Last time we talked about the three levels of change, i.e. superficial, situational, and substantial. The opening paragraph of that lesson is worth repeating since we have just celebrated New Year’s Eve that is often accompanied by new resolutions.
Superficial change is temporary change at best. Going through our daily routine we may recognize a need for making various changes. We may even tell ourselves it would be good to make them, but this thought easily slips our mind and our motivation. Thus, superficial change becomes another habit we need to correct – but later. Yes, this is a first cousin to procrastination, but we’ll look at this next time. Next week being NOW.
Before saying what procrastination is, it may be well to state what it is not. Procrastination is not always putting off until tomorrow what should be done today. Sometimes it is, but often it is more complex than and/or different from that.
Under the umbrella labeled procrastination lurks two elements: Fear of Failure and (surprisingly) Fear of Success.
Fear of Failure is not easily overcome by such expressions as nothing ventured, nothing gained. Nor does the age-old statement nothing beats a failure but a try supply motivation. Why?
Both of the above slogans cannot reach the fear factor of failure because these are emotional feelings and not mechanical acts of doing or not doing. The promise of reward does not always tip the scale to move one to success or completion of an act desired or required.
Fear of Success is attached to both the emotional and creation aspects of our humanness. As a Bible-based teacher, counselor, and writer, this aspect of fear confronts me and many other brands of writers.
To illustrate, writers as a group, often discuss what we call writers-block. There are many schools of thought built around this issue, but most of the excuses writers confess are a disguise as to why writers don’t write. Fear of Failure plays a part in the primary reason – but Fear of Failure is not the primary cause.
Fear of Success: If I submit an outline for an article or a book and get accepted by the publishers – am I sure I can do the job?
So we, along with many others, procrastinate – put off until tomorrow what I fear I cannot do if given the task.
Next time: Shame: A Motivation Killer
