Procrastination

[drama07]

I'm a chronic Procrastinator. Seriously, it has become a disease. I'm unable to do anything, but mindless junk. I do accept it, as a result I dont suffer through it. It is what it is, but im curious about asking questions about it.

How does Procrastination relate to being present, in the now? Is it just experience? Must I continue to accept this 'as is' and continue to get low grades in university, not prepare for job interviews, be lazy all in all? But then again, it doesn't matter whether im lazy or not. It's all ego

[David21]

I procrastinate too, but that's because I'm depressed and most of the time I just have no motivation to do anything. I leave things to the very last minute (not literally) because sometimes I just can't be bothered with life. I'm trying my hardest to fight it, but it's hard.

I'm not sure if procrastination and awareness of the now are linked, though. Procrastination is simply the act of postponing something to a later date. Procrastination and living in the now can go together. For example, I might say I'll do my work tomorrow, but at the same time I can still say this and be aware of the very moment I am living. I'm not sure that they are linked, though?...It's a tough one!

[Eric Roosevelt]

Procratination usually occurs when we're detached from our own free will. When you think that you "have to" do something - say, prepare for your job interview - you'll feel your energy being drained. Why? Because you've told yourself that you have to. That means you don't have a choice. You've set up an imaginary authority outside yourself.

The trick is to remember that you are the authority. You don't feel like to your work for university? Then remind yourself of the fact that you actually don't have to do it. You're in control. You can do it, put it off, or just completely ignore it. Of course there will be certain consequences for every choice, but keep in mind that you're completely free to do whatever you want.

Remind yourself about that whenever you find yourself procractinating.

[SimonaRich]

I am glad you are familiar with teachings about being in the now (I assume it is Eckhart Tolle you are learning from) because then I can explain procrastination in a way that you would understand.

Procrastination is nothing more than your consciousness telling you that you are not ready to accomplish something and that you should not do that until you become inspired or feel positive towards accomplishing it.

I know there will be many people who would think that it is impossible to keep doing nothing because you do not feel like doing something, but this is only because of the standards of our society which are almost always wrong in some way.

Those who constantly take action out of frustration or because they feel that they have to, are the ones that struggle and cannot make the ends meet.

If you completely trust your higher self and let it express itself through you (rather than your logical mind) you would soon get inspiration to take the exactly right action that would lead you to more and more success.

Here is my article explaining why people who take constant action are the ones that achieve least and how to take less action but achieve much more (podcast):

The Right Action

Hope that helps.

[drama07]

@david

I get ya. I find it hard to do things when I cant find happiness in them. Can someone say, ego. Anyways, i doubt im depressed. I just feel im lazy and hate having to put effort into things.

@eric

Reminds me of pavlina's take on procastination. I do believe that when you 'have' to do something, it's much harder to initiate. It sometimes hard for me to accept having low grades, so I have to do good job on my assignments, which then results in procastination.

@simona

Is it conciousness telling me to do something so that I feel positive OR is that ego? I believe it's ego. My ego tells me that you have to do a good job on assignments or tests so that you can get good grades, so that people will respect you, so that you can be happy and in peace.
It's so true that those who take action because they feel frustrated for being actionless will suffer. I hate it when people advice me that action is all that matters. How can you do anything when you cant accept the current moment. Guessing its just other egos I have to deal with. I feel happy being a procastinator, but when I start thinking about the consequences I find it hard to accept.
Will check out the podcast when I have time

And yes, im familiar with tolle's teachings.

thx all for your responses

[wellbeing]

We adopt procrastination as a behavioural strategy for a variety of reasons. I don't know the particulars of your situation but it has been my experience that the procrastinators I've met have been everywhere except in the Now.

For example, their perfectionism is so great that they've projected themselves into the future where their imagined performance doesn't meet their stringent standards prducing sufficient anxiety in the present to avoid taking action in the present. Similarly, you can identify past programming activated inappropriately in the present which can cause procrastination.

It sounds like you have resigned yourself to your patterns but I would question whether you are operating "in the Now" when you procrastinate. A starting point for such an exploration would be identifying when you procrastinate, what triggers those behaviours, what are you telling yourself, what are you feeling in the moments leading up to your decision to procrastinate and as you procrastinate. Also, what benefits do you get from procrastinating?

You describe your procrastination as a "disease;" that's a good signal to enlist professional help. Just as it's not the most effective to treat--say, cancer (God forbid)--yourself, it would behoove you to take this condition as seriously.

Hope this helps.

