Ways to Success: The First Step Is to Stop Procrastinating

“Nothing Is So Fatiguing As The Eternal Hanging On Of An Uncompleted Task.” ~William James


Ways to Success: The First Step Is to Stop Procrastinating

by Olga Hermans

 

Many times I have heard people tell me they are just “waiting on God.”   While it sounds very spiritual, self-sacrificing and honorable, I also find that more often than not it’s just a politically correct way of procrastinating or justifying indecision.  Instead of gathering information, creating a plan, and taking action, they can comfortably hide out in a theological wilderness with all the other Egyptians while doing nothing.

Am I speaking to you? We all have been there and done that. Many of us are in a position where we need to make a change. Yes, we know that creating change may not come easily, because our mind tends to view anything different as dangerous.

Our mind likes to hold on to things that it knows from the past. Let me tell you, if you are holding on to things of the past, it’s impossible to receive something fresh and new. Just let go. Way too many times our past has a hold on our future.

Many times in my past there was that one thing that kept me from being productive in my life. It shouldn’t have to be. Even to the point that I was almost paralyzed because I had made mistakes in the past.

But then again there was also a time in my life that I felt I was paralyzed because of past success which was holding me back in a certain state of “resting on my laurels.” Have you ever been there?

Until the time came that I started to invest in myself and started to do things daily; I started to pick myself up to get going and move forward to accomplish something that was a benefit not only to me, but also to the lives of others.

I absolutely needed to let go of the past; all those things in the past started to bother me to the point that I didn’t have any desire to do anything. Almost to the point that I felt really lazy and sluggish and I didn’t want to move forward.

Friends started telling me that there were so many people out there who needed to hear what I had to say; that they needed my talents, my abilities; that they were looking for me to encourage them in their life. I remember the moment that I started to believe them and my life started to flourish because my focus wasn’t on me anymore, but I decided to start to serve people.

You see, the moment you decide to get into the “people business,” your life will change. People in need wouldn’t care that my life hadn’t been perfect. Welcome to the human race!

This was the reason why I kept procrastinating and procrastinating; what a foolish thing to do to if I think about it now. Just wasting time away by not believing in myself, thinking so lowly of myself, always thinking the best of other people but never thinking of myself that I could do something worthwhile. That is who I was.

People often say something like, “If I only would know what to do, then I would…” The truth is that if you make a choice to make a move things will start to fall into place.

I have heard someone say once: “you cannot steer a parked car”. That means that we first have to put the key in the ignition, turn the key and start the car before we can steer the wheels.” That principle works the same with our life.

If your life is or was like that, let me tell you what worked for me, will also work for you:

Here we go:

Make a plan that you work on daily. Start to visualize and talk about what you would like your daily life to look like, the direction you want go, the place you want to live, what kind of business you want to do.

You also should avoid those dream robbers, they always come around when you finally start going. Many dreams get robbed by negative thoughts and feelings. The biggest dream robbers are people who like to come and tell you why things cannot be accomplished or why you in particular don’t qualify for that certain thing that you are trying to accomplish.

Just don’t spend any time with people who try to rob your dream. You can ask God for the right people to come into your life; who build you up and not tear you down. There are people out there that are waiting to receive what only YOU can give them.

Take care of your dream and nurture it, keep your dream alive at all cost. Treat it as a newborn baby. Then, you need to grow it and implement things step by step. You will see a difference coming soon enough.

Then, you need to write it down!

The Bible tells us to “write the vision down so that those who read it can run with it.” This is the moment where you need to be bold. Write all the things down where you see yourself in 3 months, then six months and in a year. If you can see yourself in 5 years, write it down and even in 10 years. That is how a vision statement starts. Keep it in front of you all the time and envision yourself with everything that you have written down.

The Bible also tells us that people perish without a vision. You need a road map to see where you are going. If you don’t know where you are going, you will never know that you arrived. You will miss out on all the excitement, because when you arrive at a place there is always that feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Then the moment is there to ACT

Procrastination is the enemy. Ask yourself this question, what would you do if money were no object? This is a moment where you can let your imagination take off, take all the breaks off. What would you be doing in this world that needs you and is crying out for your talents and gifts?

