Psychologists agree that success lie in one's SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND. There is TWOFOLD FUNCTIONING OF MIND: Based on duality of the mind, its functioning has been explained variously by the psychologists by terming the same as - The Objective Mind and The Subjective Mind, or The Conscious Mind and The Sub-conscious Mind, or The Waking Mind and The Sleeping Mind, or The Voluntary Mind and The Involuntary Mind, or The Surface and the Deep-Self. For our study, we may use the terms Conscious Mind and the Sub-Conscious Mind to represent the dual nature of mind.
Our Conscious Mind has the Power to think. It can accept or reject some material. But, our Sub-conscious Mind accepts any material. Its function is only to accept without discrimination. It remains active like a computer by acts like the “Getting in” and “Getting out” process. That means it will give results based upon the material you feed into it.
HOW THE MIND WORKS: There is cooperation between the Conscious and Sub-Conscious mind, which forms a reasonable hypothesis of a person’s ability to contact, communicate with and draw upon Infinite Intelligence. The cooperative system of nerves literally constitutes a direct line of communication between one’s ordinary Conscious Mind and Infinite Intelligence.
Different areas of brain indicate their connection with the objective and subjective activities of the mind respectively. Generally speaking, we may assign frontal portion of brain to objective (Conscious) and posterior portion to the subjective (Sub-Conscious), while the intermediate portion partakes of the character of both.
The intuitional faculty has its correspondence in the upper area of brain, situated between the frontal and posterior portions and it is here that intuitive ideas find entrance. These at first, are more or less uninformed and generalized in character; but are nevertheless, perceived by the Conscious Mind; otherwise we should not be aware of them at all. The Conscious Mind lays hold on them, brings them into more definite usable shape and hand over the ideas to the Sub-Conscious Mind. These portions of brain interact with each other through vibratory current system.
Psychologists and psychiatrists point out that when thoughts are conveyed to our Sub-conscious Mind, impressions are made out in the brain cells. As soon as our Sub-conscious accepts any idea, it proceeds to put the same into effect immediately. Working by association of ideas, it uses every bit of knowledge that we have gathered in lifetime to bring about its purpose. It draws on the infinite power, energy, and wisdom in us. It lines up all the laws of nature to get its way. Sometimes, it seems to bring about an immediate solution to our difficulties, but at other times it may take days, weeks, or longer. Its ways are past finding out.
It is aware of our environment, but not by means of physical senses. The Sub-Conscious mind perceives by intuition. It is seat of our emotions and the storehouse of our memory. It is that intelligence which makes itself known, when Conscious Mind is suspended or in a sleepy or drowsy state. The Sub-conscious Mind cannot reason like our Conscious Mind.
Conscious Mind is sometimes referred to as “Objective Mind”, because it deals with outward objects. It is aware of the objective world. Its media of observation are five physical senses. Our Conscious Mind serves as the “watchman at the gate” of our Sub-conscious Mind, which is very sensitive to suggestion.
AUTOSUGGESTION: The Sub-conscious Mind can be influenced by Autosuggestion. The Sub-conscious Mind resembles like a fertile garden spot, in which weeds will grow in abundance, if the seeds of more desirable crops are not sown therein. Auto-suggestion is the agency of control through which an individual may voluntarily feed her/his Sub-conscious Mind on thoughts of a creative nature, or by neglect, permit thoughts of a destructive nature to find their way into this rich garden of mind.
This is important that plain unemotional words or reasoning do not influence the Sub-conscious Mind. We will get no appreciable results until we learn to reach our Sub-conscious Mind with thoughts, or spoken words, which have been well emotionalized with belief. Our ability to use the principle of Autosuggestion will depend, very largely, upon our capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning desire.
Therefore, strengthen your power of concentration when visualizing (with closed eyes) the object you intend to realize. See yourself rendering the service you intend to give in return for realization of your object.
STEPS TO STIMULATE YOUR SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND:
1. Read aloud the written statement prepared by you for achieving your
success in desired field. Repeat this programme night and morning.
2. Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it night and
morning and re-read it.
3. Remember that your Sub-conscious Mind will act upon the instructions,
which are emotionalized and handed over to it with feeling.
4. Remember that man may become the master of himself and his environment,
because he has the power to influence his own Sub-Conscious Mind.
5. Read the entire chapter aloud once every night until you become
thoroughly convinced that the principle of Autosuggestion is sound, that
it will accomplish for you all that has been claimed for it. As you read,
underscore with a pencil every sentence, which impresses you
favourably.
FUNCTIONING OF MIND IN THE CONTEXT OF SUGGESTION:
I. Different Reactions to Same Suggestion: It is important to realize that different people will react differently to the same suggestion. This is because they have different Sub-conscious conditioning or beliefs. A suggestion is an act or instance of putting something into one’s mind. A suggestion cannot impose itself on the Sub-Conscious Mind against the will of the Conscious Mind. Your Conscious Mind has the power to reject the suggestion. All of us have our own inner fears, beliefs and opinions. The minor assumptions rule and govern our lives. A suggestion has no power in and of itself. Its power arises from the fact that you accept it mentally. Remember that your Sub-conscious Mind does not accept a joke. It takes you at your word.
II. How to Get Results You Want: You must know how your mind functions. If negatively used, your mind brings trouble, failure and confusion. When used constructively, it brings guidance, freedom and peace of mind. Get your Sub-Conscious to accept your constructive idea or request. Feel its reality now and the law of your mind will do the rest. Your Sub-Conscious Mind does not respond to coercion. It responds to your faith or Conscious Mind acceptance.
III. Use Imagination, Not Will Power: Picture yourself without any problem and emotionalize the gratification of the state you seek. Believe that you are what you imagine yourself to be. Disciplined imagination works wonders. So, get a response through disciplined or scientific imagination. Doubts and hesitations only weaken you. Your belief and feelings about the work to be done set the tone. When your desires and imagination are in conflict, your imagination gains the day. In a state of conflict, mental effort often leads to self-defeat, creating the opposite of what is desired; and to focus on the need to exert, the will power may emphasize the condition of powerlessness. Remember the Sub-Conscious always responds to the dominating idea. Never try to compel the Sub-Conscious Mind to accept your conflicting ideas by exercising will power.