[SimonaRich]

Originally Posted by drama07

@david

I get ya. I find it hard to do things when I cant find happiness in them. Can someone say, ego. Anyways, i doubt im depressed. I just feel im lazy and hate having to put effort into things.

@eric

Reminds me of pavlina's take on procastination. I do believe that when you 'have' to do something, it's much harder to initiate. It sometimes hard for me to accept having low grades, so I have to do good job on my assignments, which then results in procastination.

@simona

Is it conciousness telling me to do something so that I feel positive OR is that ego? I believe it's ego. My ego tells me that you have to do a good job on assignments or tests so that you can get good grades, so that people will respect you, so that you can be happy and in peace.
It's so true that those who take action because they feel frustrated for being actionless will suffer. I hate it when people advice me that action is all that matters. How can you do anything when you cant accept the current moment. Guessing its just other egos I have to deal with. I feel happy being a procastinator, but when I start thinking about the consequences I find it hard to accept.
Will check out the podcast when I have time

And yes, im familiar with tolle's teachings.

thx all for your responses

No, your ego is the negative voice that you hear in your head, it is never positive. Positive voice is your higer self, who you really are.

And if you think you should do something to be respected by others, this is not that good. This is your ego trying to please others so that in their eyes you would look better. But you should never seek approval of others, you should only seek approval of yourself.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

I'm a chronic Procrastinator. Seriously, it has become a disease. I'm unable to do anything, but mindless junk. I do accept it, as a result I dont suffer through it. It is what it is, but im curious about asking questions about it.

How does Procrastination relate to being present, in the now? Is it just experience? Must I continue to accept this 'as is' and continue to get low grades in university, not prepare for job interviews, be lazy all in all? But then again, it doesn't matter whether im lazy or not. It's all ego

You use ego as an excuse and accepted procrastination as something healthy as a daily habit, but your frame of thought continuously warns you otherwise.

Hate your bad habits.
When you think of a good idea, do it immediately.

Good luck

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

You use ego as an excuse and accepted procrastination as something healthy as a daily habit, but your frame of thought continuously warns you otherwise.

Hate your bad habits.
When you think of a good idea, do it immediately.

Good luck

Is there a problem accepting procrastination as is? An year ago when i didnt accept it, I suffered immensely thinking that ill go nowhere in life. I felt so depressed. Accepting it for what it is helped me feel more joyful.

I dont hate my 'bad' habits, and dont plan to do so either.It only leads to frustration.

When I think of a good idea, what if I cant do it? Am I doomed?

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

Is there a problem accepting procrastination as is? An year ago when i didnt accept it, I suffered immensely thinking that ill go nowhere in life. I felt so depressed. Accepting it for what it is helped me feel more joyful.

I dont hate my 'bad' habits, and dont plan to do so either.It only leads to frustration.

When I think of a good idea, what if I cant do it? Am I doomed?

There is a problem with accepting it as is. If you want to improve, you can accept the problem but you don't give up. According to the thread starters statement, he does not wish to change, but he knows this is not healthy.

The view that we should accept the bad is not the same as accepting the bad needs to be prevented or to be improved into something good.

Ex.

(negative) I accept i am a procrastinator
(positive) I accept that I need to change from a procrastinator to someone proactive.

Power of positive thinking

If you can't do it? give me some examples i can work with. ^^,

If you can't do it, think of another idea. don't limit yourself to one point of view or just one idea. let your imagination run free.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

There is a problem with accepting it as is. If you want to improve, you can accept the problem but you don't give up. According to the thread starters statement, he does not wish to change, but he knows this is not healthy.

The view that we should accept the bad is not the same as accepting the bad needs to be prevented or to be improved into something good.

Ex.

(negative) I accept i am a procrastinator
(positive) I accept that I need to change from a procrastinator to someone proactive.

Power of positive thinking

If you can't do it? give me some examples i can work with. ^^,

If you can't do it, think of another idea. don't limit yourself to one point of view or just one idea. let your imagination run free.

I think its the matter of putting too much self concern over overcoming procastination. When I feel I have to overcome it, it becomes frustrating and I continue to procrastinate. If I accept it for what it is and just choose to stop procratinating, I'll do it. However, I continue to put too much concern towards it.

For example, I have to do this assignment but I dont want to. If I dont do it, I lose marks, yet that doesn't motivate me enough to do it. I just dont want to do it, yet it should be done. There is nothing that will motivate me... trust me.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

I think its the matter of putting too much self concern over overcoming procastination. When I feel I have to overcome it, it becomes frustrating and I continue to procrastinate. If I accept it for what it is and just choose to stop procratinating, I'll do it. However, I continue to put too much concern towards it.

