Fear that my efforts are for nothing

[coffegirl]

My huge problem with success is that,whenever I think about self development or try to achieve a certain aim,I fear that my efforts serve no purpose and that I just waste a huge amount of time.
So I usually end up rethinking my intentions over and over without making the slightest progress...
I must admit that I dislike to procrastinate on my PC and I would love to leave my shell and use my potential.I would love to make achievements,but then I really fear that my efforts are not worth it,so I feel unable to break the vicious cycle of procrastinating and I end up abandonning my plans.
I would be greatful if anyone could give me some advice on how to overcome the fear of useless efforts.

[Peter Toth]

Hi CoffeGirl,

Spending time in self development always worth your time. If you make shift in your identity to better, you will improve your life. Even small change can result in big changes and many of them you aren't even aware of. You cannot know what would happen if you won't do something.

There is easy cure for fear of wasting time on achieve certain aim. By certain aim you mean some goal right

The cure is realization that path is important not goal. Steve wrote about it in this article. Basic idea is you should follow your passion, what you love to do. If you set goals in this area time won't be wasted because even if you don't archive your aims(goals) you will experience great path. You will be doing what you love.

[Thekla]

To me spending time on anything without an immediate tangible result (including personal development) is an investment. Investments have likely gain involved, but there is no guarantee. Only after the fact will I know for sure if the results were worth it, though I believe that the process itself will still teach me something anyway regardless of the results.

Personally, I'd rather take the risk that my efforts might not pay off, than not try. After all, if I'm not doing something else more valuable with my time, what do I truly have to lose?

[st33med]

How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes

[ginkgo]

As far as success if your goal is to live forever, I think that you will fail. So what is your purpose in life. I agree with the people below. Here is a site with info on how to succeed at the purpose of your life.

"The question of the purpose of human life has been raised countless times; it has never yet received a satisfactory answer and perhaps does not admit of one.... We will therefore turn to the less ambitious question of what men themselves show by their behaviour to be the purpose and intention of their lives. What do they demand of life and wish to achieve in it? The answer to this can hardly be in doubt. They strive after happiness; they want to become happy and to remain so."
Sigmund Freud (founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology).

"How to gain, how to keep, and how to recover happiness is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive for all they do."
William James (one of the most prominent psychologists-- graduated Harvard Medical School)

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."
Aristotle (Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy.)

"Happiness, though an indefinite concept, is the goal of all rational beings."
Immanuel Kant (philosopher, Wikipedia says "He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of modern Europe and of the late Enlightenment.")

"It appeared to me obvious that the happiness of mankind should be the aim of all action, and I discovered to my surprise that there were those who thought otherwise."
Bertrand Russell (Wikipedia says "Russell was an influential philosopher and mathematician." His books "have had a considerable influence on logic, mathematics, set theory, linguistics and analytic philosophy.")

"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves."
Blaise Pascal (He was a brilliant French mathematician, physicist and religious philosopher.)

"Pleasure is the object, duty and the goal of all rational creatures."
Voltaire (He was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. Voltaire was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works.)

"Life finds its purpose and fulfillment in the expansion of happiness."
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

"I believe that the very purpose of life is to seek happiness."
Dalai Lama --From his book, The Art of Happiness (1998).

Also you start out by saying "I fear". See my page on Twitter on quotes about fear.

[Andyee]

Well, you should see it that way: If you a quitting something - then it was nothing for you. If you stick with something automatically (you will feel it) - then you have found your "niche".

I was exactly like you, until I discovered the pleasures of public speeking.