June 28, 2022
Venerable Wuling in Procrastination

Procrastination is stagnation. 

It’s also a choice. 

We know a task awaits. We know because it’s right in front of us, just lying there with no inclination to wander off in search of someone more responsive. There’s no desire whatsoever to let us off the hook.

We all have reasons for putting things off. Basically, we don’t want to do any of it. It wasn’t our idea. We’re busy with other things. We’re tired. But we better find the energy or we’re going to be lugging it around like Marley’s ghost dragging his chains.

We need two things. (1) Inspiration. (2) Technique.

Technique is whatever works. For some, To-Do lists transform dreaded tasks into little bundles of joy. Ahh, the triumph of ticking off one more item! Some people have even been known to complete a task then add it to the list just to be able to check it off. And the inspiration to get it all done?

It comes from experience: The task is not leaving. I’m tired of looking at it. And, gosh, what a wonderful relief when I finally get stuff done!

Article originally appeared on a buddhist perspective (http://www.abuddhistperspective.org/).
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