For example, I have to do this assignment but I dont want to. If I dont do it, I lose marks, yet that doesn't motivate me enough to do it. I just dont want to do it, yet it should be done. There is nothing that will motivate me... trust me.

It's what we call operant conditioning. Negative reinforcement. You're don't want to but you have to or else you'll be punished via low grade.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

It's what we call operant conditioning. Negative reinforcement. You're don't want to but you have to or else you'll be punished via low grade.

Yup exactly! But that's my ego And I dont identify myself as ego, so im joyful. I actually proved it to myself and i think you can too

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

Yup exactly! But that's my ego And I dont identify myself as ego, so im joyful. I actually proved it to myself and i think you can too

okay.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

(negative) I accept i am a procrastinator
(positive) I accept that I need to change from a procrastinator to someone proactive.

those are completely backwards, the first is a positive statement, I AM as I am and I accept it.

the second is negative. This is my ego stating it isn't good enough, it is lacking and needs to be different than what it is. This is resistance and not helpful in the least.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by torilink

those are completely backwards, the first is a positive statement, I AM as I am and I accept it.

the second is negative. This is my ego stating it isn't good enough, it is lacking and needs to be different than what it is. This is resistance and not helpful in the least.

I agree. Didnt notice that.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by torilink

those are completely backwards, the first is a positive statement, I AM as I am and I accept it.

the second is negative. This is my ego stating it isn't good enough, it is lacking and needs to be different than what it is. This is resistance and not helpful in the least.

i beg to differ. ^^ when you realize that you need to change, it's positive. negative is hindering you from moving forward. therefore does not change the status quo, in some cases makes it worse.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

i beg to differ. ^^ when you realize that you need to change, it's positive. negative is hindering you from moving forward. therefore does not change the status quo, in some cases makes it worse.

I believe once you accept that procratination is 'as is' and it is nothing you really HAVE to change because it neither positive nor negative, you have the option to change without any stress, struggle, etc.

I suffer trying to move forward. I suffer when i have to change. Why suffer? Can't you change without sufferin?

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

I believe once you accept that procratination is 'as is' and it is nothing you really HAVE to change because it neither positive nor negative, you have the option to change without any stress, struggle, etc.

I suffer trying to move forward. You suffer when you have to change. Why suffer? Can't you change without sufferin?

that is only applicable if your status quo is good. like you have money to spare, etc. etc. but you'll get no motivation to change if you don't consider the fact that you need to make changes.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

i beg to differ. ^^ when you realize that you need to change, it's positive. negative is hindering you from moving forward. therefore does not change the status quo, in some cases makes it worse.

when you realize there is only what is, then you will understand my post.

there is no realizing that I am "Wrong" or "Need" to "Change" - there may be desire for a new or different experience, but I don't need to beat myself up and engage in negative self talk to do that.

there is no negative hindering anything - other than the resistance to what you truly are and the insane belief you can DO anything to make yourself more perfect & deserving than you are at this very moment.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

that is only applicable if your status quo is good. like you have money to spare, etc. etc. but you'll get no motivation to change if you don't consider the fact that you need to make changes.

the ego NEEDS to do things. it is the voice that whispers that you are not good enough as you are, that you must change or "Grow" and become something in the future. It is that gnawing emptiness in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel either inferior or superior, that makes you talk down to others or hurt others to make yourself feel powerful. it is that hint that only if you do this, that, and the other thing and change this thing or that thing that is wrong about YOU - then you'll find peace, or joy, or happiness.

the voice is a lie and so long as you listen to it and follow it, you are forever searching.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by torilink

when you realize there is only what is, then you will understand my post.

there is no realizing that I am "Wrong" or "Need" to "Change" - there may be desire for a new or different experience, but I don't need to beat myself up and engage in negative self talk to do that.

there is no negative hindering anything - other than the resistance to what you truly are and the insane belief you can DO anything to make yourself more perfect & deserving than you are at this very moment.

^^, that will only apply to you. I am happy to have my own positive talk even though you call it negative.

If it does not work for you, then don't try it. All i can say is this is how I am. I'm happy by improving myself by acknowledging the fact that their are things that I consider to be negative.

What is or what isn't is not the issue, but the fact that procrastination gets you nowhere is.

