How to Consistently Finish What You Start
When I set my mind to something, I do it. That’s how this podcast got off the ground. I decided I was going to make it happen, did the work, and here it is.
I haven’t always been that way. I used to be a procrastinator. I’d have great ideas and start on projects, but I couldn’t complete them. Instead of finishing, I’d move to the next idea.
Then I learned about NLP strategies.
I realized that I had trouble completing things because I had a fear of closure stemming from a fear of abandonment. (If you know my childhood history, you’ll understand why.) Unconsciously, I wasn’t letting myself finish projects to insulate myself from the threat of abandonment.
Once I understood the root of the problem and became aware of how this fear was impacting my life, I was able to address it and — well, here I am today, creating, launching, and finishing online courses, recording and completing podcast episodes — the list goes on.
Do you have trouble finishing what you start?
Many of my clients do too, and they often feel shame about it. Sometimes there are legit reasons for stopping in the middle of something you aimed to complete.
Maybe you’ve had your nose to the grindstone, and you’re tired and need a break. Let’s face it; it takes effort to work against the existing nervous system.
Maybe you started on a goal and then needed to reassess and ask, “Is this the direction I want to go?”
Maybe you’ve outgrown your original vision, and now you realize the goal you were after is no longer what you want.
For many of us, we repeatedly don’t complete projects because we feel:
- shackled by the pursuit of perfection and by a standard that doesn’t even exist
- convinced we need to start over because we didn’t get a few things quite “right”
- afraid of failure, closure, or of the change success will bring
- we’ve created a pattern of not completing things
The pattern of failing to complete things can be remedied by this:
Completing things.
You don’t have to release negative emotions or eliminate limiting beliefs. It calls for some behavioral changes. The key is to start with small, measurable goals.
- Become aware of your current unconscious strategies. Why are you getting your current results?
- The “A” items are the must-dos.
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- Keep your A list small and manageable. Limit your A list to 3 items a day.
- “B” items are things that feel congruent with your goals and values, and will feel good on the other side of doing them
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- Only do “B” items when you’ve completed the “A” items
- “C” items are unimportant — these are a low priority
- Have an ABC list.
- Carve out time and commit to the work. Start with what time you can create — 15 minutes a day, and then increase it to 30 minutes a day.
- Change your language from “I have to,” to “I get to.” An attitude of opportunity (instead of obligation) brings positive energy into the process.
Your unconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a big goal and a small one. It only sees one thing — the goal. For this purpose, train your unconscious mind on small targets.
And then, break down big goals into small pieces and tackle one chunk at a time. Each subsequent goal will be easier to complete than the previous one.
You can do this, one small step at a time.
Thanks for listening!
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Links from today’s episode:
- Episode 16 — The 10-Step Problem-Solving Formula
- Episode 47 — Declutter Your Life, Declutter Your Mind
- Check out our free resources!
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