Small steps with God’s help
Brendan McManus SJ explores procrastination through the lens of Ignatian spirituality and personal experience. Rather than treating procrastination simply as laziness or lack of discipline, he considers how it can reflect deeper inner resistance, fear, grief, or discouragement.
Drawing on the spiritual insights of Ignatius Loyola, he offers a practical and compassionate approach to action, based on awareness, discernment, and small concrete steps.
The Ignatian Guide to Procrastination
Brendan McManus SJ :: I remember when my dad died, I was 19 and was running the family farm on my own. It was a tough situation given that I was grieving myself and didn’t really want to be there. I would sit in the farmhouse reading the paper, drink tea and eating suit soda bread, putting off feeding the cattle. I can see that it was a sort of self-protection and comfort thing, trying to live in the ‘comfort’ of avoidance as long as I could, but I remember the horrible feeling of lethargy and unease (desolation in Jesuit terms), and how eventually I realised the farm wasn’t for me, that I had to face the grief and just get on with life. Since then, I’ve always tackled things head on and doing the hard things first. Later, when I read of the Jesuit rule of thumb of doing the opposite of negative tendencies, such as procrastination, it all made sense.
The interesting insight for me was that procrastination was not really about laziness. Rather, it was a sort of interior resistance, an inner protest or some kind of ‘heartache’ that called for attention. In Ignatian language it is a negative movement within the soul that calls to be noticed, named, and compassionately worked to find the gift within; be able to transform it, and not be a victim of it.
Accordingly, the Ignatian approach to this issue is not about discipline, but with awareness or noticing. From his sickbed experience Ignatius Loyola learned the power of reflection, becoming attentive to what was happening within, as a way of tackling issues and getting insight. Similarly, procrastination invites some kind of compassionate exploration. It can often be fear of facing something painful or maybe a fear of failure. Sometimes, it’s the holding out for ‘perfection’, that immobilises us while waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment or ‘right feeling’. The Ignatian invitation is to awareness and self-knowledge, to shift the issue, with God’s help, from a negative self-judging, “What’s wrong with me?”, to “What is being revealed to me here?”
This is where Ignatian discernment is useful and practical. Ignatius distinguishes between inner movements that draw us towards life (consolation) and those that take us away (desolation). Procrastination often has the characteristics of desolation: heaviness, unease, avoidance, a lack of motivation. It can often disguise itself as something positive or reasonable. “I’ll do it later when I feel better.” “This needs to be perfect.” These thoughts which are normal, appear to be reasonable, but they often lead to inactivity or apathy. Even just realising that things only have to be “good enough” can be liberating and energising.
Surprisingly, Ignatius asks us to be compassionate about our human nature, understanding weakness and limits. He encourages what might be called a “spiritual transformation”, humbly asking for help and ‘handing over’ to a higher power. It starts with acknowledging our ‘weakness’, inertia or resistance, and then bringing God’s grace to bear. It can be really helpful to acknowledge the strong feelings and resistance, but ask “What small step could I take with God’s help”? Make a small start and park the feelings: tidy your desk, make a ‘to do’ list, write a few words, make an initial call. Notice how this is empowering, it opens up possibilities and reduces fears and problems. God works with small steps and humble beginnings.
Another useful Ignatian tool is to simply put structures in place, to create an environment that supports us and cooperates with the Spirit who more than compensates for humble efforts and small beginnings. So, organise a space, turn off the phone, commit to spend some specific amount of time (normally we work best in 40 min blocks), create a rhythm and remove obvious distractions. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is simply to begin, translating intention into action.
A helpful Ignatian technique is called ‘Review of the Day’ or ‘Examen’ as it is a practical and efficient way of building reflection into busy lives. Normally, it takes 15-20 minutes to do at the end of the day or whenever it suits. The key insight is that by taking some time to reflect or look back on the complex and often hectic experience of our day, we see things differently. Especially, you begin to recognise patterns and what are your “procrastination triggers”, for example, certain activities, times of the day, or emotional patterns. Again, this awareness gradually leads to freedom in how things are dealt with.
Procrastination is not usually conquered once and for all, but with awareness, discernment, small steps, and trust, growth happens over time. Small, humble, faithful beginnings are key.
Suggested steps:
- Try to name the procrastination clearly, especially what is underlying it, what is it that you are avoiding or trying not to feel?
- Ask for the specific grace from God that you need, in this case it might be “Help me to deal with procrastination, to find a way through this problem that often cripples me and sabotages myself.”
- Identify it as ‘desolation’: it can feel good initially but leads to unease and stress ultimately; also, it appears to be offering a solution but doesn’t (masquerades as a useful thing).
- Try to act against its negative dynamic by doing the opposite of what it suggests: face into the issues, work or stress; tell yourself that you will be able to deal with the feelings, pressure and workload and remind yourself that you will feel better afterwards.
- Start with small steps, concrete actions that help tackle the ‘Mountain’ one step at a time. Reward yourself for signs of progress.
- Do the Examen at the end of the day to help learn what works for you; be patient and remember that it takes time.
