Procrastination robs people of so much. When analyzed, one sees that it is one of the most destructive forces that an individual has to deal with. This single habit destroys careers, relationships, personal fulfillment, and one's self esteem. It is also one of the most cunning characteristics a person has. Nobody starts out procrastinating to the point where he or she is paralyzed by it. However, over the course of decades, many get to this point.



People who are highly successful in any area of life tend to have the energy necessary to take action. Success requires action. This is true in our careers, marriages, health, and friendships. We must do certain things in these areas if we want to get positive results. Failure to act will also have equally negative consequences. For example, putting off doing a report at work will impact our careers in a bad way. The same is true if we consistently put off doing the wishes of our spouse. Eventually there will be a negative result in the relationship.

One of the biggest problems with procrastination is that it robs us of the energy so necessary for success. Many studies were done which show how everything is made up of energy. Our minds have the ability to manifest things physically within us, even if it did not occur. For example, have you ever thought of a situation in the past that made you angry. Perhaps it was another individual. When thinking about this, you relived the experience in your mind. If there was enough emotional intensity, it is likely that you felt that anger within your body. The physical manifestations were present even though the other person or situation was not. You experienced the energetic intensity of the situation without the situation. That is the power of the mind.

The same is true when we procrastinate. Certainly there are actions we must take that are not enjoyable. Putting them off only increases the amount of energy spent. Instead of going through it one time, we live it over and over again. Also, the mind has a way of magnifying the consequences. We project negatively on the situation. This is why what occurs is not usually as bad as what we thought. Our mind invents an outcome that is guaranteed to prevent us from moving forward. Thus, we replay the action repeatedly, each time draining ourselves of energy.

Think of a circumstance where you put something off. An example that everyone can identify with is the procrastination of some household activity. Perhaps it was something as simple as changing a light bulb. This is an activity that takes a few minutes to complete. Yet many of us have put off this task. What happened each time you entered that room and flicked the light switch? You were instantly reminded of your procrastination. This drained you of some energy. Of course, since this is a minor task, it was soon forgotten. Yet there are times when your mind will drift to the unattended activity. There you are on the couch watching a movie and the thought of the light bulb pops into your head. Again, the experience is relived. This will continue until we handle the task that is omitted. It is easier to deal with it one time.

The light bulb example is one that everyone identifies with. However, it fails to fully show the impact of the energy drain. To do this, let's take something of greater importance. Consider a time where you had to repay some money yet were putting off doing so. How often did your mind drift to this situation? Do you recall how you felt each time you thought about it? Certainly negative emotions arose. Sadly, we experience the energy drain every time our mind focused on that activity; energy that could have been spent productively. This was validated by our feeling when we did ultimately act. How did you feel? Have you experienced where it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off your shoulders? In situations like this, we feel like more energy is available to us. The energy drain of an unfinished activity is removed.

A wonderful way to reclaim the lost energy is to handle activities immediately. Procrastinating makes us so ineffective in all that we do. It is easier to suffer through an activity once as opposed to dreading it multiple times.