Do you ever find yourself sending e-mails, chatting on the phone, watching TV, or puttering around the house instead of tending to urgent tasks. People procrastinate in different ways at different times. But most of us tend to follow at least one “procrastination style.” See if you recognize yourself in one or more of these procrastination personalities.
Perfectionist Patty feels paralyzed because she knows her work will never measure up to the impossibly high standards she sets for herself. Whenever she works on a project, her inner critic starts in: “That’s not going to work! You’ve got to do better than that!”
The result: She does nothing, rather than risk a wrong move.
Poor Self-Worth Paul feels defeated before he even tries. His low self-image has made him doubt his capabilities and success. “I can’t do this” he laments. “I’m sure I’ll fail.”
The result: He rarely undertakes new projects; he simply gives up before he begins.
Fear-based Freddie fears failure so much that he avoids responsibility in order to feel safe. “What if I make a mistake?” he constantly frets.
The result: His fear of failing and being rejected by others fuels his procrastination. He stays stuck on the sidelines.
Lack-of-goals Larry drifts aimlessly through life without a clear direction or sense of purpose. “Nothing matters, and I don’t know why this is important anyway,” is his attitude.
The result: He rarely begins new tasks because he is not convinced of their worth.
Overwhelmed Olivia feels out of control. Her surroundings are a cluttered mess, and her cell phone is lost under a pile of “to-do” lists. She works feverishly, but is constantly running late and missing deadlines. “I’m doing the best I can, and everyone will just have to understand and make allowances,” she thinks.
The result: She procrastinates because she feels responsible for more than she can handle.
So, how
do you conquer procrastination once and for all?
First, you need to pray for God to illuminate areas in your life where procrastination has control ... then ask for His help in breaking free.
Second, it’s important to identify the roots of procrastination - which can include perfectionism, fear of failure, a poor self-image, undefined purpose, or a tendency to take on too many projects to please others.
Third, decide to surrender yourself to the Spirit of Christ’s control. As Isaiah 40 assures us:
“He gives strength to the weary and
increases the power of the weak... . But those
who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.”
---This is from June Hunt at
www.hopefortheheart.org I enjoy her radio program, called Hope for the Heart. It's on BOTT Radio. She takes calls from people and helps them through their problems from a biblical viewpoint. I really appreciate her candor. And by the way, I'm not quite as bad as Olivia...I do know where my cell phone is...
