The Secret For Overcoming ProcrastinationBy Dr. Robert Anthony
Why do you procrastinate? Why do you not do the very things you want to do? Why do you have great dreams, but don't take massive action to make them come true? The answer lies in Newton's third law of physics: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction Let me explain: Let's say you want something, whatever that "something" is. Let's call it "success" to keep it simple. The bottom line is this: if you want success, and you want it more than anything else in the world, you will get it. However, if you want to run away from your fears to a safe place, a place you feel secure, then you want the security MORE than you want the success. This is why you don't achieve those great dreams. The excuses or "reasons" will ultimately sound like: "I'm not smart enough" "I don't have the money" "I don't deserve more than I already have." "I don't have enough education" "I don't have the qualifications to do this" All of these excuses are what keep us from our dreams. The way to discover what we are hiding from ourselves is to learn to ask the right questions. We KNOW all the answers. The problem is that we don't ask the right questions. Here are two questions you can use in almost any quandary: "What is the BENEFIT of me not realizing my dreams?" "What am I getting out of it?" Trust me, you ARE getting a benefit or a PAYOFF for not realizing your dreams. You must discover what it is in order to eliminate it. One of the hidden benefits or payoffs is not having to leave our comfort zone. Even if we're unhappy where we are, we have convinced ourselves that going after what we want is more difficult and more painful than staying where we are. We may be miserable, but at least we're comfortable. The second question is: "What am I afraid will happen if I ...................... (fill in the blank with the dream) This encompasses the changes in lifestyle we will have to make in order to achieve our dreams. Also, what others will think. In order to have the success you want and deserve, you must answer and resolve these two simple questions. Okay, so what do you do? First, turn off the phone, TV, stereo, and all other distractions. Then get a pen and paper and write at the top of the page: "The benefits of NOT realizing my dream are:" List a minimum of 20. If you can't "think" of any, then just "guess" and write them down. About the time you reach 10-15, you subconscious mind will take over. Write anything that comes to mind, no matter how trivial or insignificant. Just allow your mind to wander and go where it takes you. Get as specific as possible. Very few get past this point before they have some very interesting answers come up. Now ask yourself how your fear or procrastination has served you thus far. Realize the fear is there for a specific purpose. Find the purpose and ask yourself if it still serves you to have this fear. Perhaps it's time to let go of this fear and stop procrastinating once and for all. When you've lost the need for the fear, you'll just naturally let it go (if you're ready to do so). And when you let it go, you will be free to move toward the thing you say you want----and you'll do it with ease and joy. Are you ready to stop procrastinating or are you going to put if off a little longer? The choice is yours. In life you can only have two things - Reasons or Results - and Reasons don't count! You either have what you want, or you have "reasons" why you don't have it. Procrastination is a disease. The cure is convincing yourself that it no longer serves you. Until next time. Your partner in change,
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