Do you want to learn how to cure procrastination (once and for all)?
If you ever struggle with procrastination, that long hesitation in between thought and action, you are not alone.
All of us partake in this ‘suspended action’ on a scale from rarely to regularly.
In this mode, we are trying to look at all sides to prevent failure, contemplating possible outcomes before they arise, things that might go wrong, how things may not work out, and the myriad of other critical thoughts that may enter the scene. Trying our best to do what’s right at all times.
This type of “critical thinking” game comes with a dreaded downside.
Like open cheese is a breeding ground for mold, the space between the thought and action is a breeding ground for FEAR.
And fear paralyzes.
Fear of doing the wrong thing. Fear of failure. Fear of what others may think.
To cure procrastination and the fear that comes for the ride, we turn to an old war vet for some contemplation.
Making the right decision
There is a story of Norman Schwarzkopf, military chief for the United States of America. His advisors that would spend days upon days coming up with various tactical plans and laying them out for him to decide. They would attempt to convince him of all the things that could go right and wrong with each variation. Before they could even finish, he would decide within seconds.
His advisors would complain that he didn’t hear the entire plan, which their blood, sweat, and tears went into, and he would say YOU MAKE A DECISION AND MAKE IT THE RIGHT DECISION.
Notice the shift in the thinking of making a decision based on what we think might be right, versus simply making a decision. This way of deciding annihilates fear and destroys possible ‘wrongdoing.’
It’s a mental framework that suggests a decision made will be made into the right one, meaning you could pick option A or B, they will both be right because you will make it so.
How to cure procrastination through constant action
There was a study done to look at “quantity versus quality” with kids making pottery. One group had to complete as many as possible in a set amount of time, and the others had to finish ONE beautiful piece in the same amount of time.
It turns out the group that had to make the quantity, actually turned out the most beautiful quality product, because of the repetition of trial and error.
The other group spent much of the time scheming, theorizing, and thinking, without doing much.
The cure for procrastination? Just do it.
The cure for procrastination? There is no wrong choice- make your decision the right one.
The cure for procrastination?- Repetition, repetition, repetition of decision making to learn and be able to discern better.
Making a decision is a skillset — one we could all us practice with.
Moving beyond procrastination
This week, why don’t you work on closing the gap between thought and action. Close the gap of hesitation. Close the gap where fear can creep in. Make fast choices, no looking back, and begin to process of learning how to cure procrastination.
And don’t worry, 95% or more of our daily choices are not life-altering. They are practice for the BIG ONES.
Just see what happens.
