What happens when you procrastinate on your fears?
Probably all of us struggle with procrastination at times.
The Hidden Link Between Fear and Procrastination
At its core, procrastination isn't about laziness or poor time management.
Procrastination, along with the related trait perfectionism, is really just another behavior rooted in fear. We avoid doing the things that scare or overwhelm us.
Some of our biggest fears that cause us to delay tasks, include:
Making mistakes
Failing
Receiving criticism
Facing rejection
How Fear Feeds the Procrastination Cycle
Fear is not really an enemy, however if we act on it it can stand in the way of our good self-esteem, self-confidence and success.
When fear manifests itself as procrastination and we don’t act, what happens to our original underlying fear? Or what happens to fear generally when we avoid facing what scares us?
When we avoid tasks that frighten or overwhelm us, we create a vicious cycle:
Fear triggers avoidance
Avoidance increases anxiety
Growing anxiety makes tasks seem more daunting
More procrastination follows
Common Procrastination Patterns
Different people procrastinate in different ways:
Catastrophizing (imagining worst-case scenarios)
Feeling overwhelmed by task size
Active avoidance of challenging work
Seeking distractions
Perfectionist paralysis
Why Facing Fear Matters
Fear isn't inherently negative – but avoiding it can damage:
Self-esteem
Self-confidence
Professional success
Personal growth
Learning Through Mistakes: A Natural Path to Growth
As Buckminster Fuller wisely noted: "Whatever humans have learned had to be learned as a consequence of trial and error experience. Humans have learned only through mistakes."
Reframing Failure and Criticism
Remember:
Failure provides feedback, not judgment
Criticism offers growth opportunities
Rejection leads to resilience
Mistakes are stepping stones, not stop signs
Moving Forward: Feel the Fear and Act Anyway
The path to success isn't about eliminating fear – it's about acting despite it:
Acknowledge your feelings
Accept discomfort as natural
Take small steps forward
Use setbacks as learning opportunities
Key Takeaway
Failure, criticism, and rejection aren't personal defects – they're valuable feedback mechanisms. Each setback offers a chance to start again, armed with new wisdom and experience. Success isn't about avoiding mistakes; it's about learning from them.
Remember: Your actions (or mistakes) don't define you. They're simply experiences that help you grow stronger and wiser.
Failure, criticism and rejection provide the opportunity to start over – hopefully a little smarter.
Procrastination is just another facet of fear, so facing your fears allows you to grow and move on. I also recommend catching up on this great story on CONQUERING FEAR in this blog article.