IV. The Conflict Of Desire And Imagination Must Be Resolved: To use mental force or will power is to pre-suppose that there is opposition. But the act of imagining opposition creates opposition. If your attention is focused on the obstacles to obtaining what you desire, it is no longer concentrating on the means to obtain your desire. You may avoid conflict between your Conscious and Sub-conscious in the sleepy state. Imagine the fulfillment of your desire over and over again prior to sleep. Sleep in peace and wake in joy.
AUTO-SUGGESTION AND DEFINITE CHIEF AIM:
Auto-suggestion is valuable in achieving your "Definite" Chief Aim. One of the greatest uses to which one may direct the power of Auto-suggestion is that of making it help accomplish the object of one’s “Definite" Chief Aim in life.
In the present day world, man can do anything with certain exceptions. Every material thing the man has created began in the form of energy, through the seed of an idea that was released through the imaginative faculty of the human mind.
All matter observes the command of one form or another of energy. The highest form of energy is that which functions as human mind. Therefore, the human mind is the sole directing force of everything man creates.
Any idea, aim or purpose that is fixed in the mind and held there with a will to achieve or attain its physical or material equivalent, puts into motion powers that cannot be conquered.
Buxton said, “The great difference between women/men, between feeble and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy – invincible determination – a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory. That quality will do anything that can be done in this world – and no talents, no circumstances; no opportunities will make a two legged creature a man without it” (energy).
Resolve is what makes a man manifest. WILL MAKES MEN GIANTS. Disraeli said, “I have brought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment.”
Sir John Simpson said, “A passionate DESIRE and an unwearied will can perform impossibilities, or what may seem to be such to the cold, timid and feeble.”
Auto-Suggestion and Achievement: Therefore, it seems appropriate to state here that a strong desire, to be transformed into reality, must be backed with persistence until it is taken over by the Sub-Conscious Mind. It is not enough to feel very deeply the desire for achievement of a “Definite" Chief Aim, for a few hours or a few days and then, forget all about that desire. Through Auto-Suggestion, the desire must be placed in the mind and held there with PERSISTENCE THAT KNOWS NO DEFEAT, until the automatic or Sub-Conscious Mind takes it over. Up to this point, you must stand back of the desire and push it. Beyond this point, the desire itself will stand at back of you and push you on to achievement.
USE SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND FOR PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS:
A long period of peace, joy and happiness on this plane may be termed as the true inner meaning of success at the enterprise of living. Here are some Important Steps to Success, which may be taken if you make your Sub-conscious Mind as a partner in success.
1. Love Your Work: Find out the thing you love to do and then do it for the thrill and joy of it. Unless you love your work, you cannot possibly consider yourself successful at it, even if all the rest of the world hails you as a great success. By loving your work, you have a deep desire to carry it long successfully.
2. Specialization for Nobler Motive: Specialize in some particular branch of work and strive to exact in it. He that is greatest among you, let him become your (Humanity’s) servant. There is an enormous contrast between this attitude of mind and that of someone who wants only to make a living or just to “get by”. “Getting by” is not true success. People’s motives must be greater, nobler and more altruistic.
3. Unselfish Desire: Your desire must not be selfish. If your desire does benefit humanity, it will then come back to you magnified and full of blessings and bestow peace of mind. You must be sure that the thing you want to do does not contribute only to your own prosperity and success, but also benefits others. By becoming such a successful person, you acquire great psychological and spiritual understanding.
4. Prosperity for Balanced Life: Don’t feel ashamed of your desire to be prosperous. Because you have every right to improve the quality of your life or be prosperous. Money is the symbol of economic health leading to a balanced life.
5. Don’t Misuse Sub-Conscious Mind: Invest right ideas in your mind. The urge of life principle in you is towards growth and expansion. All evil comes from the mankind’s darkened understanding or ignorance, from false interpretation of life and from misuse of the Sub-Conscious Mind. So, you must invest right ideas in your mind. Protect your investment, as it must bring you success. You cannot get something for nothing.
6. Right Attitude Towards Money: Develop scientific attitude towards money. An important reason why people do not have money is that they silently or openly condemn it. They tell their children or friends that “the love of money is the root of all evil”. They have also a sneaky subconscious feeling that there is some special virtue in poverty. This subconscious pattern may be due to early childhood training based on a false interpretation of scriptures. Consequently, poverty becomes a mental illness. Thus, you need right or scientific attitude towards money.
7. Avoid Mental Conflict And Fear: Your Sub-conscious Mind magnifies whatever you deposit or impress upon it, whether it is the idea of wealth or poverty. Choose prosperity/wealth. Your affirmation of prosperity/wealth fails if it is made outwardly and not inwardly or honestly. In other words, it succeeds when it is specific and when it does not produce a mental conflict or argument. To avoid mental conflict, make a practical statement prior to sleep: “By day and by night, I am being prospered in all of my interests”. If you are full of fear about the future, you are also writing a blank cheque and attracting negative conditions to you.
8. Enact Ideas For Prosperity: Sub-Conscious Mind is never short of ideas or vision for creation of prosperity. Your true source of wealth consists of ideas in your mind. It will give you ideas you seek. Such ideas need to be transformed into belief and faith. Then ultimately, they can appear as cash in your pocket in countless ways.
9. Destroy Mental Block: A common block to prosperity is the envious thought. If you are worried, irritated, and critical about someone who you claim is making money dishonestly, stop worrying about him. You can destroy the mental block by getting on mentally in good terms with every one.
10. True Success: Establish in your Sub-Conscious Mind the measure of ‘True Success’. Someone may seem to succeed through shady deals for a while. But money taken by fraud often takes wings and flies away. Even if it does not, when we rob from another person, the mood of lack and limitation that led to our behaviour manifests itself in other ways as well, in our body, our home life and our relationship with others.
11. What We Think And Feel, We Create: We create what we believe. Even if someone may have accumulated a fortune fraudulently, he is not successful. There is no success without peace of mind. What good is a person’s accumulated wealth if he cannot sleep during night, is sick or has a guilt complex? Remember, thought fused with feelings becomes a subjective belief or faith. The power of sustained imagination can bring success. Believe that you were born to succeed and wonders will happen as you establish this faith.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF AUTOSUGGESTION –AN EXAMPLE:
In case you intend to get wealth you may adopt the following method:
i. Fix in your mind the exact amount of wealth you desire. It is not
sufficient to merely say, “I want plenty of wealth.” Be definite
as to the purpose and so, accordingly the extent.
ii. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the wealth
desired. There is no such reality as “something for nothing”.
iii. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess that wealth
you desire.
iv. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at
once, by developing readiness or willingness, to put this plan
into action.
v. Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of wealth you
intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state
what you intend to give in return for that, and describe clearly
the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.
vi. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once before
retiring at night and once after rising in the morning. As you
read – see, feel and believe yourself already in possession of
that wealth. In this way your desire becomes an obsession.
