So I have a huge freakin' problem!!! HUGE!! For me anyway. Have you ever started something, and never finished it!? Started reading a book and never finished it?? How about a craft??? Maybe a photo album?? Or even a home improvement project?!
I do this constantly! I can't seem to get away from the habit. I get inspired, come up with awesome ideas and start working on them only to see them fizzle into nothing. I'm sure I have disappointed so many people because of it... and mostly myself.
So why the heck do I start projects and never finish them?
I have a few ideas, but nothing is certain enough. I know I have an issue with performance anxiety. For example, my running video. I had a camera for almost a month and only really took a few days to film. WTH? Now the files are sitting on my computer waiting to be worked on. I'm putting it off... I procrastinate!!! That's one HUGE issue, but I know there is more to it. What if people think it's dumb, what if I can't figure out how to edit it, what if it totally sucks!?!?! Those three things are completely stopping me from finishing it.
Another example, my running blog. I was super inspired, super excited, and feeling so creative. I went and bought the domain, got it hosted, set up wordpress and now it sits. Close to empty. So here are my excuses so far. My "good" ideas don't seem so great anymore! I'm doubting my running credibility. I mean heck, I haven't even run my first half marathon. Who the heck would want my advice? So now, I have no idea what to do with it. Once again, I'm worried about what other people will think of it.
UGH!
And the list goes on, and on, and on. Every single creative project I start turns out this way. How do I get passed it!?!
As I'm reading this, I ask myself, "Did I write this?" I have the same problem with my music: people tell me I sound great and ask when I'll have another CD ready. Though I have a new computer, new recording gear and enough songs to fill several CDs, I have yet to lay down a single track. Procrastination is a plague! I think we simply need to can the excuses and put in the effort to match our initial enthusiasm. Once I discover how to make this happen, I'll share it with you, and we'll both be wiser!
ReplyDeleteIn a way, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm glad someone can relate :D I've been really pushing my running blog. I found that once I got going, it was easier to keep going. Start small, take small steps and eventually you'll get some momenteum. I've been trying to keep in mind Newton's Laws of Motion...
ReplyDeleteAn object that is at rest will stay at rest unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.
An object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.
So, really, nothing will get done unless I start... why not today!?!