How to stop mentally escaping

Summary

This video discusses the psychological impact of procrastination and how it subconsciously affects all aspects of life. The speaker reflects on how delaying important tasks creates emotional anxiety, diminishing our ability to fully enjoy everyday activities. They suggest a solution: 'submission'—relaxing into discomfort and doing the difficult tasks first to change the narrative of our lives. Using cold showers and cliff jumping as metaphors, the speaker encourages viewers to stop overthinking and act. The video is sponsored by Audible, recommending 'The ONE Thing' by Gary Keller to aid in this mindset shift.

Takeaways

• 🤔 We often carry unresolved tasks or emotions from the past that affect our present lives and experiences.
• 😟 Chronic procrastination creates a constant feeling of anxiety and prevents us from fully enjoying the present moment.
• 😬 Escapism and putting off important tasks influence our mental state, infecting even positive experiences with guilt or unease.
• 📆 Procrastination is a cycle: we delay tasks, feel guilty, eventually complete them, and then repeat the behavior.
• ⏳ Changing the order in which we approach tasks, by doing the most important things first, can dramatically improve our sense of fulfillment.
• 🧠 Rational reasons for doing tasks often fail because procrastination is more of an emotional problem than a logical one.
• 🙌 The solution is emotional submission: accepting the discomfort of the task and melting into it without overthinking or resisting.
• ❄️ Similar to jumping off a cliff or taking a cold shower, submission to discomfort can reduce the feeling of resistance and even lead to euphoria.
• 🧘 By relaxing and submitting to tasks, we can focus better, reduce stress, and complete what needs to be done with less mental strain.
• 📚 The video recommends 'The ONE Thing' by Gary Keller as further reading to help focus on important tasks, and promotes Audible as a sponsor for accessing audiobooks.

Q & A

What is the central message of the video?

The central message of the video is about how procrastination and escapism can negatively affect our lives by creating a subconscious sense of anxiety and incompleteness, and how submission to important tasks can help overcome this problem.

How does the speaker relate procrastination to 'mental air time'?

The speaker explains that procrastination creates 'mental air time,' which means that while we procrastinate, we are constantly aware of the undone tasks. This awareness subconsciously affects our mood, energy, and interactions with others, making everything feel less fulfilling.

What is the 'submission' tactic described in the video?

Submission, in the context of the video, is about emotionally and physically letting go of the resistance to doing a difficult task. Instead of fighting the urge to procrastinate, we submit to the task, much like jumping into cold water or taking a cold shower, and accept the discomfort.

Why does the speaker compare submitting to tasks to taking a cold shower?

The speaker compares submitting to tasks to taking a cold shower because both involve accepting discomfort rather than resisting it. By relaxing into the discomfort and mentally preparing yourself for it, the task or experience becomes less daunting and easier to handle.

What does the speaker suggest is the irrational aspect of procrastination?

The speaker suggests that procrastination is irrational because even when we know logically that completing a task will improve our lives, we often allow our 'monkey brain' to overpower logic with rationalizations to delay it.

How can changing the order of tasks affect the 'narrative of our lives'?

Changing the order of tasks, by doing the most important things earlier in the day, can positively alter the narrative of our lives. When we complete important tasks first, we feel more accomplished, relaxed, and capable, which affects our overall well-being and mindset.

What does the speaker mean by 'submitting to the highest version of yourself'?

Submitting to the highest version of yourself means trusting that the best version of you knows what is important and what needs to be done. By following that intuition and doing the important tasks, you align with your long-term goals and personal growth.

What role does procrastination play in creating anxiety, according to the speaker?

Procrastination creates anxiety by keeping us in a mental state of incompleteness. Even if we’re doing other enjoyable activities, our mind is distracted by the knowledge that there’s something more important left undone, which creates a constant, underlying feeling of unease.

How does the speaker suggest overcoming procrastination when logic fails?

The speaker suggests that instead of relying on logic to overcome procrastination, we need to adopt an emotional approach—submission. This involves accepting the discomfort of doing the task, turning off the rationalizing mind, and simply doing what needs to be done.

What resource does the speaker recommend for further reading on this topic?

The speaker recommends the audiobook 'The ONE Thing' by Gary Keller, which discusses focusing on the most important tasks to transform one's life and improve productivity.