*These six steps were carefully scrutinized and then recommended by late Thomas A. Edison, for attainment of any goal. But the successful application of these steps does call for sufficient imagination to enable one to see, and to understand that accumulation of wealth cannot be left to chance, good fortune and luck.
How Scientists Use The Sub-Conscious Mind: The ability to bring into action the power of Sub-Conscious Mind is most important in determining the success of great scientific and research workers. Similarly, you can receive guidance from your Sub-Conscious. Remember that If you are fearful and worried, you are not really thinking. True thinking is free from worry and fear.
Techniques To Receive Guidance From Sub-Conscious Mind:
1. Quiet the mind and still the body. Tell the body to relax. It has to obey you. It has no volition, initiative or self-conscious intelligence. Your body is an
emotional disk that records your beliefs and impressions.
2. Mobilize your attention. Focus your thought on the solution to your
problem. Try to solve it with your mind.
3. Think how happy you would be about the perfect solution. Sense the
feeling you would have if the perfect answer was yours now.
4. Let your mind play this mood by happiness and contentment in a relaxed
way; then drop off to sleep.
5. When you are awaken, if you do not have the answer, get busy with
something else. While you are preoccupied with something else, it is
possible that the answer will pop into your mind.
Any mental picture backed by faith and perseverance, will come to pass through the miracle working power of your Sub-Conscious. Your Sub-Conscious Mind knows all and sees all, but you must not doubt or question its powers. Remember that there is a universal law of action and reaction. The action is your thought. The reaction is the response from your Sub-Conscious Mind. The Sub-Conscious Mind is reactive and reflexive. That is its nature. Guidance comes as a feeling, an inner awareness, and an overpowering hunch, whereby you know that you know. It is an inner sense of touch. Follow it with faith.
YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND
Remember that because your future is the result of your habitual thinking, it is already in your mind unless you change it through prayer. In this context, prayer means an earnest hope or wish or a solemn request for help, which you may seek, from the Sub-Conscious Mind. Tomorrow’s events are in your Sub-Conscious Mind. So are the next weeks and next month’s. A highly psychic or clairvoyant person may perceive them. Your mental attitude – the way you think, feel and believe–determines your destiny. You can, through scientific prayer, mould or fashion and create your own future. Whatsoever a man sowed that shall he also reap. Believe it and accept it. Expect the best and invariably the best will come to you.
If you are writing something like a book, etc. or working on an invention, speak to your Sub-conscious Mind at night and claim boldly, its wisdom, intelligence and power are guiding, directing and revealing to you the ideal things. Wonders will happen as you pray this way.
BE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE:
Every morning when we wake up, we have a new day ahead of us in which we can be whatever we choose. We can recreate ourselves daily, especially when we consciously choose to let go of old resentments, grudges, and patterns, fear.
In the morning start your day by affirming, ‘I have the power to be whatever I want to be. I choose to be loving peaceful, joyous, harmonious, prosperous and patient with myself and others.’
Once you make your intent known to your subconscious by that affirmation, it will cooperate in helping you create that reality. If on the other hand, you wake up saying, ‘I am so tired, I hate myself, I never get things right’, then your subconscious will also cooperate with what you are telling it. Make sure you are affirming what you want to create not what you don’t want.
Some people fear change, yet we are changing every moment. You are not the same person you were yesterday….since then you had numerous inter-reactions, learned things you did not know, and had experiences you had not had before. So you are a new you.
You are free to be….Let your heart guide you to who you want to be at this moment, and then the next….No choice is right or wrong…they are all simply experiences. In the same way you may prefer some of your clothes to others, some may be comfortable, some feel good on your skin so you will find that some behaviours also feel better, and give you more enthusiasm and joy for life.
Take your pick….Who do you want to be today? Or simply at this moment? Live in the moment and make your choices according to what will give your inner being the most joy and peace. Go for it! Be who you really want to be!…and who you really are….You are infinite, you are all knowing, you are omniscient, omnipotent…. Yes! That is who you are. Go within and discover the truth.
APPLY THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND TO IMPROVE YOUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND HABITS: -- If you pay full attention to your thoughts, words, deeds or habits, it helps a lot in achieving success. Our brains are workshops capable of manufacturing positive or good as well as negative or bad thoughts depending upon your option. You can progress with positive or good thoughts.
But if you cultivate negative or bad thoughts you will be opting for the wrong path. Your prosperity or poverty is the result of your own high or low-level thoughts. It is because if you think high, your actions will take you to greatest heights and if through your low level thinking you have set your mind on low-level goals, you will think and act accordingly. You can apply your Sub-Conscious Mind to get high-level results.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
DO AWAY WITH PROCRASTINATION.
TAKE FOLLOWING STEPS TO DO AWAY WITH PROCRASTINATION:
I. REFORM YOUR HABITS: Develop the habit of not putting up tomorrow what you can do today. Always remember to reform your bad habits, which are always fertilized and watered by yourself and none else.
II. UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK: If you don’t understand your work, get mastery over it through somebody, or hand over such an assignment to someone who is adept in it.
III. DIVIDE THE WORK IN PARTS: If heavy work is divided in parts it will seem easy to do and its quality will also be maintained. Heavy work done hurried may get spoiled.
IV. ASSESS YOU YOUR EFFICIENCY: Accept your assignment, as per your capacity and energy, otherwise instead of accomplishing, it may become a burden on your mind, thereby causing delay.
V. AVOID LONG REST: Stick to your priorities right from morning to evening. Avoid long periods of rest, when short intervals can recoup your energy.
VI. ORGANIZE TASKS: By setting time limits for the day’s tasks and activities you can organize your routine in a well ordered manner, thereby saving time and energy.
VII. ONE WORK AT A TIME: By simultaneously taking into hand various tasks you may not be able to accomplish them properly in time, thereby causing burden on the mind, in addition to wastage of energy.
VIII. AVOID MOODINESS: Don’t be guided by variations in your mood. Instead, always keep in mind your object to be achieved. Lack of definite chief aim also results into falling a prey to your moods.
X. KEEP PHYSICALLY FIT: Take care of your health. If you daily feel tired due to no obvious reason, you may check up with the doctor whether you are suffering from some ailment.
