Cause of Procrastination #4 - F.E.A.R.

Succumbing to our fears makes it easy for us to start putting things off, delaying action and ultimately not completing tasks and goals we set for ourselves. Fear of how we're perceived, fear of failure and fear of success can stop the chronic procrastinator dead in their tracks. But, if we're to live up to our potential, we have to "do us". We can't afford to worry about how folks will look at us or their opinions. You have to live your life and be happy with it as do they have to live theirs.

Believe it or not, many are afraid of what will happen if they reach their goals and become successful. They fear how their life might change with new responsibilities. Along with this fear comes doubt about their worthiness of what they're seeking.

"The fear of success is a very unique issue that arises when you are genuinely creating change and moving forward in your life," says Ti Caine, a hypnotherapist and life coach based in Sherman Oaks, California. "The fear of success is very real because the future is real-we're all heading there-and what we imagine for our future has an enormous influence on us."

In their most basic form, these concerns are all fears of the unknown. in fact the acronym for fear, F.E.A.R., is FALSE EXPECTATIONS APPEARING REAL. Nothing has even happened that should make us afraid, yet we're anticipating the worst. The chronic procrastinator does not know what the outcome will be or how it will affect them and this causes their thoughts to tangle and become tense. They freeze and put off any action until they are confident that they know exactly how it will come about.

Invariably, this usually results in a negative outcome and increases the depth of their fear the next time they are presented with a similar situation or opportunity. After the collapse of two businesses it took me a long time to even consider doing anything else entrepreneurial. I was afraid that if I started another venture I would lose money, be embarrassed, and end up once again starting from the bottom. Because I couldn't let go of the past, my fears began to control me. It doesn’t take long for this to become a habit of life and common way of living for those that slip into the grasp of chronic procrastination.