Do You Procrastinate on Your Own Happiness?
Procrastination is one of those things that everyone does now and again. For me, it’s an obvious outcome of a mind that is motivated by pleasure and pain; occasionally your mind is going to do whatever it can to avoid that pain (or perceived pain at least) because, to be quite frank, it can think of better things to do. Does that make sense? You think about doing that job that needs done, you can’t be bothered because its boring/painful/hard/long/dirty (delete as applicable) your mind gives you a picture of something much more interesting like doing nothing or eating chocolate. Simple choice from there on in. Pleasure wins.
It’s a simple game of comparison. Chocolate trumps cleaning the toilet… possibly a bad example but go with me.
So why then do we procrastinate on our own happiness? Why do we say things like ‘I’ll be happy when… ‘ or ‘I’m going to wait until I have a new job before I lose weight/leave the bad relationship/get the good relationship’ or whatever it is you say that delays the onset of the life you want. This type of behaviour suggests that we perceive some sort of pain with being happy, does it not? Otherwise, why would we wait? Surely if it was only pleasure involved we’d do it straight away? Like right now!?
I think about this a lot. I think the pain we associate with happiness is our fear that happiness is fragile, a delicate, precious thing that is easily cracked, smashed or stolen especially by other people. We think our lives have to be perfect because its only then we can be strong enough to hold on to it. We think we have to be bulletproof to allow ourselves to show our happiness to the world. But that’s not true, you’ve got it the wrong way round. You have to show your happiness to the world in order to become bulletproof.
Happiness, whatever that is for you, is waiting for you right now. It lives within you, it is patient, it is strong and, in some ways, it is quiet (its rare to find someone who is truly happy screaming about it every second of every day). You can have it now if you choose to, I promise. The biggest thing that stops you is more than likely some bullsh!t rule that says you shouldn’t because. So, why not decide to be happy right now while you lose weight? Why not decide to be happy right now and use that as fuel to leave your crappy relationship? Why not decide to be happy right now just because you ruddy well can?
I’m not that bothered if you procrastinate about cleaning your bathroom. To be honest in the grand scheme of things it’s not going to make that much difference to your life (unless its really bogging then get your finger out ya manky so and so!!!!). However, I do care about people procrastinating on happiness when its sitting right inside them just seeking permission to come out.
The longer you wait, the less time you get to enjoy it. Do what needs to be done. Face your demons, confront your fears, start doing and stop waiting.
Be strong. Be you. Be happy. (Oooh, I think I might have just came up with a new catchphrase!!)