I. REFORM YOUR HABITS: Develop the habit of not putting up tomorrow what you can do today. Always remember to reform your bad habits, which are always fertilized and watered by yourself and none else.
II. UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK: If you don’t understand your work, get mastery over it through somebody, or hand over such an assignment to someone who is adept in it.
III. DIVIDE THE WORK IN PARTS: If heavy work is divided in parts it will seem easy to do and its quality will also be maintained. Heavy work done hurried may get spoiled.
IV. ASSESS YOU YOUR EFFICIENCY: Accept your assignment, as per your capacity and energy, otherwise instead of accomplishing, it may become a burden on your mind, thereby causing delay.
V. AVOID LONG REST: Stick to your priorities right from morning to evening. Avoid long periods of rest, when short intervals can recoup your energy.
VI. ORGANIZE TASKS: By setting time limits for the day’s tasks and activities you can organize your routine in a well ordered manner, thereby saving time and energy.
VII. ONE WORK AT A TIME: By simultaneously taking into hand various tasks you may not be able to accomplish them properly in time, thereby causing burden on the mind, in addition to wastage of energy.
VIII. AVOID MOODINESS: Don’t be guided by variations in your mood. Instead, always keep in mind your object to be achieved. Lack of definite chief aim also results into falling a prey to your moods.
X. KEEP PHYSICALLY FIT: Take care of your health. If you daily feel tired due to no obvious reason, you may check up with the doctor whether you are suffering from some ailment.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TRUTH
A GREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL TRUTH
If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t,
If you like to win, but you think you can’t
It is almost certain, you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you have lost,
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will –
It is all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are –
You have got to think high to rise.
You have got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go,
To the stronger or the faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t,
If you like to win, but you think you can’t
It is almost certain, you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you have lost,
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will –
It is all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are –
You have got to think high to rise.
You have got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go,
To the stronger or the faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Prosperity.
HOW DOES PROSPERITY GETS ANGRY & VANISHES AWAY:
Prosperity gets angry and vanishes away from people with the following proclivities—
1. It vanishes away from those gripped with lethargy, excuses, and procrastination.
2. Prosperity does not care those who do not care about it.
3. The person who is opportunist, treacherous and snatches away other’s rightful earnings.
4. The person whose work in his profession, industry, or job is not well organized.
5. The person who is afraid of change and is incapable of taking calculated risk.
6. The greedy and selfish who aims at gathering money only for himself.
7. The person with doubtful proclivities, as he develops fear of poverty and pauperisation.
Prosperity gets angry and vanishes away from people with the following proclivities—
1. It vanishes away from those gripped with lethargy, excuses, and procrastination.
2. Prosperity does not care those who do not care about it.
3. The person who is opportunist, treacherous and snatches away other’s rightful earnings.
4. The person whose work in his profession, industry, or job is not well organized.
5. The person who is afraid of change and is incapable of taking calculated risk.
6. The greedy and selfish who aims at gathering money only for himself.
7. The person with doubtful proclivities, as he develops fear of poverty and pauperisation.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
SELF-CONFIDENCE.
ERADICATE CAUSES BEHIND LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE:
In any field, with the process of time the situations may change. However, the person who adapts himself to face the requirements of new situation is considered a self-confident individual. Lack of self-confidence under various situations creates the sense of insecurity. It is necessary to analyze the causes behind lack of self-confidence and remove them in the following manner.
1. Evasive attitude: Becoming capable, as per the demand of situation or circumstances is the sign of self-confidence. However, to run away from the situation or resort to procrastination is the sign of lack of self-confidence.
2. Negative attitude: To have negative feelings of weakness or incapability while dealing with a situation is indicative of inferiority complex. By removing inferiority complex and feeling self-confident to deal with a particular situation you can face the new challenges.
3. Positive comparison: If under any situation, you are always in the habit of comparing your fate with others, then it again indicates your lack of self-confidence. If at all you have to make comparison, it should be positive to excel others. Always remain in touch with those who possess a positive attitude and cheerful nature.
4. Persistent efforts: If you are not persistent in your efforts after one or two set backs, it also indicates lack of self-confidence. There are some works that require persistent and powerful efforts. Therefore, always be prepared for such efforts to achieve your object. Remember, Napoleon Bonaparte was right when he said that the word “impossible” was to be found in the dictionary of fools.
In any field, with the process of time the situations may change. However, the person who adapts himself to face the requirements of new situation is considered a self-confident individual. Lack of self-confidence under various situations creates the sense of insecurity. It is necessary to analyze the causes behind lack of self-confidence and remove them in the following manner.
1. Evasive attitude: Becoming capable, as per the demand of situation or circumstances is the sign of self-confidence. However, to run away from the situation or resort to procrastination is the sign of lack of self-confidence.
2. Negative attitude: To have negative feelings of weakness or incapability while dealing with a situation is indicative of inferiority complex. By removing inferiority complex and feeling self-confident to deal with a particular situation you can face the new challenges.
3. Positive comparison: If under any situation, you are always in the habit of comparing your fate with others, then it again indicates your lack of self-confidence. If at all you have to make comparison, it should be positive to excel others. Always remain in touch with those who possess a positive attitude and cheerful nature.
4. Persistent efforts: If you are not persistent in your efforts after one or two set backs, it also indicates lack of self-confidence. There are some works that require persistent and powerful efforts. Therefore, always be prepared for such efforts to achieve your object. Remember, Napoleon Bonaparte was right when he said that the word “impossible” was to be found in the dictionary of fools.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
DECISION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION.
DECISION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION
MASTER PROCRASTINATION – THE OPPOSITE OF DECISION: As per psychologists, the various analyses of thousands of persons who had experienced failure disclosed the significant fact that – those who failed they lacked the capacity to take decisions. On the other hand, analyses of those who succeeded in accumulation of great fortunes revealed that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly and of changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed. People who fail to achieve prosperity, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly and of changing these decisions often quickly.
Procrastination is a common enemy that practically every man must conquer. Procrastination robs you of opportunity. You are fortunate if “Ambition” drives you into action; never permitting you to falter or turn back, once you have rendered a “Decision” to go forward. “Time” is running a race with you. Delay means defeat, because no man may ever makes up a second of lost “Time”. “Time” is a master worker that heels the wounds of failure and disappointments, rights all wrongs, and turns all mistakes into capital. But it favours only those who kill off procrastination and remain in “Action” when decisions are to be made. The great leaders of the world were persons of quick decision. The suspense of indecision drives millions of people to failure. Indecision is the devil’s favorite tool.
