Put Off Procrastination

  • Home
  • Meet Beth
  • Blog
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Speaking Schedule
  • Resources
    • You Might Be a Procrastinator If…
    • Books and More
    • Helpful Project Tips
    • Suggestions from You
    • Diligence Ditties
  • Contact

Taking Off Rose-Colored Glasses

Mindset

23 Apr

My mother said to this procrastinator, “Beth, you always count on perfection. Life is not like that.”

She was right. I routinely counted on all green lights and no traffic. I didn’t calculate accurately or allow margin when I left the house. For a ten minute drive, I allowed ten minutes. What about traffic? Weather? Parking?

I formed unrealistic views of how positively things would work out. Rose-colored glasses make things look the way I want them to – favorable for me. Nobody else is wearing those glasses. I don’t see the reality of the situation. When I take off the rose-colored glasses (or they get knocked off by circumstances I’ve brought on myself), I suddenly realize the things I assumed are not true. There was not time to iron my skirt before my ride came. I can’t leave the house because the cake is not done.

Procrastinators looking through rose colored glasses form expectations that are not reality. What we envision cannot happen because our vision relies on fantasy. We are surprised when time is up, dinner is not ready, or the report is due. We think we can do it all. We think others will not be affected. We think we will be allotted more time when everybody else already has their work in.

Do you see yourself wearing RCG’s?

  • Making assumptions based on what you want to believe. (See “Falsehood and Fantasy” April 8, 2018) “They won’t be here for thirty minutes.” “The children will do the chores without my follow up.”
  • Relying on an exception. I once drove to my friend’s house in 20 minutes. So I began allowing 20 minutes’ travel time to the monthly meeting at her house. Three months in a row I was very late. Mortified, I knew I had to figure this out. So on the way home, I counted the number of traffic signals between her house and mine. Fifteen! Plus stop signs, traffic, and twelve miles between houses. How in the world did I ever think I could get there in 20 minutes? I was counting on a fluke to be the norm. I was wearing oversized rose-colored glasses.
  • Trying to do more than is possible in the amount of time you have. You cannot run three errands in twenty minutes and arrive at class on time.
  • Ignoring the need for margin in case of the unexpected. Avoid scheduling down to the wire without allowing space for what you do not know about and cannot control. A detour, a closed store.
  • Presuming to think you can do something later under positive conditions with positive results. You have no control over later. God has given you now.   Later you may have a sick child or an unexpected business trip.

Seeing clearly enables us to do what needs doing when it needs doing.

When do you wear rose-colored glasses? How will you remove them to see clearly and act according to reality?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Print

4 Comments

« Falsehood and Fantasy
Sweet Benefits of Obedience »

Comments

  1. Karlene Hollender says

    April 23, 2018 at 9:42 am

    As always, I think of you., especially on Sunday morning, as I look at the un-made bed and say to myself….No….It’s not hurting anyone and it will be here when I get home!
    This saves a lot of aggravation from my husband?

    Hugs to you, Beth!!

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      April 25, 2018 at 10:25 am

      Yea, Karlene! Amazing how doing things to honor our husbands can make our own lives better! 🙂 Hugs back!

      Reply
  2. Lynn says

    April 24, 2018 at 11:25 am

    Touche! You are SO right!

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      April 25, 2018 at 10:28 am

      Many years of cloudy vision… Praise God He helps the blind to see at any age!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

Learn more about Beth ≫

Join me in gaining victory!

Subscribe to receive my weekly post in your email inbox with encouraging tips for tackling procrastination and creating peace.

Privacy Policy

Browse by Category

Browse Archives

What Others are Saying

"I realized [procrastination] ... hindered my relationship with Him."

Mary R.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-13T20:09:23-04:00

Mary R.

"I realized [procrastination] ... hindered my relationship with Him."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/mary-r/
"I have loved 'Learn to discern what should come first.'"

Josie O.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-13T20:10:12-04:00

Josie O.

"I have loved 'Learn to discern what should come first.'"
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/josie-o/
"Getting things done isn’t as important as what gets done."

Megan P.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:40:50-04:00

Megan P.

"Getting things done isn’t as important as what gets done."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/megan-p/
"Biblical truth ... with a lot of fun and laughter."

Cindy C.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:41:28-04:00

Cindy C.

"Biblical truth ... with a lot of fun and laughter."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/cindy-c/
“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”

Christine B.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:41:59-04:00

Christine B.

“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/christine-b/
"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."

Julia F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:31-04:00

Julia F.

"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
0
0
Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

Copyright © 2023 Beth Sterne | Design by The Design Diva | Development by MRM | Privacy Policy