You can philosophize, cover it with sweet words, but giving up is giving up. :3

[magi13]

Originally Posted by torilink

the ego NEEDS to do things. it is the voice that whispers that you are not good enough as you are, that you must change or "Grow" and become something in the future. It is that gnawing emptiness in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel either inferior or superior, that makes you talk down to others or hurt others to make yourself feel powerful. it is that hint that only if you do this, that, and the other thing and change this thing or that thing that is wrong about YOU - then you'll find peace, or joy, or happiness.

the voice is a lie and so long as you listen to it and follow it, you are forever searching.

The voice is a "!" it reminds me of the things I should take care of. ^^, I find the answers and I'm happy. Just because you think I don't have peace, doesn't mean I'm not at peace.

I don't live in certainty, I live in this wonderful world filled with mysteries waiting to be revealed. And the those thought keep me fulfilled, full and whole. :3.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

The voice is a "!" it reminds me of the things I should take care of. ^^, I find the answers and I'm happy. Just because you think I don't have peace, doesn't mean I'm not at peace.

I don't live in certainty, I live in this wonderful world filled with mysteries waiting to be revealed. And the those thought keep me fulfilled, full and whole. :3.

Then its all good. You found a way to be fulfilled. That means our posts have no use to you. Its all cool. If you're trying to help, thanks, but this must be the thousandth time I heard such advice.

I have improved so much in life since I was 16 & well... I dont feel fulfilled. I keep searching & searching yet with all the advice people give me and then applying them, I still dont feel happy.

I only find peace and joy when im aware of the moment, regardless of my life situation such as being a chronic procrastinator, not having any friends to hang with, etc.

Im guessing you dont suffer at all and are an optimistic person. Good for you

You can realize only till you suffered enough.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by drama07

Then its all good. You found a way to be fulfilled. That means our posts have no use to you. Its all cool. If you're trying to help, thanks, but this must be the thousandth time I heard such advice.

I have improved so much in life since I was 16 & well... I dont feel fulfilled. I keep searching & searching yet with all the advice people give me and then applying them, I still dont feel happy.

I only find peace and joy when im aware of the moment, regardless of my life situation such as being a chronic procrastinator, not having any friends to hang with, etc.

Im guessing you dont suffer at all and are an optimistic person. Good for you

You can realize only till you suffered enough.

^^, To each his own.


But this thread has it's purpose. The reader is entitled to both sides of the coin, before deciding which belief is applicable to him or her, and the right not to choose anything at all.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by magi13

^^, To each his own.


But this thread has it's purpose. The reader is entitled to both sides of the coin, before deciding which belief is applicable to him or her, and the right not to choose anything at all.

Yup

Heads helped me, tails did not.

All is well

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

^^, that will only apply to you. I am happy to have my own positive talk even though you call it negative.

just so long as you accept that your views only apply to you and are no more valid a truth as mine or anyone else's on the forum. We can all give our view's for others to read and determine what if any they choose to believe.

Originally Posted by magi13

If it does not work for you, then don't try it. All i can say is this is how I am. I'm happy by improving myself by acknowledging the fact that their are things that I consider to be negative.

I'm glad you are happy, I wish you nothing else.

Originally Posted by magi13

What is or what isn't is not the issue, but the fact that procrastination gets you nowhere is.

You can philosophize, cover it with sweet words, but giving up is giving up. :3

see but to me that statement isn't true because there really isn't anywhere to go - there is no race, no rush, no hurry - just be.

If you believe procrastination or the acceptance of procrastination is "Giving Up" then you are projecting your own fears of failure onto others.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

The voice is a "!" it reminds me of the things I should take care of. ^^, I find the answers and I'm happy. Just because you think I don't have peace, doesn't mean I'm not at peace.

I don't live in certainty, I live in this wonderful world filled with mysteries waiting to be revealed. And the those thought keep me fulfilled, full and whole. :3.

I was actually just meaning "You" generically - not specifically pointed at you.

I am glad you are happy with who & how you are, because you are perfect right now just as you are.

[magi13]

I don't see procrastination as giving up, when you give up via procrastination is when you loose the game.

I have no wish for perfection, I love being able to change as the situation so requires. This view does not apply to me alone, but to everyone in the forum. ^^.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by magi13

I don't see procrastination as giving up, when you give up via procrastination is when you loose the game.

oh, ok I must have misread that because I it sounded to me like you equated the acceptance of procrastination with giving up.

Originally Posted by magi13

I have no wish for perfection, I love being able to change as the situation so requires. This view does not apply to me alone, but to everyone in the forum. ^^.

well it doesn't matter if we wish for perfection or not, its our birthright. What we are is perfect and nothing can be subtracted from that or added to it, regardless of what we DO. How much can be added to completeness to make it whole?