Procrastination steals your joy

Procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder. Mason Cooley

Procrastination is truly the theft of joy. It robs us of our present and our future. Neuroscientists and psychologists write a lot about the "whys" behind procrastination. Even in coaching school, I learned how to help clients work through procrastination. I know from my own life that procrastination often has a deeper meaning. Yes, sometimes it's doing tedious, easy, or menial tasks that I do not want to complete. As the quote says, it makes this easy task harder when I can just do it, and it takes on a bigger meaning in my life than necessary.

But the hard things impact my joy and impede my purpose. Procrastination will have the same impact on you. If your procrastination significantly impacts your present and future plans, I recommend you address the underlying reasons, even if it involves speaking to a professional. Continually delaying despite the negative consequences results from not regulating your emotions behind the procrastination.

For me, procrastination is often due to a fear of failure or disappointment. I fear the unknown next step and whether I will be successful. I self-doubt whether I can do it. I fear changing my circumstances and whether I will disappoint myself or others. I can go on, but it is all based on fear.

So, challenge yourself. If you know you are procrastinating on a critical goal and know in your spirit that it is what you truly desire, address it immediately. Do not wait any further. You are sabotaging your future.