My life is in knots, so is my brain. each day has its own difficulty. My To Do list is long and filled with things I do not want to tackle. I put them off, go through the list and do the NEEDS and then the ones I can do easily, leaving the ones that make me anxious until another day. Phone calls, I have 4 on a list, involving health issues and insurance, and those are the ones that create worry and fears.
Lesson 307 in the book above is
OVERCOME THE BONDS OF PROCRASTINATION
If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited. Proverbs 24:10
If we are tied in knots, with fear, anxiety,worry, our challenge is to confront the fears and overcome them. Overcome the bonds that tie us. If that will be unpleasant, know that if we do nothing, our fears will continue. Make that appointment you dread. Fight that fight for insurance coverage.
If unpleasant work needs to be done, do it sooner than later.
The sooner we begin working to resolve our fears, the sooner our life will be better.
Don't wait, Do not procrastinate.
Do the worst, and do it first.
I wrote this little rhyme to help push myself to do what I do not want to do.
The prayer for lesson 307 is
Lord, today is a new day. Help me tackle the important tasks first, even if they are unpleasant. don't let me put off until tomorrow what I can and should do today. Amen
Below is a prayer I found several years back and is today From the past.
The Knots Prayer
Dear god:
Please untie the Knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have-nots,
the can-nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots,may-nots,might nots
that may find a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots,
would nots and
should nots that obstruct my life
and most of all,
Dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind,
my heart and my life all of the "am nots"
especially the thought that I am not good enough.
Amen. Author known only to God.
the color red for Christmas Past 2025
What a poem! I do agree about doing the worst thing first. Because if you don't, it just prolongs your dread and it builds up. LOVE your nook image!!
ReplyDeleteYes, a great poem! I do hope things get easier for you, though. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI procrastinate badly over administrative stuff - phone calls, emails, making appointments, sorting out licences, insurance, or bills. When I finally bite the bullet and address stuff that can't be put off any linger it usually turns out to be easy or at least resolvable - but that doesn't motivate me to procrastinate less over the next thing that throws sand in my gears.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI am not a fearful person, but I do have the procrastination gene and as I've grown older it seems almost harder to face up to those tasks that are about keeping things going. I suspect there is a tiny bit of anarchist in me that resents so many things that "have" to be done... but once done, it certainly lifts a weight. Like TM, though, knowing that I'll feel better for acting doesn't seem to register at the next hurdle... I love your post and it is timely reminder! YAM xx
Knowing that one should not procrastinate and actually following through are two different things. And when one knows that doing something is bound to cause anxiety, it is very easy to keep putting it off.
ReplyDeleteHello Sandra
ReplyDeleteI am not a procrastinator, hubby is. Great poem and post.
My job this morning is to clear up the snow off the cars and the driveway. I am glad it is not a morning for dialysis, we would not make there. We had about 4 inches of snow, Miney is not sure if she likes walking in the snow. We will see how that goes later today. Take care of yourself! Have a great day!
A sweet poem... I always tackle the hard things First...get them out of the way! Then it's so much easier when getting to the easy ones...I feel like I really accomplished a lot.
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
Timely lessons there for many of us.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful poem. I'm a terrible procrastinator. That makes sense though to tackle the hardest things first.
ReplyDeleteNot always easy to even determine what's most important though.... I have one friend on FB, working in pastoral care, who is always reminding of the importance of "self-care" and setting aside time to relax, rest and have fun as well... In order to keep up energy for the rest!
ReplyDeleteVery good advice here! I find that often the things I've procrastinated on aren't as bad as anticipated once I start.
ReplyDeleteJust to think how much better we would feel if we did the hardest things first and got them out of our way. a lot of the anxiety and stress would be gone. The thing with me is I'm not a procrastinator..If something is on my mind, I have to get it taken care of immediately..the hardest part for me is when it's Friday afternoon at 5:00 and everything is closed until Monday morning..
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer in not putting off til tomorrow what you can do today.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy your post and thoughts
Hugs Cecilia
This is a wonderful post Sandra. That book is truly a God send for you and the direction and encouragement you find in it.
ReplyDeleteYour poem and prayer are Right On !
Doing the hardest first is really Hard but the results do so much for our bodies and our minds. Thank you for sharing my friend.
(((hugs)))
Sue
Yes, those are good lessons, the difficult should be done first, but it's not easy to get started. Big hugs from all of us.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a deeply honest and relatable post about dealing with procrastination, especially when anxiety and health issues are tied up in the "to-do" list.
ReplyDeleteI procrastinate phone calls too. Usually they are no problem once you make them, but it's always a barrier to get them started.
ReplyDeleteI used to procrastinate in my young years until God showed me, that was the source of much anxiety and worry. Now I do the yucky stuff first. I'm living a more peaceful life - that and also praying over my list of things I have to do. Inviting the Holy Spirit to help me get those annoying things done on the list. He always comes through for me!
ReplyDeleteI hope when you make the calls, they are easier for you than you fear.
ReplyDeleteI agree with doing the worst or hardest thing first. I am not a procrastinator I am the opposite - but my husband is. But funny thing it does not get him nervous - his procrastination gets me nervous!
ReplyDeleteYes, do the worst things first. It's a bit of a push but always better to get it out of the way. I love your Nativity picture.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if this book was written for me! I've two calls/projects I've been putting off for nearly a month, now. It's comforting in a way to know I'm not alone. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
ReplyDeleteI'm praying His gentle hands will untie your knots.
ReplyDeleteWe all have a bit of the procrastinator in our makeup, Sandra, so you are not alone. As many others have commented doing the hardest thing(s) first can make the rest easier to manage and might help relieve anxiety.
ReplyDeleteWe all tend to procrastinate, and often come to regret it. It's like whether you eat your favourite chocolate first, or leave it till last, but in reverse. We hope you find the energy to tackle some of those tasks. Sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteI think it's an interesting thing. Sometimes I find, it's best to kill the biggest dragons first, that way, they are out of the way. Other times, we only have energy for the little dragons. I get that for sure. But still, something about slaying that big dragon of the day straight out of the gate, that makes the rest of the day, fly by.
ReplyDeletePS: Got your message. Love that your mom was a reader too. Did you like to read the same fiction as her?
I love those prayers. I need to push forward instead of running away. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteGlad to read everything is fine. See you in your next post.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is so good, and I need to listen to that as well. This time of year I start getting into panic mode when things start to pile up and I don't have the energy or strength to get them all done. It doesn't do any good to tell me to do them earlier. My brain doesn't work that way. I apparently like to push myself until I break and then I feel better when it all gets done. LOL. Anyway, I saw your newer post today, and I am praying for you to heal from the hurts of doing too much work in the yard. I know how that feels too, and then you can't do all the other stuff. Praying God will give you strength to do only what really has to be done, and then allow yourself to rest and recuperate. (((HUGS))) and prayers for you today. Don't try to answer these. I know you are taking a typing break.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post and such wise advice!
ReplyDeleteJust got your comment and sending you love and huggs. Not fun. As soon as I get email back - you'll be the first email I send. Lots of love and huggs your way.
ReplyDelete