So many people have written on this topic, offering the usual bullet points on how to beat procrastination, just assuming the position that everyone knows it's bad. I've never read a more helpful and insightful take on procrastination than this. Much of what you describe I have felt myself, but never put into words, and so never accepted the truth of this perspective. You've given me permission to explore this alternative perspective more deeply. Curiosity over avoidance. So glad your IP guided you here to share this.
I've read all of those bullet points as well Rick. And you're exactly right the gist is always the same: it's bad and it should be beaten. But what if all of these parts of ourselves are actually trying to help us and tell us something? And starting up a conversation (and building a relationship) with them will make us partners instead of adversaries. The same articles with the same combative bullet points exist for example on the familiar 'inner critic' (IC ;) And the same counterintuitive principle applies. Btw, WoP's CTA prompt (combined with starting with a spiky title) really helped to explore this counterintuitive topic and I'm going to use that same prompt/strategy to spark more topics in the future.
I love how this ties in perfectly with your listening theme. Covering how to listen to yourself and all these inner parts that have been labeled as refuse, but are really treasures, that's such a juicy perspective and I look forward to hearing more from you from this context.
I'm really resonating with your lesson here Rik! Love the idea that our IP is trying to tell us something, and that we have to slow down, tune in and listen. Thanks for sharing this insight!
Awesome Elizabeth! Thanks for telling me :) Interestingly, when we do start listening, it's actually possible to improve our relationship with our IP (or any other part of ourselves). Improving our 'working relationship' from being bothered to being supported (by our IP). Good to hear you relate :)
"What I needed was the confidence and clarity to leave my former topic and put it back on the shelf for further fermentation, and accept that I needed to find something else for this week."
Amen. It takes a profound awareness of (or in-tune-ness with) your inner workings to realize why you aren't motivated to write about something.
Common advice says we should push through, but these topics are often best served by fermenting in the back of our mind (or google docs) for a bit longer until we find the missing piece (another angle, a new conversation, a different flow).
So many people have written on this topic, offering the usual bullet points on how to beat procrastination, just assuming the position that everyone knows it's bad. I've never read a more helpful and insightful take on procrastination than this. Much of what you describe I have felt myself, but never put into words, and so never accepted the truth of this perspective. You've given me permission to explore this alternative perspective more deeply. Curiosity over avoidance. So glad your IP guided you here to share this.
I've read all of those bullet points as well Rick. And you're exactly right the gist is always the same: it's bad and it should be beaten. But what if all of these parts of ourselves are actually trying to help us and tell us something? And starting up a conversation (and building a relationship) with them will make us partners instead of adversaries. The same articles with the same combative bullet points exist for example on the familiar 'inner critic' (IC ;) And the same counterintuitive principle applies. Btw, WoP's CTA prompt (combined with starting with a spiky title) really helped to explore this counterintuitive topic and I'm going to use that same prompt/strategy to spark more topics in the future.
I love how this ties in perfectly with your listening theme. Covering how to listen to yourself and all these inner parts that have been labeled as refuse, but are really treasures, that's such a juicy perspective and I look forward to hearing more from you from this context.
I'm really resonating with your lesson here Rik! Love the idea that our IP is trying to tell us something, and that we have to slow down, tune in and listen. Thanks for sharing this insight!
Awesome Elizabeth! Thanks for telling me :) Interestingly, when we do start listening, it's actually possible to improve our relationship with our IP (or any other part of ourselves). Improving our 'working relationship' from being bothered to being supported (by our IP). Good to hear you relate :)
"What I needed was the confidence and clarity to leave my former topic and put it back on the shelf for further fermentation, and accept that I needed to find something else for this week."
Amen. It takes a profound awareness of (or in-tune-ness with) your inner workings to realize why you aren't motivated to write about something.
Common advice says we should push through, but these topics are often best served by fermenting in the back of our mind (or google docs) for a bit longer until we find the missing piece (another angle, a new conversation, a different flow).
Great essay, Rik.