How many people are riddled with guilt and anxiety because they are called procrastinators? What if there is such a thing as purposeful procrastination?
What is procrastination? Is the picture above a picture of what procrastination looks like or is it what productivity looks like? What if procrastination has a purpose?
As a teenager, I was labeled a procrastinator because it wasn’t understood that I had my own rhythm in life. I’m a generator with sacral authority. I have the gate of fixed rhythms (gate 5) defined in my body graph which is in the sacral center. It’s a significant energy for me as it’s part of my incarnation cross; meaning, it’s part of my life purpose. This gates’ keynote is WAITING. Oh lucky me! Does anyone like waiting!? And then as a generator, my strategy is to “wait to respond”. What does that make me? An extremely patient person.
If I were living from my not-self, the duality of this energy would make me an impatient person trying to get results.
When I may appear like I am procrastinating, what I am doing is either “waiting to respond” which is correct according to my Human Design. Or I’m allowing myself time to process my experience so it can be integrated into my being and later inform my sacral authority, but this doesn’t mean I’m not engaged in living my life. I’m not simply doing “nothing”, no my WAITING is an active state of being.
Life will always give generators something to respond to. When it’s right for you, your energy is available. When it’s not right for you then you feel a resistance to act which may seem like procrastination.
When we (generators) don’t have the energy to do something, it may be because it’s not the right timing. Or it may not be right for you. This inner resistance to NOT do something is guiding you. Trust it. Don’t fall victim to being called a procrastinator. Trust your inner authority.
But what about the other energy types?
If you’re unfamiliar with them, the most surprising are Reflectors who make up about 1% of society. They have a unique decision process. They need a full lunar cycle to make their important decisions. As an outsider and unaware of their process wouldn’t they appear to be procrastinators? We need to recognize that they are another example of purposeful procrastination and graciously allow them the time they need.
Projectors don’t fit into a nice neat little box because they are referred to as “none-energy types” yet some have defined motor centers. What’s true for all projectors is that they don’t have a defined sacral center or a defined throat to a motor center. But in terms of purposeful procrastination what’s important to understand is the nature of their auras because regardless of their unique definition this is their common trait; all projectors have focused and absorbing auras. Their auras are like a two-way magnifying glass. They are energetically focused outwards and simultaneously take others’ energy in; they absorb others’ energy which they can tolerate only on a short-term or part-time basis.
Projectors probably get labeled as the worst procrastinators. Or they may be labeled as “lazy” because they NEED to take naps at any age - this is where we need to have an understanding of projectors. The picture above may be of a projector that is out of fuel and needs a nap to rebuild their energy - this is purposeful procrastination. If they don’t get time alone and are constantly taking in others’ energy it will lead to problems with their health, including burnout.
Or a Projector may be labeled as “stubborn” according to their parents because their parent(s) can’t get them to clean their room. The irony is that projectors, in general, are better able to direct others on how and where to direct their energy. So, projectors are designed to direct others to do their dirty work for them! Remember this is a generalization and may not be true of all Projector types.
When you understand that Projectors are focused outward, you can understand how difficult it is for them to see their behavior, and to be self-aware. Especially if they are emotionally defined, they will need space and time to gain clarity before making a decision - this is another example of purposeful procrastination.
Projectors naturally know how to use their energy if they are supported in respecting their authority therefore napping isn’t procrastination, nor is avoiding doing menial labor as they may simply not have the energy.
The one type that doesn’t have this need for procrastination and is unlikely to be labeled as such are Manifestors as they are designed to initiate. They like nothing more than to act and don’t like to be told “hold on, you have to tell me where you’re going and when you’ll be back” or “You have to tell me what you’re going to do”. If anything, they fear having to procrastinate and having to “wait to inform” others. They fear this will get in the way of what they want to do.
SOMEWHAT OFF TOPIC….
I just had a flashback to interactions between my mother and me. My mother is a Manifestor. When I would visit her, I wanted to spend quality time with her and it drove me mad that she wouldn’t sit down and “visit” with me, as in, have a conversation with me while playing cards. No, she HAD to do her laundry, sweep the floors, do the dishes, etc… as if none of these things could wait. As a kid, when she wanted me to do something, she wanted it done NOW! No, I can honestly say, that Manifestors are not procrastinators! I can laugh about it now but I can tell you we oftentimes clashed because we didn’t know how we were supposed to operate together.
In a world that is driven and controlled by clocks, calendars, standard business hours, deadlines, regulated periods of education (not to mention one-size-fits-all course curriculums), and even when to practice your faith, you cannot help but be pressured into conformity and away from your authority. It feels impossible to thrive in a world that insists on putting everyone into the same box of time restraints.
Speaking from experience, it is these very structures that forced me out of my natural rhythm in my youth and adulthood that led to my health problems.
The next time someone slaps the label of procrastinator on you perhaps you will remember this article and be able to avoid the discomfort of operating contrary to your needs. There is such a thing as purposeful procrastination!
And remember, “procrastinator” is just a label. You may want to read this short note on the subject of labels.
I also cannot deny that the “not-self mind” can also use procrastination but that’s a topic for another time.
NOTE: Anywhere I have referred to generators within this article also includes manifesting generators. Both have the same auric nature because of their defined sacral center.
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P.S.
For those of you who have been following my mother’s story, she’s been in hospital care for 77 days at the time of this post, and at long last, she is looking forward to returning home to long-term care. It is now a matter of coordinating (paperwork) between provincial organizations and continuing to advocate for her needs.
Thanks for writing this. I am myself a [now proud] procrastinator.
Enjoy read this :D