Costas Nicou Back Office

Four Things that I procrastinate

After reading Anthony Robbins book Awaken the giant within I came across an exercise about how to deal with four things that I procrastinate on. The solution is to use pain and pleasure principles. What are those? In a nutshell as human beings we are avoiding things that we have built pain around and doing the things that are pleasurable. This is the core of human motivation. So here lies the question what I am avoiding?

Four Actions that I am avoiding

  • I am avoiding building new habits.
    • Brushing teeth
    • Reading a book before bed time
    • Exercising on the treadmill
  • I am avoiding staying at home to study
  • I am avoiding setting goals
  • I am avoiding investing

Which pain have I associate with each of those actions?

Building new habits

  • I have associated the pain of not belonging. My father does not have or embrace those habits so subconsciously I am following his footsteps.
  • The fear of being judged by doing something different
  • The pain of not following through and starting over by leaving me with a feeling of disappointment.
  • The pain of sacrificing time
  • The pain of leaving my comfort zone

Staying at home to study

  • The pain of loneliness
  • The pain of boredom and the lack of excitement.

Setting goals

  • The pain of not following through
  • The pain of giving up
  • The pain of not being motivated enough
  • The pain of inaction

Investing Money

  • The pain of not knowing – the unknown
  • Limiting beliefs
  • Self Sabotage
  • The pain of responsibility

Which pleasures have I gained by following those negative patterns?

  • Feeling of comfort
  • Doing nothing is easier
  • Watching movies/excitement/uncertainty
  • Feeling sorry for myself – significance

 What pains I will face if I don’t change?

  • I will always have a sense of confusion and, having no clarity and I will go through life knowing that I could be more and give more
  • Lack of self confidence and self-esteem
  • Lack of vision and creativity
  • Lack of contribution

What pleasures I will gain by following through?

  • I will feel healthier and more energized
  • I will be more confident in my skills and self
  • I will lose the brain fog and the pain of incompetence
  • I will become more successful