Sue Hannibal

Another Name for Self-Sabotage: Procrastination

Procrastination is like a brick wall that you keep running into as you try to move forward in your life, relationships, business and goals.

On December 31st, you make your New Year's Resolutions, post them on the refrigerator and announce them to everyone who will listen. THIS is the year that you're going to start eating healthy and get in shape. THIS time you're really going to quit smoking. Nothing is going to stop you from hitting the beach and looking good this summer. The new size 8 bikini is already hanging in the closet. So you resolve to go over the brick wall, under it, through it or over it... you resolve to do whatever it takes...and each time, you fall back. Each time, the wall wins.

This year, like all the other years, a few days or a few weeks into the program, your will (power) of steel begins to soften. Motivation wavers, then tapers off. You miss a day of workouts, then two, then there's a buffet and you want to get your money's worth, then the stress becomes overwhelming at work so you reach for just one cigarette, and soon you're completely off the track. You're more than off the track, you're on a train going in the opposite direction!

You get up, dust yourself off, and start again. This time, the wall looks bigger and more ominous. You feel overpowered, overwhelmed and there's not an ounce of real inspiration in you. Why bother, you think... no matter how hard you try, it never works. You just slide back after a while anyway... failure....avoiding the wall of procrastination (and all of the small blocking beliefs that make up the bricks of the wall) makes you feel defeated.

So, what is the solution?

Simple - remove the wall one brick at a time. Start with the big ones that make up the foundation. These brick were most likely laid in your childhood. That's why they're in the foundation. If you remove enough of those, the whole wall will have to crumble, won't it?

What did you your parents instill in you or what did you tell yourself about success, health, food, competition, who you are, pleasing others, risk taking, money, love, trust, safety, being alone, and faith? Close your eyes and notice the words that come up in your mind.

One client of mine heard her mother sabotaging her efforts to get in shape. "Be careful honey, you might hurt yourself. Don't lift weights, you'll look like a man."

A man was told, "You have to sacrifice to be successful. Life is hard, work is hard and you can't trust people."

Those foundational bricks may be inscribed like these:

"I'm afraid of how my life will change if I lose this weight. I need to stay invisible."
"It's not safe for me to get over this fear. I might have to step up to the plate and perform. People might criticize me."
"I'm afraid to take control of my life. I'd rather let others make all my decisions. That way if something goes wrong, I can blame them instead of myself."
"It's not possible for me to ever be free of this addiction. I just don't have strong enough willpower."

Remove the foundation and the wall has to come down.

Here's an assessment list to get you started.

What are you putting off completing?

What could be waiting for you on the other side of the wall?

What specific things will you accomplish (remove from your wall) this week?