Procrastination – the demon that slows you down

Bhagavad Gita  18.28:

A performer in the mode of ignorance is one who is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, slothful, despondent, and a procrastinator.

Have you ever wondered why it is that you end up putting off tasks and worry about it when you have not accomplished it?

Dissatisfaction and recrimination follow swiftly causing you to slow down in your actions.

You try defending your slowness.

You make excuses for it:

You were tired, the car gave trouble, there were too many phone calls ….

The Reasons

But those weren’t the real reasons.

I mean if they were the real reasons, you could have done it the next day right?

You didn’t. So, it sounds like the ‘procrastination demon’ got to you.

The good thing about this is you are not alone.

There are hundreds or thousands of us who walk this path and feel utterly disgusted with our failure to keep our goals. This is a cause for dissatisfaction among my students at the Gita classes for children every Sunday. They mull over their grades every end of term wondering how to improve.

What is worse than Procrastinating?

Do you know what is the worst thing in procrastinating?

It is not only about not accomplishing your goals. It is about self castigation. That demoralised feeling sets in, where you feel so bad about yourself that you did not manage to accomplish your goals and aims. And something even worse happens after that. You start taking it out on those around you. Now, this is bad.

Stop and look at yourself.

Have you caught yourself barking at someone for no reason? Ok, they may have done something wrong but did you feel that you went overboard in checking them or reacting to them? Perhaps a little too loud? The people in the next room heard you?

Time for Action

Ok, then it’s time to take action.

Step back and reassess. At our weekly Bhagavad Gita classes, I often reiterate that you should be humble about your goals.

Re-set your targets. Make them small and achievable.

The Bhagavad Gita says that to procrastinate is to be in the ‘mode of ignorance.’ That is tamas stage where you are at the bottom level of spiritual growth. Get away from this stage my dear friends for you will feel the full weight of this slowness and it will set you apart from all joy and participation in life. It is the worst possible level of growth and if this blog does not get you to think and change, you need to reach out and visit at our Sunday Gita classes. Just drop in with your children or come alone. Sing along and fill yourself with the positive energy that radiates form our class every week.

Soaring energy levels and mood upliftment will be the first change. Did you catch yourself singing or humming? Nothing like a song to set your mood for the day.

And surround yourself with people vibrating with positive energy. How do you find yourself such people?

Easy. Take a stroll down to the Holytree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple at Yishun, Jasmine room 3^rd floor for our Bhagavad Gita class. We will be glowing with energy and I promise you that your spiritual batteries will be recharged. You will need to initiate the step for the change. And that, my friend, lies in your precious hands. Energy is the main source of strength and from that strength begins your success. Wishing you every bit of success as the year draws to a close. It’s definitely a time for some resolutions and changes.