Imagination alone is not enough to insure success. Millions of people have imagination and build plans that would easily bring them both fame and fortune. But, those plans never reach the “Decision” stage.
Men of “Decision” usually get all that they go after. All these men have two outstanding qualities: “A Definite Purpose” and a “Firm Decision” to transform that purpose into reality. The man of “Decision” cannot be stopped. On the other hand, the man of “Indecision” cannot be started.
Take your choice. Observe this significant fact that – The Successful Men And Women Are Those Who Reach Decisions Quickly And Then Stand Firmly By Those Decisions After They Are Made.
If you are one of those who make up their minds today and change them again tomorrow, you are doomed to failure. If you are not sure which way to move, it is better to shut your eyes and move in the dark than to remain still and make no moves at all.
The world will forgive you if you make mistakes, but it will never forgive you if you make no “Decision”, because it will never hear of you outside of the community in which you live.
Life is a great checker board. The player opposite you is “Time”. No matter who you are and what may be your life work, you are playing checkers with “Time”! It is always your next move. Move with quick “Decision” and “Time” will favour you. Stand still or hesitate and the “Time” will wipe you off the board. You cannot always make a right move. But, if you make enough moves or keep moving, you may win; because you take advantage of the Law of Averages and pile up a credible score before the great game of LIFE is ended.
The only real capital is “Time”, but it is capital only when used. You may be shocked if you keep accurate account of the “Time” you waste in a single day or a single week. The man of “Decision” gets that which he goes after, no matter how long it takes or how difficult the task. He does not sit idle and waste time, because “no idle person is ever safe, whether he be rich or poor, white or black, educated or illiterate”. --- Emerson.
DEALING WITH PROCRASTINATION:
More than 20% of adults consider themselves to be chronic procrastinators – and the other procrastinators didn’t get around to filling out the questionnaires. It has been estimated that there are six styles of procrastination—
I. The perfectionist.
II. The dreamer.
III. The worrier.
IV. The defiant.
V. The crisis maker.
VI. The over-doer.
If you are procrastinator you can probably identify quite easily which is your main style. Regardless of the any style, it is possible to overcome procrastination. The first step is to accept that you have been a procrastinator in the past, but now you are fed up with the difficulties this has brought into your life. In this way you can work on changing the balance of the costs and benefit of the change, and by doing this you can move yourself out of the contemplation stage into the action stage.
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS—
1. How do I feel about the task I am putting off now?
2. What are the advantages starting it right now?
3. What excuses am I making for not doing this task right now?
4. Will it kill me to do it for a few minutes at a time?
5. How can I break the task into manageable sections?
6. What reward can I give myself for finishing it?
TIPS ON MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS:
(I) Reach your own decisions and follow them: You have a brain of your own. Use it to reach your own decisions. Those who fail to make decisions are generally influenced by the” opinions” of others like the relatives, common friends, newspaper reports and gossiping neighbours. Sometimes, their “opinions” may be humorous and may result in ridicule, thereby causing inferiority complex in the mind of the person who seek such “opinions”.
Therefore, take no one into your confidence, except the members of your own “Master Mind” group, which consists of only those who will be in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose. If you need facts and information from other people to enable you to reach decisions, acquire these facts or secure the information you need quietly, without disclosing your purpose.
(II) Deeds count: Deeds and not words are what count most. If you talk more than you listen, you not only deprive yourself of many opportunities to accumulate useful knowledge, but you also disclose your plans and purposes to people who will take great delight in defeating you, because they envy you. So, one of your first decisions should be to keep a closed mouth along with open ears and eyes. “Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it”.
(III) Have a vision: To make your own decisions, you need to have a clear vision of what you intend to do with yourself and the world around you. It is not beyond your capacity to create a vision. Lack of vision and the will to do may be fundamentally because of a distorted understanding of the real-life situation faced by you.
(IV) Be realistic to avoid confusion: At many times, most of us are in such a state of confusion caused by thoughts and emotions, where mind is captivated by wrong perceptions of reality. Part of this confusion arises from the fact that many people go through their lives without understanding what they really want. Even if they do know, they neither have the will, nor the vision to create lives of their choice. Consequently, they settle for whatever is easily attainable within their reach. However, they actually need to trust their minds to decide what is possible and what is not. Based upon their conclusion, they need to create a vision within themselves as to what they really care for and want in their lives.
(V) Believe in self-effort: Your Decision for “Destiny” whatever possibly you mean by that term, should be something to be understood, felt and realized in action, in deed and not merely in words by your self-effort. One who says, “Fate is directing me to do this” is brainless. The Goddess of Fortune abandons him. Hence by self-effort, acquire wisdom for the purpose of achieving success. Here “Effort” means every thing that we make of ourselves through our actions. You could make whatever you wanted of yourself – you could be a brave person or a coward, wise or foolish, strong or weak. But, “Effort” for success is preceded by a decision of value.
(VI) Develop courage to implement your decision: The value of decisions depends upon the courage required to render them. Socrates’ decision to drink the cup of poison, rather than compromise in his personal belief was a decision of courage. His decision gave to the people then the unbroken right to freedom of thought and speech.
(VII) Know What You Want: Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely know what they want and gradually get it. The world has a habit of making room for a man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going. Indecision is a habit, which usually begins in youth. The habit takes on permanency as the youth goes through grade school, high school and even through college, without definiteness of purpose. The habit of indecision goes with the student into the occupation he chooses – if in fact, he does choose his occupation. Generally the youth just out of school seeks any job that can be found. He takes the first place he finds, because he has fallen into the habit of indecision.
(VIII) Develop Personal Power through Action: The development of “personal power” is the first step towards success. Remember that all success is based upon power, which grows out of knowledge that has been expressed in terms of ACTION. In this respect it is not the schooling, which you have had, that counts. It is the extent to which you express that which you have learned through well organized and intelligently directed ACTION. We are living in a world in which the law of survival of the fittest is everywhere in evidence. Those who are fit are those who have “power” and “power” is organized effort.”
(IX) Believe in Doing Well Through Creative Action: A man who wants a chance to show his worth may create it through action by ever updating his skills and re-checking the development of the essentials of success. However, if he waits for someone to hand it over to him on a silver platter, he will meet with disappointment. This excuse is one of the commonest causes of poverty and failure.
