The Dirty SECRET About...Procrastination
What is the one goal or activity you want to fulfill this week, month, or year?
It may seem daunting; you feel it will drain you or, in extreme cases, feels the mere act of starting the task will “suck the life juices” out of you!
If you have felt this way, be encouraged you're NOT alone as I shine the light on the enemy of every project God places on my heart.
What is it?
PROCRASTINATION!
Today, I’m going to expose its meaning, methodology, modes, and, most of all, how to take MASTERY over it!
Meaning
The dictionary defines it as:
a/ the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.
b/ to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.
c/ to keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring
Methodology
Procrastination is a type of avoidance behavior characterized by deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists cite this behavior as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.
The Bible has a lot to say about the habit of procrastination. The Apostle Paul said, “I know the things I ought to do and I don't do them. And I know the things I shouldn't do and I do those.” But I procrastinate on the things I really want to change in my life. Why?
Modes of Procrastination
- Indecision. "A double-minded man is unstable in all he does." (James 1:8 LB) Have you ever sent a waiter away at a restaurant because you couldn't make up your mind? Or kept a table full of guests waiting while you still couldn’t decide what to order? Indecision causes you to postpone buying a car, choosing a college, getting married, buying new clothes, or changing a job.
- Seems PAINFUL: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 We may hold a perception taking a specific action would "bring us emotional or mental pain"; for example, completing taxes or cleaning our home.
- Passive-aggressive/Anger. "A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive." (Proverbs 18:9 GNT) Procrastination is a way to get back at people we don't like. We delay. Kids are great at procrastination. You ask them to clean up their room. They do it but they take so long doing it. One of the reasons may be that they're resisting your control. Procrastination is passive resistance. “I don't want to do it because I don't like you telling me to do what I have to do.” Anger can cause us to intentionally delay the necessary action.
- Laziness. "Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering." (Proverbs 13:4 LB) One of the most popular words in our culture is "easy." If it's easy, we like it. If it's hard, we don't like it. Can you imagine a best seller titled "Ten Difficult Steps to Change Your Life" or "Fifteen Difficult Ways to Get in Shape"? No one would purchase it! Human nature says, “If it's easy, we like it. If it's hard, we don't like it.”
- Deceived to thinking we have more time! “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;” Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
If God is PROMPTING you, He wants to get you on HIS timeframe---KAIROS! You are a piece of a larger puzzle!
Mastery Over It!
The next time you find yourself procrastinating,---[Putting off needful things at the appointed time! ] Here are some tips to help you overcome it:
1. Stop and ask The Holy Spirit to show you WHY? What’s the root cause of this delay? [Is it yourself, name the pain, anxiety, fear, is it demonic or even generationally influenced?]
- Then ask God to help you overcome it so you can move forward and do what you need to do. “His GRACE is MORE than enough to aid you!”
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:9,10 NIV
- Establish a reasonable timeframe: Use a clock to establish a window of time to address the “assignment,,” example thirty minutes, an hour. The key is to set a reasonably realistic timeframe to start enabling you to accomplish the task in increments.
- Shift the atmosphere- Instead of dreading the activity, make it a FUN event! Play worship or happy dance music in the background to accompany you.
5. Get an Accountability Partner--- This is someone who will encourage you over the "mental" hurdle. They can also help you celebrate in even taking "baby steps" towards your goal[s].
The SHOCKING truth is...Procrastination is NOT YOUR FRIEND.
Yes, apply these tips, and you too CAN take authority over that dirty “procrastination” monster so you can accomplish the good works God places in your heart.
For recovering procrastinators, this may result in less stress, loss of a sense of guilt, the improvement of personal productivity, the elimination of crisis mode, and restored trust from others as you fulfill your responsibilities or commitments.
You CAN do it!
#END
Contact
P.S. Submit a request to my private FB Group to discover HOW to break the chain of Procrastination, yes...it's POSSIBLE!👇🏼