Procrastination

I have made some efforts to set up a business and the next thing I need to do is to send out a survey to see if my idea is meeting a need and to get feedback. I’m procrastinating with it in a big way, and would like some help to figure out why. Some reasons I can identify – I feel like I should have done it sooner, I’m worried I won’t get many results, I’m worried what people will think of me. I’m worried I’ll get negative comments on social media as I intend to send it out via facebook in a few professional groups.

I’ve also got a deadline with my mentor to have it done and results back which I won’t meet – it’s in 11 days, and I am worried she’ll not want to carry on mentoring me if I haven’t done it, which though I don’t know is true, it adds pressure to the situation, and feeds in to my belief that I sabotage myself and opportunities I’ve given. I can change the deadline and I think that will be fine for her and me so this is some action I can take.

To challenge these thoughts, I can say I’m reaching out to you to help overcome this behavior, and there are plenty of opportunities in my life that I’ve taken and made the most of, and yes there are some that I haven’t, and there were reasons why.

I’ve tried to do a model but get stuck on the thought line – there are too many/none of them seem “it”, but the feelings are stuck, shut down, worry, discomfort, unsettled, not safe.

I think it’s down to asking people to see me, not feeling safe in this, and getting less than positive feedback about my idea, and from making money from people who are already in an industry that isn’t well paid (even though my ideas is about bringing ppl together and support for professionals doing a difficult job).

Thank you

 

Answer:

 

It makes sense that the kinds of thoughts you’re having about not feeling safe, and being concerned about people seeing you would lead to feeling stuck, shut down, discomfort, etc. In what ways can you have a little compassion for yourself in this moment? Of course you’re feeling this way! Your brain is telling you a story that makes it want to hide, and without someone in the captain’s chair of the prefrontal cortex, your limbic system is steering the ship from the mechanical room. And it’s okay.

Sometimes it helps to address the ‘what if’ question. What if people see you? What if they give you less than positive feedback? What’s the worst that could happen if that was the result you got? How would you handle it? On the other hand, what’s the worst that could happen if you never got the feedback at all and if people never knew this idea of yours existed in the first place?

Get compassionate and curious about what answering these big questions tells you. Where does this knowledge guide you next?