NEVER—DO—WELLS: Every city, town and hamlet has its population of those well-known characters called “NEVER—DO—WELLS,” and if you would analyze these unfortunates, you will observe that one of their outstanding feature is procrastination. Lack of action has caused them to slip backward until they go into a “rut” where they will remain, unless through accident, they are forced out into the open road of struggle where unusual action will become necessary. However, the victims of procrastination have not developed the habit of expressing themselves in action, but they wait for a chance to show their assumed talent to the world. They need to understand that the world never gives any one a chance to show their worth.
MAJOR ENEMIES OF “ACTION” TO BE CONQUERRED:
1. Lethargic Attitude: Give up the habit of “inaction” or “lethargic attitude.” Form the habit of “Intensive Action.” There are men who dream, but do nothing more. There are others who take the visions of dreamers and translate them into reality. There are still others who both dream and translate these dreams into a great reality. They are dreamer—doer—type. There are psychological as well as economic reasons why you should form the habit of “Intensive Action”. Your body is made up of billions of tiny cells that are highly sensitive and amenable to the influence of your mind. If your mind is of lethargic or inactive type, the cells of your body also become lazy, inactive and even diseased; just as the stagnant water of an inactive pond becomes impure and unhealthful.
2. ILL-Health: You need to take care of your health. You cannot be a person of action, if you permit yourself to go without physical attention until physical auto-intoxication takes your brain and kneads it into an inoperative mass.
3. Negative State of Mind: Worry, envy, jealousy, hatred, doubt and fear are all negative states of mind, which are fatal to action. Any of these states of mind will interfere with, and in some instances destroy altogether the digestive process through which the food is assimilated and prepared for distribution through the body. Induce a laugh to chase worry. “Hearty-laugh” is a “gloom-chaser.” Five minutes of this sort will stimulate action.
SUGGESTIONS TO DEVELOP ACTION:
(1) Do the distasteful task first: Form the habit of doing each day the most distasteful tasks first. It will be difficult at first. Nevertheless, after you have formed the habit, you will take pride in pitching into the hardest and most undesirable part of your work first. Secondly, the most profitable achievement in doing so is that this will destroy the habit of procrastination and develop the habit of action in its place.
(2) Show results: The world or the people like to see results. Do not tell them what you can do, “show them.”
(3) Finish tasks timely: Do every thing that should be done, when it should be done and as it should be done.
(4) Do not postpone: To realize your “Definite Chief Aim,” you must develop “Action” right from “today.” Remember – What is ‘today ‘becomes ‘yesterday’ and what is ‘tomorrow’ becomes ‘today’. Give your best today; the best will come to you ‘tomorrow’.
Further, “the world steps aside for the man who never stops”. Carry out these instructions with faith in their soundness and with belief that they will develop “Action” in your body and mind. Man is a queer animal. Give him a sufficient vitalized motive and the man of but average ability, under ordinary circumstances will suddenly develop super power. There are three motivating forces to which a person responds in practically all his efforts or actions.
(i) Motive of self-preservation.
(ii) Motive of family and social power.
(iii) Motive of financial power.
JUST DO IT:
It may be merged with suggestions to develop action-mentioned above.
We procrastinate for various reasons. Sometimes it is to avoid a difficult task and opt for the easier one, or to evade tasks that take longer time for completion. Many procrastinate due to fear of failure. Procrastination is common behaviour that affects you on various levels – what initially doesn’t seem like such a big deal, soon becomes a major source of anxiety and stress. It is caused by lack of motivation, catalyzed by absence of time management.
Procrastination is not just about wasting time, but also about mental damage. When you procrastinate, you have subconsciously added unnecessary baggage to your mind. Every minute spent wondering now and when to start, is another minute wasted. When you procrastinate, you are not relaxing, but further burdening your mind with stress.
PROCRASTINATION IS A HABIT: Yes, it is habit, not a personal flaw. It takes persistence to change – with practice you can change this habit. The first step towards doing so is to recognize the psychological reasons that cause you to procrastinate. Self-defeating issues like fear, anger, indecisiveness, lack of time management skills, difficulty in concentrating and perfectionism are some of the reasons behind it.
You need to realize that procrastination is a self-imposed condition. Clarify your goals, make actionable plans to achieve these and follow them conscientiously, forgive your imperfections and be a motivated, self-disciplined individual. Here are few tips that could help –
1. Define your personal goals: Write them down. Stick this on your door, mirror and notebooks where you can see them regularly.
2. Break larger projects into smaller manageable parts: Create a deadline for yourself to achieve each small task.
3. Prioritize your tasks: Tabulate your tasks into “Urgent” or “Time-sensitive” and “Non-urgent” but “Important” activities: An urgent activity needs completion based on a definite deadline and should be tackled first.
4. Set a timer: It is amazing how much you can get done when you focus on time accountability.
5. Make leeway for ‘Procrastination’ time into your schedule initially.
6. Tackle the difficult task first: The first task you handle in the day should be one you like least: Tackling the task you are most prone to keep putting off helps immensely.
7. Honour weekly appointments with yourself to plan coming week: Have a concrete and realistic plan for following through your intentions.
8. If you often say, “I’ve got to” or “I should be” replace it with “I choose to”: This sends a positive message to the mind and makes you mentally accepting and less resistant of the task.
9. The visual impact of clutter stresses the mind and causes it to switch off or ignore: Set up a system to manage the clutter and make your work-place look mentally conducive to get work done.
10. At the end of every day, take fifteen minutes to compare what’s best done and take a look at tomorrow’s plans: This helps in being prepared for tomorrow.
11. Reward yourself for small steps taken towards your goals. However, delay awards until you finish a task: This method works best with much disliked easily completed tasks.
12. Learn from your mistakes, don’t judge yourself constantly: Know your escapes like socializing, reading or daydreaming. Correct yourself.
13. Avoid dwelling on setbacks or mistakes: Focus instead on success and expect the best from yourself.
14. Accept and forgive yourself for your inability to stick to certain schedules: Don’t expect to change overnight. Give yourself sufficient credit for tasks you accomplish as per schedule.
MASTER PROCRASTINATION – THE OPPOSITE OF DECISION: As per psychologists, the various analyses of thousands of persons who had experienced failure disclosed the significant fact that – those who failed they lacked the capacity to take decisions. On the other hand, analyses of those who succeeded in accumulation of great fortunes revealed that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly and of changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed. People who fail to achieve prosperity, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly and of changing these decisions often quickly.
