We at Intergrata believe in living life authentically. The contents of this page share articles and other sources of inspiration that will motivate, edify, and help to bring out the best in you.
Our article for February 2004 is entitled, "The Paralysis of Procrastination"
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So why do we put off giving our gifts to the world? Why do
we fail to put one foot in front of another and simply
start? When I asked myself this question recently following
a wonderful exercise with my writing coach, Julie Jordan
Scott, this is what came up. "When I consider procrastination , starting comes up for me. Starting is beginning, putting aside fears that cause hesitation. It makes me think of skiing for it is in the moment of commitment to that downward slope, the moment of no turning back unless I want to cling to the icy mountain paralysed by fear for the rest of my life, that the journey is begun. Once I begin, one way or another, I am on my way to my destination. While I hold back, before I start, there is still the opportunity to turn aside to pretend that the daunting task does not have to be done, that I do not have to expose myself to the waiting world. Starting is the end of waiting, It is the end of procrastination. It is a beginning and beginnings are the start of a journey to somewhere. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I fail to start - I do not know where my destination is. Anyway I need to launch myself forth and trust that the scenery on the journey will fill my soul until the destination becomes visible to me. Starting is the key. " So what did I learn from that free flow from unconscious to conscious mind? 1. The end of procrastination, comes from starting, just taking one step forward, even when you don't know what your destination is. Follow your gift to wherever it takes you. 2. The journey does not require a destination. There is no ultimate destination, just the joy of a journey, a magical mystery tour of life. Have you ever started out with one goal and found that when you pay attention to the experience of achieving it, that it shifts and alters as you journey towards it? That is because you have been changed by the interaction with the world. It is o.k. to have a destination in mind, but it is not essential and even when you do have one, get ready for diversions to other more exciting and fulfilling places. Stay open to your intuitive sense of direction. "When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge. - Tuli Kupferberg" 3. Ask yourself what the consequence will be if you fail to start? Do you want to spend the rest of your life clinging to the side of an icy mountain or do you want the freedom of flying down that mountain, even if there might be a few tumbles and bruises on the way? What are you giving up by not starting the journey? What is the world losing by your failure to start? 4. I have no idea where this work will lead me and it did not get any easier to sit down to write this today, but I did. I made a commitment to the world and I kept it. One foot was placed in front of the other and I kept on going. Why - because I trust that the impact of my energy placed out into the world, will make a positive difference in the lives of others? So commit to the journey without attachment to the destination. Enjoy the scenery on the way. Use your gifts as your compass. Put one foot in front of the other - START now. === Maria Doherty is Founder of Chrysalis Transformations Chrysalis Tranformations: Where caterpillars find their wings http://www.chrysalistransformations.com |