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How to overcome procrastination? || Acharya Prashant, at LIT-nagpur (2022)
Breaking Free
1.3K views
1 year ago
Procrastination
Postponement
Understanding Life
Self-Knowledge
Prioritization
Importance
Impulsiveness
Value
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that procrastination is not inherently a problem, as there are instances where postponement is actually advisable. The real issue lies in an individual's inability to understand life and evaluate situations correctly. He points out a contradiction where people claim to procrastinate on important tasks while simultaneously acting impulsively on tempting or alluring situations that should have been delayed. This happens because one does not know what is truly important and what is not. He emphasizes that something worthy should be undertaken immediately, while unworthy or harmful things should be postponed indefinitely. He dismisses the idea that procrastination is merely a habit or a biological issue like neuroplasticity, asserting instead that it stems from a lack of understanding regarding the worth of various options. Using the example of thirst, he notes that one does not procrastinate drinking water because its importance is clear. Therefore, the problem is a lack of self-knowledge and a failure to recognize what is genuinely valuable. He suggests that shifting powerful but negative thoughts to the future can be a useful tool. Ultimately, he advises that if one's life involves things they truly love and value, the need to postpone will naturally disappear.