Procrastination is a common enemy that practically every man must conquer. Procrastination robs you of opportunity. You are fortunate if “Ambition” drives you into action; never permitting you to falter or turn back, once you have rendered a “Decision” to go forward. “Time” is running a race with you. Delay means defeat, because no man may ever makes up a second of lost “Time”. “Time” is a master worker that heels the wounds of failure and disappointments, rights all wrongs, and turns all mistakes into capital. But it favours only those who kill off procrastination and remain in “Action” when decisions are to be made. The great leaders of the world were persons of quick decision. The suspense of indecision drives millions of people to failure. Indecision is the devil’s favorite tool.
Imagination alone is not enough to insure success. Millions of people have imagination and build plans that would easily bring them both fame and fortune. But, those plans never reach the “Decision” stage.
Men of “Decision” usually get all that they go after. All these men have two outstanding qualities: “A Definite Purpose” and a “Firm Decision” to transform that purpose into reality. The man of “Decision” cannot be stopped. On the other hand, the man of “Indecision” cannot be started.
Take your choice. Observe this significant fact that – The Successful Men And Women Are Those Who Reach Decisions Quickly And Then Stand Firmly By Those Decisions After They Are Made.
If you are one of those who make up their minds today and change them again tomorrow, you are doomed to failure. If you are not sure which way to move, it is better to shut your eyes and move in the dark than to remain still and make no moves at all.
The world will forgive you if you make mistakes, but it will never forgive you if you make no “Decision”, because it will never hear of you outside of the community in which you live.
Life is a great checker board. The player opposite you is “Time”. No matter who you are and what may be your life work, you are playing checkers with “Time”! It is always your next move. Move with quick “Decision” and “Time” will favour you. Stand still or hesitate and the “Time” will wipe you off the board. You cannot always make a right move. But, if you make enough moves or keep moving, you may win; because you take advantage of the Law of Averages and pile up a credible score before the great game of LIFE is ended.
The only real capital is “Time”, but it is capital only when used. You may be shocked if you keep accurate account of the “Time” you waste in a single day or a single week. The man of “Decision” gets that which he goes after, no matter how long it takes or how difficult the task. He does not sit idle and waste time, because “no idle person is ever safe, whether he be rich or poor, white or black, educated or illiterate”. --- Emerson.
DEALING WITH PROCRASTINATION:
More than 20% of adults consider themselves to be chronic procrastinators – and the other procrastinators didn’t get around to filling out the questionnaires. It has been estimated that there are six styles of procrastination—
I. The perfectionist.
II. The dreamer.
III. The worrier.
IV. The defiant.
V. The crisis maker.
VI. The over-doer.
If you are procrastinator you can probably identify quite easily which is your main style. Regardless of the any style, it is possible to overcome procrastination. The first step is to accept that you have been a procrastinator in the past, but now you are fed up with the difficulties this has brought into your life. In this way you can work on changing the balance of the costs and benefit of the change, and by doing this you can move yourself out of the contemplation stage into the action stage.
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS—
1. How do I feel about the task I am putting off now?
2. What are the advantages starting it right now?
3. What excuses am I making for not doing this task right now?
4. Will it kill me to do it for a few minutes at a time?
5. How can I break the task into manageable sections?
6. What reward can I give myself for finishing it?
TIPS ON MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS:
(I) Reach your own decisions and follow them: You have a brain of your own. Use it to reach your own decisions. Those who fail to make decisions are generally influenced by the” opinions” of others like the relatives, common friends, newspaper reports and gossiping neighbours. Sometimes, their “opinions” may be humorous and may result in ridicule, thereby causing inferiority complex in the mind of the person who seek such “opinions”.
Therefore, take no one into your confidence, except the members of your own “Master Mind” group, which consists of only those who will be in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose. If you need facts and information from other people to enable you to reach decisions, acquire these facts or secure the information you need quietly, without disclosing your purpose.
(II) Deeds count: Deeds and not words are what count most. If you talk more than you listen, you not only deprive yourself of many opportunities to accumulate useful knowledge, but you also disclose your plans and purposes to people who will take great delight in defeating you, because they envy you. So, one of your first decisions should be to keep a closed mouth along with open ears and eyes. “Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it”.
(III) Have a vision: To make your own decisions, you need to have a clear vision of what you intend to do with yourself and the world around you. It is not beyond your capacity to create a vision. Lack of vision and the will to do may be fundamentally because of a distorted understanding of the real-life situation faced by you.
(IV) Be realistic to avoid confusion: At many times, most of us are in such a state of confusion caused by thoughts and emotions, where mind is captivated by wrong perceptions of reality. Part of this confusion arises from the fact that many people go through their lives without understanding what they really want. Even if they do know, they neither have the will, nor the vision to create lives of their choice. Consequently, they settle for whatever is easily attainable within their reach. However, they actually need to trust their minds to decide what is possible and what is not. Based upon their conclusion, they need to create a vision within themselves as to what they really care for and want in their lives.
(V) Believe in self-effort: Your Decision for “Destiny” whatever possibly you mean by that term, should be something to be understood, felt and realized in action, in deed and not merely in words by your self-effort. One who says, “Fate is directing me to do this” is brainless. The Goddess of Fortune abandons him. Hence by self-effort, acquire wisdom for the purpose of achieving success. Here “Effort” means every thing that we make of ourselves through our actions. You could make whatever you wanted of yourself – you could be a brave person or a coward, wise or foolish, strong or weak. But, “Effort” for success is preceded by a decision of value.
(VI) Develop courage to implement your decision: The value of decisions depends upon the courage required to render them. Socrates’ decision to drink the cup of poison, rather than compromise in his personal belief was a decision of courage. His decision gave to the people then the unbroken right to freedom of thought and speech.
(VII) Know What You Want: Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely know what they want and gradually get it. The world has a habit of making room for a man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going. Indecision is a habit, which usually begins in youth. The habit takes on permanency as the youth goes through grade school, high school and even through college, without definiteness of purpose. The habit of indecision goes with the student into the occupation he chooses – if in fact, he does choose his occupation. Generally the youth just out of school seeks any job that can be found. He takes the first place he finds, because he has fallen into the habit of indecision.
(VIII) Develop Personal Power through Action: The development of “personal power” is the first step towards success. Remember that all success is based upon power, which grows out of knowledge that has been expressed in terms of ACTION. In this respect it is not the schooling, which you have had, that counts. It is the extent to which you express that which you have learned through well organized and intelligently directed ACTION. We are living in a world in which the law of survival of the fittest is everywhere in evidence. Those who are fit are those who have “power” and “power” is organized effort.”
