How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Practicing Instead

I can already tell that the subject of procrastination is going to rumble up some deep rooted emotions because when it comes to slacking off, putting things off, or making excuses for your lack of motivation everyone is guilty of it from time to time. The real issue when it comes to procrastinating is how to get to the root of it so you can yank it out and replant it with a healthier foundation. One of my clients said it beautifully, "one of the things I learned from Angel was that when you procrastinate to another time, you are just prolonging the frustration and cheating yourself out of a natural "high" that comes after it."

So what is the hardest thing about getting things going? Here are the top 5 reasons I hear on a regular basis from friends and clients when it comes to their excuses as to why they haven't taken action to achieving their goals:

•Lack of time
•Lack of money
•Health issues
•Fear they are not good enough
•Need to learn more/don't know how to start

Ok, all those "procrastination excuses" could very well sound viable and indeed be the truth, but here's where the disconnect doesn't sit with me and thus I'll never let my clients get away with hiding behind excuses.

1. When you lack time, you are actually saying you don't want it badly enough. When you want something so bad, you make the time. For most people it takes being completely, 100% being fed up with their current life situation to finally be ready to make change. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "if you want to change your life, you are going to have to change things in your life." You need to give something up to make room for new experiencing to come into your life. Practice freeing up more of your time, even if that means you cut back how much you work or how much money you make. Bigger things will present themselves when there is enough room in your life for those things to show up.

2. "I don't have enough money." This excuse is the most common of the 5, but I'll tell you that lack of money really is a lack of motivation and lacking motivation is a way to procrastinate. A few years ago I had to close my business because I was in $35,000 in credit card debt and with the creditors calling me non-stop, I was forced to make some changes in my life. I found myself penniless and jobless--talk about not having enough money! The one thing you need to realize about money is that it is energy. If you have toxic feeling around money, you will have a hard time attracting it into your life. Trust me, I went through the highs and lows of money my entire life. Change how you think about money, and you'll realize money was never really the problem it was really your motivation .

3. Feeling tired, unattractive, or suffering from an auto-immune disease is one of the more challenging procrastination excuses, but when you look at your life as holistic, you will see that your health can be changed just like the amount of money you want to make per year can change. How badly do you want to look and feel better? I suffered from acne, psoriasis and anxiety /panic attacks my entire adult life. It took me being so sick and tired of dealing with the health issues for me to stop procrastinating and start practicing a better health routine. When you practice a new routine, before you know it, you are doing those things subconsciously. Just as your body was designed to heal itself, you were meant to feel like the superstar you are.

4. Oh the big scary word "FEAR." This is probably what all of the procrastination is really about, fear. Not everyone is a big fan of digging deep inside for the answer because when you look inside you realize there is pain and insecurity that lives in there. And that's okay. However, pain and insecurity are simply a toxic energetic vibration you've put around something that you think would cause you to feel uncomfortable. In actuality, fear isn't real at all; it's simply a procrastination mechanism so you don't have to step outside your comfort zone. But why not? Do you know what lives on the other side of you fears? BLISS! The true joy of life lives behind all those toxic feelings you've put around your dreams . When you put one foot in front of the other, you show "fear" who is boss. Don't let your excuses get in the way of your dreams . You are far too gifted to let something fictitious rule your life. Practice stepping outside of your comfort zone.

5. So you are ready to stop procrastinating, but you still aren't getting started. Why is that? The last reason I hear from my clients as to why they aren't pursuing their goals is because they don't know how to get started or they think they need more education or experience. This excuse is your inability to be resourceful. Do you know how many people love and adore you. These people would love to see you succeed and help you in anyway possible. If you told your best friend tonight that you wanted to start your own business, you can bet she'd have an earful of ideas, possible clients for you, or a skill she could offer you to help you get started right now. So why aren't you telling people what it is you want so they can help you achieve it? Practice telling your loved ones what you need to pursue your dreams . Then sit back and be grateful you are so loved.

Anyone can change. It's truly a matter of trying something different, making room for change to happen, and being fed up enough to motivate you to change. When you do these things, you start attracting people, circumstances, and situations that will help you take your health and happiness to the next level. Practice telling others what you need and what you want. Just start there. You will be shocked to learn how many referrals and recommendations they'll have for you. And before you know it, you're no longer procrastinating; you are thrilled and excited to get started today!