Yesterday you read that procrastination is a trickster and a liar. Well, it’s a thief, too. In other words, you don’t want to hang around with procrastination for very long. It’s a shady character in a bad neighborhood.
How is procrastination a thief? Think about what happens when you procrastinate. When you plan to put something off, you have to come up with a reason why, to make yourself feel better. You could spend all afternoon talking yourself into procrastination.
Tomorrow will be better, because I’ll have more time. Wait. I won’t have more time tomorrow. I’ve got three major appointments. Well, next week will be really ideal, because I’ll be done with one project by then, and I think I don’t have to take the kids to soccer practice that week and . . . oh, wait. I do have to take them to soccer. Okay, well, maybe I should start the whole thing next month. That’s a great idea! Start fresh next month. I’m not going to let myself feel guilty about this. I’m a very busy person. Life just gets in the way sometimes . . .
In the time that you took to have that conversation with yourself you could have gotten several things done. Procrastination is the thief of time. It takes planning, and the ridiculous thing is you are planning to not do something. It’s a complete waste of time. Spend today not procrastinating.
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You’ve been reading about procrastination for the last several days, but today you will get a chance for rebuttal if you are a chronic procrastinator. There is a very slight difference between procrastination and doing things at the last minute. Ann kind of had a good point on Day 156 when she admitted that she enjoyed the adrenaline rush of working with a deadline looming. Some people actually do their best work that way. Are you one of those adrenaline junkies? That’s not all bad.
The important distinction is that you have to meet your deadlines. If you wait until the last minute to do something, that’s fine if you produce great work on time. But you must complete the job using all of your talents to the fullest. Pay attention to the results. If you’re churning out fabulous ideas and contributing everything you have, it doesn’t matter if you wait until the last minute. The point is that you did it, and you did it well.
Ask yourself if you are one of those people who enjoys the rush of doing things at the last minute. If the answer is yes, then take a close look at your results. Are you really showing the world everything you’ve got when you get things done at the last minute? If the answer is yes again, great! Knock yourself out. Have fun with the drama of sweating out last-minute deadlines. If the answer is no, maybe you should rethink your strategy. You have an incredible amount of talent within you. Everyone lets their gifts emerge in different ways. If you need more time to give your unique talents a chance to work their magic, don’t wait until the last minute. If you don’t, more power to you. Do it at the eleventh hour.
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Laughter is music. It is a delight to the soul and a wonderful way to tap into your inner self. You have read about many quiet and meditative ways to reach inside and draw out your unique talents, but the music of laughter has that same ability. It’s hard to fake laughter if you’re not really amused, so it comes from a place of truth and pure joy. When you really start to laugh it is like a song that bubbles up from a very deep place inside of you. It taps into your soul and opens you up. Laughter has the power to remove barriers and let you to enjoy the moment.
Laughter is a very present activity. It takes place right now. You laugh in immediate reaction to something you see or hear or do. Laughter will take you right out of regrets of the past or worries over what the future holds. It happens now, and then it’s gone. You have to enjoy it while you’ve got it.
Your assignment today is to take part in something that makes you laugh. Watch a funny movie, hang out with a friend who makes you giggle, or go to a comedy club. Or you could even try something that you haven’t done in a long time. When was the last time you went roller skating? That might give you a chuckle or two if you try it again.
Put yourself in situations where you might break out into hysterical laughter. Laughter is great medicine. It has the power to heal you emotionally and even physically. Stop taking yourself so seriously and have a little fun today.
