Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of our emotional state. 

Even when motivation is high, you may still encounter taks you don't want to do. In these situations, self-discipline works like a motivational back-up system. When  you feel motivated, you don't need much discipline, but it sure comes in handy when you need to get something done but really don't want to do the work. If your self-discipline is weak, however, procrastination will be too tempting to resist.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you could simply get yourself to follow through on your best intentions--no matter what. We can only know a person's true intentions based on the results we see.

If you really want to overcome procrastination, you must release any attachment to the fantasy of a quick fix and commit to making real progress. You need to recognize that you won't solve your procrastination problems overnight, just as a single visit to the gym won't make you an athlete.

Action: Sometimes it helps to change your environment--shake it up! 

This Is Your Year to Design & Live the Life of Your Dreams - Days 316-322

Hi Shelly - thanks for that conversation last week. I went home buzzing and wrote the blog on the painting we talked about: 'Tranquillity'. You've been there, you live it, you inspired key insights for me.  It's not the external circumstances that bring us peace, but rather an inner quality that brings peace, even when everything else is screaming against it. Thanks for being an inspiration. When you get a moment to enjoy Tranquillity, check out this link and you'll see the connection.  http://www.jamietreadwell.com/artist/blog/2014/02/10/Eternity32Tranquillity/
Blessings on all you're about today.

Best,
Jamie

Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last possible minute, can be a major problem in both your career and your personal life. Side effects include missed opportunities, frenzied work hours, stress, a feeling of being overwhelmed, resentment, and guilt. Good news - you can learn tools to combat it!

The behavior pattern  of procrastination can be triggered in many different ways, so you won't always procrastinate for the same reason. Sometimes you'll procrastinate because you're overwhelmed with too much on your plate and procrastination gives you an escape.  Other times you'll feel tired and lazy, and you just can't get going. 

There are various causes of procrastination, and we will consider several intelligent ways to respond to and overcome this bad habit during this week.

ACTION: Is fear of rejection, fear of failure, or fear of what other people think causing you to procrastinate? As we have learned, taking action is the key to overcoming any fear. Just do it! Do it afraid!

GET THE BOOK! 

Being a good communicator requires more than just verbal skills. Oftentimes, what we say is less important than how we say it or the other nonverbal signals we send out  In order to hold the attention of others and build connections and trust, we need to be aware of and in control of our nonverbal cues. We also need to be able to accurately read and respond to the nonverbal cues that other people send us. 

Nonverbal communication is the third skill of emotional intelligence. This wordless form of communication is emotionally driven. It asks the questions: "Are you listening?" and "Do you understand and care?" We answer these questions in the way we listen, look, move, and react. Our nonverbal messages will produce a sense of interest, trust, excitement, and desire for connection... or they will generate fear, confusion, distrust, and disinterest.

Action: Part of improving nonverbal communication involves paying attention to:
eye contact
facial expressions
tone of voice
posture and gesture
touch
timing and pace