| There is an ancient saying which goes, "He who waits, | | | | positive, redirection of thought fosters an action |
| waits forever." Literally, the more times you put | | | | pre-disposition, and a commitment to yourself (and to |
| something off, the harder it becomes to initiate action. | | | | accomplishing your goal)! |
| This is partly due to the fact that each time you | | | | 4.) Break the process (of engeging what you've been |
| procrastinate or avoid taking action, you reinforce a | | | | putting off) down into smaller, more easily manageable |
| negative (delaying the initiation of positive action.) The | | | | parts. These smaller parts can be more effectively |
| longer you procrastinate about something, the more | | | | dealt with, as you don't waste unnecessary emotional |
| your subconscious becomes programmed to | | | | energy trying to tackle a potentially overwhelming, |
| associate postponement or avoidance with a certain | | | | complex whole. (For example, let's say you've been |
| activity. And if persisted in long enough, procrastinating | | | | saying you want to get into shape. but you find |
| can - and will - become a life abridging habit! | | | | yourself procrastinating about engaging required |
| But, like all habits, it can be broken. To do so, you must | | | | factors. Now, you'd just focus on (and deal with) one |
| establish and reinforce a new, success inciting action | | | | aspect of the process until you've mastered it, and feel |
| response to replace your habit of "putting something | | | | satisfied with your results. Then expand your thinking |
| off." In time, this drive to take action will become your | | | | to include another aspect, then another, and so on until |
| natural habitual response to situations. And, you'll then | | | | you're confidently, enthusiastically engaging the whole. |
| find yourself making personal life progress beyond | | | | For example, first attend to your diet, then your |
| what you may have ever thought possible! | | | | workout efforts, then increasing aerobic exercises, |
| The following is a success action-initiating process I've | | | | etc.) |
| developed, and use successfully with clients to | | | | 5.) Maintain cumulative discipline -- your objective is to |
| overcome procrastination. Read it through in its entirety | | | | initiate action, to take the first step, and then |
| before applying it within your own life concerns. | | | | consistently build upon it. After you've broken the |
| Remember, excuses and alibis equal failure; they lead | | | | objective into smaller parts, become completely |
| people to look outside themselves for reasons why | | | | absorbed into dealing with only the part you're |
| they're not successful. Realize though that any/all | | | | addressing. Concentrate your full awareness on what |
| reasons for failure always lie within us! | | | | you're doing while you do it, and focus on expressing a |
| Here's how YOU can now clearly break out of the | | | | peak performance effort and demonstrating maximum |
| procrastination trap...FOREVER: | | | | completion effectiveness. |
| 1.) Make engaging or resolving the situation or task you | | | | When you're satisfied with your level of success and |
| keep putting off a high priority concern — | | | | competency (handeling a chosen task or aspect), then |
| Frequently think about being Pro-Active, and becoming | | | | move forward to your next chosen aspect. The |
| involved. And think of your involvement as a positive | | | | successful mastering of each aspect will afford you |
| opportunity to achieve an important personal goal (one | | | | feelings of confidence, competence, and self belief. |
| enabling you to assert your true ability, success | | | | This strengthens your effort when attending to each |
| capacity, and competence). Write notes to yourself to | | | | new aspect, as you'll have positive expectations and |
| initiate action in the area you've been putting off, and | | | | greater knowledge of your capabilities. Remember: |
| post these in areas where they'll frequently be seen | | | | The whole is the sum of its parts. The stronger and |
| (ex. car, room, office, bathroom mirror, etc.). This helps | | | | more successfully addressed each part is, the |
| to direct your thinking toward the goal, and keeps the | | | | stronger the whole becomes. |
| idea of applying yourself a primary action in your | | | | 6.) Reinforce yourself — acknowledge yourself |
| consciousness. Be sure not to judge this procedure | | | | for action taken and progress made. Become acutely |
| before you try it. The purpose here is to keep your | | | | aware of the feelings of accomplishment and self |
| mind continually occupied with the idea of starting to | | | | respect that result as you surpass previous limitations |
| take action. Apply yourself as outlined, and you'll be | | | | and purposefully act in your own behalf. Emotionally |
| surprised at how fast you'll change! | | | | bask in the wonderful feeling of having done it, and |
| 2.) Twice daily, consider how applying yourself, and | | | | reward yourself appropriately because you stuck to it |
| achieving the goal, will positively effect your life; once | | | | and saw it all-the-way-through. Start small and steadily |
| during the initial part of your day, and once during the | | | | build. You'll be powerfully motivated to act and further |
| latter part, visualize how you conceive your life will be | | | | pursue the successful achievement of your goal |
| after you've totally successfully dealt with or achieved | | | | (objective). Once you get going on a proactive roll, it's |
| the objective. Focus on sensations of confidence, | | | | hard to stop. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, you'll |
| strength, and ability. Feel a strong sense of pride in | | | | gain greater confidence, determination, and momentum. |
| having done it. Clearly, graphically depict this "Future | | | | Each small success "snowballs" into larger success |
| You", experiencing the goal as an already | | | | until, through diligent effort, your actions have taken you |
| accomplished fact in your mind. | | | | where you wanted to go. |
| 3.) Think about DOING, not about excuses-- your | | | | There is a Chinese saying which nicely supports the |
| intention is to become ACTION fueled. So each and | | | | above philosophy — "A thousand mile journey |
| every time you find yourself rationalizing or making | | | | begins with the first step." Take the initiative and do it |
| excuses, mentally exclaim the word "STOP". As the | | | | now! The sooner you start, the sooner you'll get there. |
| word "STOP" obliterates the "excuse" train of thought, | | | | Commit now to yourself and your goal, and apply the |
| then substitute action initiating ideas. Inwardly TELL | | | | above outlined process. You'll then become a person |
| yourself to act, follow through, and exercise the | | | | of action. Remember: Only through doing will you |
| necessary discipline. Instead of finding reasons not to | | | | accomplish! |
| do, you're directly implanting reasons TO do! This | | | | |