I am 27 year old and since childhood have been very lazy. I feel I could have achieved more success in life if I were a bit more active. Please advise how to overcome laziness and procrastination. How do one become active in life?
Also, I tried Vipassana meditation which my brain finds very logical and advises me to practice it regularly but as soon as I sit for meditation a fear grips me and I feel doubtful if this is the right technique to practice. How do one understand which meditation is good for us as we have hundred different gurus and meditation types available in India now?
Ask Deepak
Question:
Dealing With Laziness
December 7th, 2009
3deepak's response
Vipassana meditation is a perfectly good meditation, and there is nothing to be fearful or doubtful about in that practice. There have always been a lot of spiritual practices to choose from in India. Choose a practice that comes from a reliable tradition and can be taught to you by a qualified instructor. You also need to decide whether it is a good fit for your temperament and abilities.
As far as procrastination is concerned, telling you how to overcome it won’t do any good since you can simply procrastinate on following the advice. You already know why you should be more active to be successful, what you need to discover is what is holding you back. If your meditation question is indicative of your overall frame of mind, then you probably make excuses for why you don’t act more boldly because you are afraid of making the wrong decision and being taken advantage of. In that state it is easy to choose not to act or distract yourself so you don’t risk making the wrong decision. That might be what your laziness is really about.
Remind yourself that your decisions don’t have to be right or perfect before you can act. We all have to make choices with imperfect knowledge and uncertainty so there is no way we can ever know if we are making the “right” decision. It’s enough to make sensible decisions that are aligned with your inner values. Once you accept that it is safe to act from uncertainty, knowing that if you need to make adjustments you can, then you are free to let your actions flow effortlessly in response to your desire and the needs of others.
Love,
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I think you hit the matter right on the head for me, too, even though the situation is a bit different. For fear of making the wrong decision, I make no decision, which appears as laziness or procrastination.
If you have been lazy when you was a child, well is past time. Now in your mind you have the potencial to change that situation, just do it, it is your election. You can do it!
Lily
‘Remind yourself that your decisions don’t have to be right or perfect before you can act. We all have to make choices with imperfect knowledge and uncertainty so there is no way we can ever know if we are making the “right” decision. It’s enough to make sensible decisions that are aligned with your inner values. Once you accept that it is safe to act from uncertainty, knowing that if you need to make adjustments you can, then you are free to let your actions flow effortlessly in response to your desire and the needs of others.’ Very healing and empowering advice. Thank you