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'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!
"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'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!
"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.