Creating a Legacy & Procrastination Paralysis

I have something for you… a work-through… And I have to tell you that these are kind of my favorite things to nerd out with. There are plenty of times when we only focus on all of our goal-setting for January 1 and then we just let the year fall into place the way it does. We don’t have to do that.

We can choose other parts of the year that we reassess, refigure, and restart in different directions. You may recognize these three Rs sentiment from Fail Forward: Dealing with Setbacks. And trust me… in my line of work, this is usually where people go when they start making their way through the year and just letting things fall where they fall. They believe in a lot of situations that they have already failed what they said to do and literally will just let the year happen and then figure it out in a panic again come January… You know basically the Monday of the months.

BUUUUUT we do not need to allow that sense of failure to take over and give us this like procrastination paralysis.

Procrastination paralysis is a difficult state to be in. Those who experience it often grapple with feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck in a cycle of inaction. It is during these moments that we tend to postpone starting something, believing that it might be better or easier to do it later. However, we must question whether waiting for the unknown of that “not now” time truly leads to a better or easier outcome.

These work-throughs… They give us a chance to just drop it on some paper and just allow us to sit with it for a little bit.

And now back to the work-through start

This work-through is for you to be able to assess how the last few months have gone for you.

We tend to think in terms of 24 hours (midnight to midnight)… 7 days (Monday to Sunday)… 1 month (1st-31st)… and 1 year (January-December)… but life doesn’t.

Every second of every day is new.

Every day of every month is new.

Every month of every year is new.

This is where we as people tend to get a bit stuck with our mindset, procrastination paralysis.

Truthfully, our lives are always going to be unexpected because the truth is that we do not have any control over what the next moment holds. We may have an idea but that is never concrete. We have to move forward on what we know and have at the moment and not let time simply pass us by

Let me ask you…

Did you set New Year’s resolution goals this year?
Have you made progress on them or successfully achieved them?
Have you adapted and refined them as life circumstances changed?
Are you embracing adaptability, aligning your goals with your authentic self and future needs in each season of your life?

If not, it’s time to re-evaluate.

Brain dump: Dedicate the next 10 minutes to engage in this writing exercise. Let your pen flow freely as you jot down all the thoughts swirling in your mind after reading the above questions. By giving these thoughts to the paper, you create the space to be present and can better concentrate on the task at hand.
Use the past as a teacher: Take a moment to pause and record your accomplishments (if you haven’t already) and the meaningful moments you’ve experienced with your loved ones too. Also, record the unexpected experiences of the past few months. Were you able to respond well to these situations? Have you had to set your goals aside during these moments?
Map out the next 1-3 months: Proceed by writing down all the events and commitments you are aware of for the upcoming months. Also, we can possibly anticipate holiday events, family traditions, and recurring annual events. Any plans for upcoming vacations or other travel plans?
Identifying Patterns and Gaining Insights: Analyze the three sets of writings—your swirling thoughts, your reflections on the past, and your expectations for the future. Do you notice any recurring patterns? Are there any insights you can utilize to better prepare for the impending situations? How are you feeling with looking at what is ahead?

Create your legacy

Now, I challenge you to view EVERYTHING you do as an investment in building your legacy.

Yes, your legacy. That kind of made it serious with that word, didn’t it?

But let’s get real. Each and every day is leading you in a direction. That direction, and that path that you are traveling. The path you have already traveled. That is your legacy. What do you want to be known for? What do you want people to remember you for?

You are sowing the seeds that will grow over the next few months. Is this the legacy you desire?

No matter how you answer. You have the power to make a different choice right now.

You can redefine your path.

On the other hand, you can continue nurturing and cultivating the path you have already set in motion whether that is one that you want to travel or not.

The decision is ultimately yours, and you hold the reins of control.

Additional resources

This is one of my favorite resources for planning and goal-setting.