Knowledge Hoop

Do you have some decisions in your life that you keep putting off?  We often delay making decisions on the very things that need our attention the most.  What we fail to realize is not making a decision is making a decision, and most times, our delay leads to more consequences.  Recently, I was watching a sermon by Bishop T.D. Jakes, and during his sermon he said, “Procrastination will never produce purpose.”  Regardless of your religious affiliation, I’m sure you’ll agree that most of us are striving to either identify our purpose or live it out.  And, most of us discover our purpose through day to day experiences and failures.

Unfortunately, as we experience life we can begin to doubt our ability to make sound decisions.  As fear sets in, we become afraid to take risks and we delay acting on those things that will move us one step closer to living out our purpose.  So, are there decisions that require your attention?  If so, the best time to act is now.  If you are struggling with procrastination, the following steps can help you move forward:

1. Define the root cause for your delay.  Are you afraid to ‘move’ because of fear of failure?  In the book, An Enemy Called Average, the author states, “Even a turtle has to stick its head out to get ahead.”  He goes on to say, “Security and opportunity are total strangers.  If an undertaking does not include faith, it is not worthy of being called God’s direction.”  Fear is a strong emotion that in most instances does not depict reality.  In essence, the scenario we play out in our head is often far worse than reality.  Identify the root, acknowledge it, and act.
2. Tell someone you respect about your plans.  Talking about your plan gives life to it.  I’m sure we’ve all met a ‘talker’- someone who talks a great game but does not follow through.  Perhaps you’ve been that person.  One way to ensure that you make the tough decisions is by discussing your plans with individuals you hold in high regard.  In doing so, you create a level of accountability that doesn’t exist when you’re the only one who knows your intentions.  Another benefit to discussing your plans is you may gain support or counsel that you would not have had if you had chosen not to share.
3. Act.  We’re all familiar with Nike’s tag line, “Just Do It.”  Sometimes in life, you have to just do it.  There will always be reasons to delay, but successful people don’t spend time creating excuses.  The reality is if you make a habit of delaying decisions because of fear, you will not rise above it.  In a way, emotions are like muscles – the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes.  If you begin to move in spite of fear, over time it will become much easier to make the tough decisions.

I am not a stranger to procrastination.  During high school, my friends and I created a club called “Procrastinators Anonymous.”  There were four of us and we all struggled with waiting to the last minute to complete tasks.  At my graduation party, we had a cake to honor graduating from the club;  I wish it was that easy to leave the habit of procrastination behind.  I still struggle at times, but as I’ve matured, I’ve learned to perform the steps listed above.  You too can move beyond procrastination.  I hope you find this Post helpful, and I’d love to hear from you.