Hello and welcome to episode 30 of the ask Sri Vishwanath Show. Today I want to talk procrastination and what Krishna thinks of procrastination.
Today’s question comes from Jane. Jane says “My problem is that it’s hard for me to start anything or to move forward. I’m a huge procrastinator and I think it’s because I’m afraid that I will fail. What can I do to improve?”
Hello Jane. Thanks for the question. I think everyone has this problem. Everyone procrastinates at one point or another. Some people are really good at motivating themselves to get going and others tend to get stuck, almost like a stone.
I have a couple of tips for you. They are practical and shouldn’t be hard to follow.
Make it easy
Firstly. Make it easy for yourself. For example I have written 13 bestselling books and every time I write it’s like there is a blank page in my head. There are people who pay thousands for someone to help them complete the first chapter. I’m not joking! I’ve been asked to coach people in this way.
People think writing the first page is easy. It’s so hard. Never mind the first page, even the first sentence is hard to write. What I do is I take this quote of mine and paste it into a word document. It takes away the blank space and makes the process less daunting.
Try taking the pressure off by tackling things in small parts. Instead of saying “I want to write a book” say “I want to write a paragraph.” This will make it easier for yourself.
Another example: I know people who want to start meditating so they read a lot of books but they don’t actually start meditating! I tell them to just sit and do it. Don’t worry about the mechanics of it. Just start and it will come to you.
Dual nature
Secondly. Krishna says “The earth, the air, the fire, the space, the water……..god, the mind, the intellect. Know that to be my lower nature. My higher nature know it to be other than this…… I am the source of all beings, all things proceed from me. Know all things to be born of this dual nature”
Everyone has a dual nature. Remember this Jane. You’re saying that you have trouble starting things and moving forward, this is because of your lower nature. This is a fact: this lower nature is an illusion. Your higher nature, the one which will allow you to get things done, is your consciousness.
So make things easier for yourself and remember the dual nature. Appeal to your higher nature in order to get things done. This nature is supreme and sublime. It’s energetic and proactive.
I want to read a verse from my book “The lens of Krishna.” It’s available as a free download if you would like to read more.
“Say to yourself I’m convinced that the nature of my thoughts does not influence reality rather the nature of my thoughts are borrowed from my level of awareness. I am responsible for my level of awareness not the nature of my thoughts”
This is important. You should write it down and repeat it to yourself. You are born of a dual nature and the nature of your thoughts (procrastinating and worrying about starting) do not influence reality. The nature of your thoughts are borrowed from your level of awareness.
Say to yourself “I am responsible for my level of awareness” If you focus on this you’ll see big changes Jane.
I hope I answered your question. Remember you keep asking questions and I’ll keep answering them.
