HOW YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND MIGHT BE SABOTAGING YOUR SUCCESS THROUGH PROCRASTINATION!

Putting it off until 'tomorrow'?

We’ve all done it. Avoided doing the thing! That task you know you need to start – and somehow, it's suddenly the perfect time to reorganize your kitchen cupboards, scroll endlessly on social media, sort out your shoes or binge-watch a series you’ve already seen.

Once you’ve avoided the task you really need to do, shame or guilt can set in and these emotions can make you feel worse and not empowered at all. This means you’re even less likely to get down to the things you really need to do.

And the cycle continues..

This pattern can be so frustrating and painful at the same time, believe me I’ve lived it and as a human, still feel it at times. But when you begin to understand what procrastination really is and what’s causing it you can actually begin to change it!

Because procrastination isn't just about poor time management and its definitely not laziness. In many cases, it runs deeper – and your subconscious mind is often behind it.

In this blog I will explain what I’ve come to learn about procrastination and the subconscious, in an attempt to help you if you identify with this.

So, what’s the subconscious got to do with it?

Your subconscious mind is like a silent operating system running beneath the surface. It's where your long-held beliefs, memories, emotional patterns, and fears live.

And its main job is to protect you – even if that means holding you back from doing the things you consciously want. The subconscious is all about safety and survival, rather than success!

So when you procrastinate, it’s not always a motivation issue. It’s much more likely a protective mechanism kicking in.

Let’s look at how this works:

1. Fear of Failure (or Even Fear of Success)

If your subconscious associates taking action with the risk of failing – or with stepping into the unknown – it may slam the brakes on. This part of your mind loves familiarity. Why? Because what you’ve already experienced and lived through, it deems as safe. This is why our habits become hard-wired and automatic.

So, anything new and different will require more effort from your mind and it will try to stop you and keep you exactly where you are, as this way it can effortlessly do its job!

It will feed you thoughts to keep you in the safety/comfort zone.

Thoughts like:

• “What if I mess this up?”

• “What if people judge me?”

• “What if I actually succeed and everything changes?”

  
  

And these thoughts can be linked to deeply rooted fears that trigger the ‘freeze response’. So you stall, delay, distract – and call it procrastination.

But what’s happening here is, your mind is sabotaging you making change, because it’s number one job is survival and doing nothing is the easiest and simplest way to ensure you stay safe.

Make sense?

Try This:

Ask yourself: What am I really afraid will happen if I succeed at this? Or if I fail?

Awareness is the first step to releasing these fear-based patterns.

2. Perfectionism (a Sneaky Form of Self-Protection)

Perfectionism often stems from a subconscious belief that you’re “not good enough” as you are. So you avoid starting or finishing things unless you’re sure they’ll be perfect. That all-or-nothing thinking leads to paralysis.

Your subconscious might believe:💭 “If it’s not perfect, it’s not safe to put it out there.”💭 “If I don’t try, I won’t risk failing.”

So you wait. And wait. And wait…

Try This:

Remind yourself: Progress over perfection. Done is better than perfect. Taking imperfect action rewires your subconscious to feel safe with growth and momentum.

3. Old Identity Programming

If you’ve always seen yourself as someone who “just isn’t very productive” or “tends to procrastinate,” your subconscious is likely reinforcing that identity.

It’s not that you're lazy – it's that your brain is loyal to the beliefs you’ve repeated over time.

The more you say “I always leave things to the last minute,” the more your subconscious makes that true.

Your subconscious always adheres to the words you tell it about yourself and the world.

Try This:

Start shifting your language:Instead of “I’m such a procrastinator,” try “I’m learning to take aligned, consistent action.”

Repetition matters – your subconscious listens to the words you speak, and it learns by repetition. So write some helpful empowering statements and put them around your home and work space so that you read them often!

4. Emotional Overload or Avoidance

Sometimes the task itself triggers uncomfortable feelings – like anxiety, shame, or self-doubt. Your subconscious wants to avoid that discomfort, so it pushes you toward distraction instead.

This might look like:

• Avoiding starting your business because it feels overwhelming

• Delaying sending a pitch because it brings up fear of rejection

• Putting off studying because it reminds you of feeling “not smart enough” in school

  
  

Try This:

Notice the emotion that comes up when you think about the task. Instead of avoiding it, name it. Sit with it. When you stop resisting the emotion, it loses power – and action becomes easier. I like to explain emotions as vibrations that move through the body.

Often if you name an emotion and take a couple of deep breaths allowing the emotion to be felt it passes in 60-90 seconds! The willingness and ability to do this and not push uncomfortable emotions away will give you inner strength and teach your mind that you are able to deal with discomfort and still take the action you need to take. This is so powerful!

Here are some of my best tips for overcoming procrastination by using your subconscious mind to empower you and not hold you back:

1. Get Curious, Not Critical – Shame feeds procrastination. Compassion dissolves it.

   
   

2. Rewrite the Beliefs – Use journaling, affirmations, or techniques like hypnotherapy or PSYCH-K to rewire the beliefs holding you back.

   
   

3. Visualize the Outcome – Your subconscious loves images and emotion. Picture yourself confidently completing the task and feeling proud.

   
   

4. Take Tiny Steps – Even the smallest action signals to your subconscious: It’s safe to move forward.

Remember procrastination isn’t about being lazy – it’s often a subconscious safety strategy.

Once you understand what your mind is trying to protect you from, you can begin to gently reprogram those patterns.

The truth is: procrastination doesn't mean you are flawed! You’re just running an outdated script. It’s just old programming!

And the beautiful thing? Scripts and programs can be rewritten.

If you’re ready to stop letting old beliefs drive your behavior and finally take aligned action toward your goals, take a look at my Success Alignment Method. This program gives you effective tools to rewire the subconscious for more success with ease!

Your subconscious isn’t your enemy – it just needs new instructions.

Want help identifying and releasing the beliefs that fuel your procrastination?

Let’s work together to rewire your subconscious and make success feel safe, possible, and even exciting. 💫

Book a discovery call here!