what it once was. We're operating at a diminished capacity and don't even realize it until something jars us awake—a song, a play, a movie, a painting, a poem or some powerful trauma occurs and helps us to regain our sight. We've joined the living dead and coming back to life can be quite a shock, especially when we realize what we've been missing, how much we've given up.

Comfort has replaced passion. It’s often much easier to meet our obligations and then, once met, put our attention on relaxing and forgetting about those obligations. An unending circle of monotony lulls us into a zoned out place where we are simply existing and not living.  

There's a big gap between surviving and thriving. Many of us, once past the fear of surviving get stuck there on a kind of plateau, tired from the exertion required to deal with the wolves at the door, we want to rest awhile and enjoy the fruits of our labors. The illusion of security, at not having to struggle to survive, makes us complacent and we resist the challenge of working toward the next level. 

Survival makes you sharp; it gives you an edge and keeps you awake to opportunity. Take that away and the energy kicks down a few notches, the engine idles instead of revs, life becomes a slow burn. We try and minimize the ups and downs, by minimizing the risks, least we upset the comfort level we've worked so hard to achieve.

Moving around the obstacles of distraction in order to get to the real stuff takes tremendous focus. Our minds jump around randomly landing on idea after idea, magnetically pulling us this way and that. We have to repel that magnetic pull with an energy that is even stronger.

So often it is much easier simply to give in to the whims of our minds. Leading takes strength and motivation. Following only takes surrender. Surrender is a good thing, but shouldn't be done unconsciously. Following the random thoughts our minds spit out to wherever they lead results in a life of chaos and a deep sense of unrest. 

To move to the next level creatively, we need to get in touch with our passion; we need to fall in love again with our dreams. Love will move us forward with far less effort than discipline alone.

We don't want to feel that it’s all work. If we're not enjoying the process, then we shouldn't be doing it.

Repetition, habit, commitment are necessary to build strength and momentum toward our dreams. The process is heart of it. The feeling of accomplishment is its own reward, but that will pass, and we must begin the work again. The work itself has to be its own reward or there is the danger of being seduced by the trappings of success, which when you look at it is simply another plateau of escape, in which you run the risk of drifting away again.

Then there are our inner demons whose sole job is to fill us with self-doubt and make us ask questions such as, "Who am I to think I have anything worthwhile to say?" or "What difference does it make if I do this or not?" or "This is no good." or "I don't have time." or "Nobody gives a shit." 

It’s best to not let these demons get the upper hand. You can shut them out and disarm them by acknowledging them and doing your stuff anyway. They don't know anything. If they did, no one would do anything. Great things have been accomplished in spite of these voices that lurk in the shadows of our psyches. Teach them to heel and they will get out of your way. Just don’t give them the upper hand or they'll knock you out of the ring for days. 

Sometimes you can outsmart them by indulging them completely. If you're having a particularly bad day, quit, give up, say you're never writing another word, painting another stroke or playing another note. Go to bed, watch television, play computer games, but don't do anything creative. Protest, sulk, complain. The next day, you’ll be surprised to discover that after a day of complete rebellion, you can get up with enough energy to complete a mountain of work. (I speak from experience here.)

The demons of self-doubt need to be dealt with just as you would children or pets. Set limitations and boundaries and keep them in their place. Denying they exist will only make them stronger. Face them and let them know that you know they want your attention, but you are busy now and have to put your attention elsewhere.

What about beautiful days, outings with friends and other seductive attractions?

How do we handle those?

With discernment. Ideally, we’ll want to meet our commitment first, then we can play. A balanced life can accommodate a healthy mix of work and pleasure. There are always exceptions, of course. But beware of the tendency to make too many exceptions and sabotage your progress. Then, you’ll be right back where you started. 

A bit of razor’s edge, to be sure.