Comments on: Procrastination and Attachment

By: Michael Gorsline

Michael Gorsline — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:21:29 +0000

Great cartoon. Amazing just how much Buddhist thought has affected the practice of therapy in the past decade plus. Big shift. And the inverse of attachment, acceptance seems huge. Not resigned, hopeless, acceptance; but acceptance with perspective, that is able to take in the bigger picture.
I don’t see any clients where that concept isn’t at play in one way or another. Of course the same is true of my life.

By: Otavio Lima

Otavio Lima — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:48:37 +0000

There is a psychological theme running through these posts: first of all is the Skinnerean theme, which attaches action to immediate reward, the second is Cognitive Behavioral, which specifies mental distortions. There is a third theme which is just becoming known: ACT Therapy. The best known books on ACT is “Get out of your Mind, and into your Life.” by Hayes, New Harbinger. ACT identifies your values as goals to be implemented. Dysfunctional attachment, or mental distortions, are acts of avoidance, hence procrastination. The solution is to allow the distortions to parade by as if they are happening to someone else without engaging them pro or con. This has a lot in common with the concept of mindfulness. As or after the distortions have paraded by, you are free to act according to your values and goals.

By: jennifer.george

jennifer.george — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:33:11 +0000

@Mike Capron, that is an excellent point! The issue of feedback and reward is definitely a big part of procrastination. Goofing off gives you instant gratification and a perverse thrill too, because you feel you’re sort of rebelling, even though you’re the one who’s going to suffer in the end.

By: Joel Mazza

Joel Mazza — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:43:37 +0000

Very helpful analogy. Simplifying one’s thoughts to allow you to do what you’ve committed to doing is a powerful habit, but elusive in the noise of the day.

By: Mike Capron

Mike Capron — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:35:34 +0000

On the contrary, Playing Grand Theft Auto is an interactive process that involves dramatic audio-video feedback and a reward system that is both ongoing and immediate. Doing the paper will produce a grade in a week or two which may either raise or lower self-esteem. Moreover, if you are playing a game by yourself (not online versus humans), you do not feel judged by any other human beings–much less threatening.

By: Ian McKenzie

Ian McKenzie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:51:50 +0000

The cartoon is actually from Dave Walker. You can see the original and terms of use here – http://www.weblogcartoons.com/2007/01/17/procrastination/

By: Tim Walker

Tim Walker — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:50:26 +0000

Amen. It’s amazing to me, after years of studying business (I’m a business journalist), how many business mistakes are made from simple mis-attachments. People get attached to pet projects, pet subordinates, pet concepts — instead of pulling back, trying to figure out what’s *working*, and then setting a course to take more useful actions. And as far as I can tell, it’s the same in groups dynamics (albeit more complex) as for individuals.