Removing the Blocks that Maintain Procrastination and Timidity

Overcoming inner blocks that prevent resolving the paralysis of procrastination or the timidity of social anxiety is often made more difficult when those blocks are cemented in place.

The insight about what causes this stuck-ness is from control mastery theory: http://www.controlmastery.org/docs/Rappoport2002.pdf

The insight is as follows: the dynamic that keeps inner barriers in place is continued self criticism that stems from guilt for not following the inner guide. One concentrates criticism on oneself for not carrying out directives of the “better self”, the one that knows the correct course of action but is unwilling (not unable) to carry it out.

Delaying a task like writing a paper, finishing a home improvement project, or introducing yourself to a new neighbor may be maintained or sustained by inner self put downs that deplete your self confidence to initiate and carry through the task.

While the self derogation may seem unwarranted on its face, if it continues the cause may be the unconscious guilt that accrues from inaction. While you continue to defy your own best judgment, guilt builds up and becomes grounds for thinking less of yourself and your projects.

I find this hypothesis compelling because it makes sense out of a pattern that is all too familiar: being buffaloed by inner blocks when your work hard to overcome them and you have all sorts of value and benefits uncovered for moving ahead, but still you remain stuck. It’s as if a mysterious force is holding you back and you cannot unlock its nature or how to modify its power.

Being stuck and not knowing why is a familiar predicament in reluctance work; but it just may be that for you, the stuck-ness is derived from guilt for not complying with your inner guide or conscience, the voice the tells you what is “right”, justified or appropriate.

Such a perspective or self interpretation may by just the catalyst for springing loose from the ties that bind; inertia and failure to act need an override sometimes so that self censoring doesn’t gain the upper hand.

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