You can do that right now. Dream, plan and write it down and then take a few baby steps that don’t have to cost you anything except time and energy on your part. These are the things that most people don’t want to do, did you know that? I have on my white board here in front of me, “Just Do It!” Once you have taken the first step, you will be glad you did it.

Let me ask you 3 simple questions:

What are your greatest three concerns that cause you to not go forward with your dream? And then ask yourself, “How would God answer to those concerns”?

  1. What simple steps can you make today that declare, “I’ve started”?
  2. If money were no object, what would you be doing differently?
  3. How many hours a week are you presently giving to meditating, envisioning, planning, and praying about your vision?

Please share your answer with us by making a comment; others will love to read what you have to say.
It might be your very first step!

You can subscribe to The Daily Choice which brings an encouraging message 5 days a week to your inbox by clicking here

 

!

Comments

  1. Amazing post today Olga. It was just what I needed. I am moving through a relationship right now that is not serving me and I need to stop procrastinating. As comfortable as it is I know I am allowing it to keep me from a higher good. I am using it as an “excuse”. God has put so many “things” in my path day to day to bring this vision to light. I need to move forward and trust Him as my provider. Thank you for “waking” me up this morning Olga! Blessings!

  2. Olga, Great article! It is so important to have a plan and to know what you can achieve during the day/ week. Thank you for sharing!

  3. Excellent Article Olga! Love how you stated that at times, when someone states that they are waiting on God, it can be more of an excuse. I couldn’t agree more. Yes, there are times that we must wait for God’s direction, but at the same time, there are moments that we must get moving! Thanks for the reminder and steps!
    Jennifer Bennett recently posted..Want to Live Your Dream? Then Stop Doing This…My Profile

    • We always should be doing something. If we are waiting for a job, we should be doing a job that we might not like as much. When we step out, God can do something.

  4. Oh, I like that, “You can’t steer a parked car.” Hadn’t heard that one before. On the old cars, you could actually turn the steering wheel without having the key turned on in the ignition. Of couse, you still couldn’t go anywhere. And that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? Get started and go where you need to be!
    Thanks for the thoughtful article. 😀

  5. Love this Olga! I think we all can use a bit of a boost in the procrastination department! Thanks for the motivation to keep it moving!
    denny hagel recently posted..Finding Inner Peace…Living the way Nature IntendedMy Profile

  6. Our pastor once said that when you are waiting on God, you need to be just like a waiter in a restaurant, – serving and doing what you know He wants you to do, until He let’s you know a different direction to take. Saying I am waiting on God, and then sitting on my hands is just selfish procrastination, exactly like you said in your article.
    Rachelle recently posted..Beauty Sleep: Fact or Fairytale?My Profile

    • Rachelle, that is exactly what my pastor also said. God gives you something but you keep doing what you know to do until everthing is clear and you can step into the next phase of life. Thanks for stopping by Rachelle

  7. Carol Giambri says

    Olga, another home run. The graphics immediately set the tone. I don’t see myself always procrastinating but get stuck in wanting it just so right I keep changing and redoing things and could to others look like not in motion. I need to think: What would God say to me–“do it now–even imperfect–you can change it later.” Thanks for sharing.

  8. LOVED this article! It’s always great to be encouraged to keep moving forward and stop procrastinating. Thanks!

  9. Thanks Olga for such an inspirational article, it is easy to become sluggish as you say when looking at past (especially not a very good past), people like you are needed for these sluggish moment more than we all would like to admit, to get us out of the dreamlike state and move into action. We can’t be possibly fulfilled and feel good without being of service in this world this is just how it is. Have a great day! Love 🙂

  10. Thanks Solvita! Yes, we need to wake up, really wake up to our calling and purpose of our own destiny; once we clearly know what it is we are able to make decisions accordingly and act upon it. Thanks

  11. Great article. You really hit home with that illustration of how you can’t steer a parked car. I don’t have a problem with procrastination, I have a problem with trying to do it all.

  12. Great article Olga! (And so verrrrry true!) I agree that people (including myself) can sometimes use the “I’m waiting on God” as an excuse to keep procrastinating! Meanwhile, God is the one most times waiting on US to get moving! I love your articles 🙂

Speak Your Mind

*

CommentLuv badge