Anupriya Sharma
ThreeFish Consulting
Listen to this TEDx Talk by Nic Voge to know more about how the Self Worth Theory can help us in understanding and overcoming Procrasitination!
I am sure there are many among us who procrastinate! We do update our to-do list regularly and even plan out some of the tasks in great detail – but then, manage to find some other items on our list which have been pending for a long time. Or perhaps, when we are sitting down to that important analysis, or writing that report, we get distracted with some filler activities – like checking emails, or phone – only to realize later that we are a little tired…and not in the perfect frame of mind to do justice to that analysis or write the report now … PROCRASTINATION.
There are many theories around why we procrastinate – from the inability to cope with difficult situations, to faulty time management, or even – perfectionism! In this TEDx Talk by educator Nic Voge*, what resonated with me was the relationship between Procrastination and Self Worth. I personally believe – perhaps because of my individual personality; that any change or shift at an individual level begins from the inside. And, this happens when we have conviction – born of self awareness!
Voge says that the paramount psychological need that all of us have is to be seen by ourselves and others as capable, competent and able. But the problem is that some of us depend heavily on external feedback — in the form of good ratings, praise from bosses, parents, or other authority figures— for those feelings of worthiness. The reason we are so terrified about performing poorly on that analysis or the important report, is because we feel that our ability and our value as a person – depends on it. In this TEDx talk, Voge attempts to explain the root cause of procrastination using this equation : Performance = Ability = Self Worth
Meaning that people who procrastinate a lot have a kind of simplistic equation in their mind: their performance is equivalent to their ability, which is equivalent to their self-worth as a person. The only variable in this equation that we can control is our performance – through the effort we invest. So when we procrastinate and put in less effort, in essence we are doing this as a form of self-protection. That way, if we earn a bad result, it does not necessarily mean we are not talented, able or worthy – it’s just that we were just too busy or distracted to do our best… procrastination! Listen to this TEDx Talk by Nic Voge to know more about how the Self Worth Theory can help us in understanding and overcoming Procrastination!
* Dominic (Nic) Voge is Senior Associate Director of Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, and author of “Life Beyond Grades” (Cambridge University Press).