(IX) Believe in Doing Well Through Creative Action: A man who wants a chance to show his worth may create it through action by ever updating his skills and re-checking the development of the essentials of success. However, if he waits for someone to hand it over to him on a silver platter, he will meet with disappointment. This excuse is one of the commonest causes of poverty and failure.
NEVER—DO—WELLS: Every city, town and hamlet has its population of those well-known characters called “NEVER—DO—WELLS,” and if you would analyze these unfortunates, you will observe that one of their outstanding feature is procrastination. Lack of action has caused them to slip backward until they go into a “rut” where they will remain, unless through accident, they are forced out into the open road of struggle where unusual action will become necessary. However, the victims of procrastination have not developed the habit of expressing themselves in action, but they wait for a chance to show their assumed talent to the world. They need to understand that the world never gives any one a chance to show their worth.
MAJOR ENEMIES OF “ACTION” TO BE CONQUERRED:
1. Lethargic Attitude: Give up the habit of “inaction” or “lethargic attitude.” Form the habit of “Intensive Action.” There are men who dream, but do nothing more. There are others who take the visions of dreamers and translate them into reality. There are still others who both dream and translate these dreams into a great reality. They are dreamer—doer—type. There are psychological as well as economic reasons why you should form the habit of “Intensive Action”. Your body is made up of billions of tiny cells that are highly sensitive and amenable to the influence of your mind. If your mind is of lethargic or inactive type, the cells of your body also become lazy, inactive and even diseased; just as the stagnant water of an inactive pond becomes impure and unhealthful.
2. ILL-Health: You need to take care of your health. You cannot be a person of action, if you permit yourself to go without physical attention until physical auto-intoxication takes your brain and kneads it into an inoperative mass.
3. Negative State of Mind: Worry, envy, jealousy, hatred, doubt and fear are all negative states of mind, which are fatal to action. Any of these states of mind will interfere with, and in some instances destroy altogether the digestive process through which the food is assimilated and prepared for distribution through the body. Induce a laugh to chase worry. “Hearty-laugh” is a “gloom-chaser.” Five minutes of this sort will stimulate action.
SUGGESTIONS TO DEVELOP ACTION:
(1) Do the distasteful task first: Form the habit of doing each day the most distasteful tasks first. It will be difficult at first. Nevertheless, after you have formed the habit, you will take pride in pitching into the hardest and most undesirable part of your work first. Secondly, the most profitable achievement in doing so is that this will destroy the habit of procrastination and develop the habit of action in its place.
(2) Show results: The world or the people like to see results. Do not tell them what you can do, “show them.”
(3) Finish tasks timely: Do every thing that should be done, when it should be done and as it should be done.
(4) Do not postpone: To realize your “Definite Chief Aim,” you must develop “Action” right from “today.” Remember – What is ‘today ‘becomes ‘yesterday’ and what is ‘tomorrow’ becomes ‘today’. Give your best today; the best will come to you ‘tomorrow’.
Further, “the world steps aside for the man who never stops”. Carry out these instructions with faith in their soundness and with belief that they will develop “Action” in your body and mind. Man is a queer animal. Give him a sufficient vitalized motive and the man of but average ability, under ordinary circumstances will suddenly develop super power. There are three motivating forces to which a person responds in practically all his efforts or actions.
(i) Motive of self-preservation.
(ii) Motive of family and social power.
(iii) Motive of financial power.
JUST DO IT:
It may be merged with suggestions to develop action-mentioned above.
We procrastinate for various reasons. Sometimes it is to avoid a difficult task and opt for the easier one, or to evade tasks that take longer time for completion. Many procrastinate due to fear of failure. Procrastination is common behaviour that affects you on various levels – what initially doesn’t seem like such a big deal, soon becomes a major source of anxiety and stress. It is caused by lack of motivation, catalyzed by absence of time management.
Procrastination is not just about wasting time, but also about mental damage. When you procrastinate, you have subconsciously added unnecessary baggage to your mind. Every minute spent wondering now and when to start, is another minute wasted. When you procrastinate, you are not relaxing, but further burdening your mind with stress.
PROCRASTINATION IS A HABIT: Yes, it is habit, not a personal flaw. It takes persistence to change – with practice you can change this habit. The first step towards doing so is to recognize the psychological reasons that cause you to procrastinate. Self-defeating issues like fear, anger, indecisiveness, lack of time management skills, difficulty in concentrating and perfectionism are some of the reasons behind it.
You need to realize that procrastination is a self-imposed condition. Clarify your goals, make actionable plans to achieve these and follow them conscientiously, forgive your imperfections and be a motivated, self-disciplined individual. Here are few tips that could help –
1. Define your personal goals: Write them down. Stick this on your door, mirror and notebooks where you can see them regularly.
2. Break larger projects into smaller manageable parts: Create a deadline for yourself to achieve each small task.
3. Prioritize your tasks: Tabulate your tasks into “Urgent” or “Time-sensitive” and “Non-urgent” but “Important” activities: An urgent activity needs completion based on a definite deadline and should be tackled first.
4. Set a timer: It is amazing how much you can get done when you focus on time accountability.
5. Make leeway for ‘Procrastination’ time into your schedule initially.
6. Tackle the difficult task first: The first task you handle in the day should be one you like least: Tackling the task you are most prone to keep putting off helps immensely.
7. Honour weekly appointments with yourself to plan coming week: Have a concrete and realistic plan for following through your intentions.
8. If you often say, “I’ve got to” or “I should be” replace it with “I choose to”: This sends a positive message to the mind and makes you mentally accepting and less resistant of the task.
9. The visual impact of clutter stresses the mind and causes it to switch off or ignore: Set up a system to manage the clutter and make your work-place look mentally conducive to get work done.
10. At the end of every day, take fifteen minutes to compare what’s best done and take a look at tomorrow’s plans: This helps in being prepared for tomorrow.
11. Reward yourself for small steps taken towards your goals. However, delay awards until you finish a task: This method works best with much disliked easily completed tasks.
12. Learn from your mistakes, don’t judge yourself constantly: Know your escapes like socializing, reading or daydreaming. Correct yourself.
13. Avoid dwelling on setbacks or mistakes: Focus instead on success and expect the best from yourself.
14. Accept and forgive yourself for your inability to stick to certain schedules: Don’t expect to change overnight. Give yourself sufficient credit for tasks you accomplish as per schedule.
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