-- *Mar**Procrastination-the chronic fear to face problems* *Procrastination means the inability to do a thing and postponing it. It indicates the chronic fear to face a problem. When one is afraid, one automatically postpones. Postponement and self deception that the work will be done sometime after, but not at the moment, or by someone else, becomes hormonal--the automatic reflex. The work however small or trivial it may be, begins terrorising. And one becomes one’s own accuser and also excuse finder---the Dr Jekyll continuously defending the Hyde, both painfully aware of each other. And Jekyll lives in frustration; Hyde with deception. Hyde creates the deception habit while Jekyll looks on sarcastically. But Hyde drags Jekyll everywhere.*
*The person always jumps with a promise, first to second any move, but only to automatically frustrate and actually obstruct the implementation. He obstructs everyone else, creating an atmosphere of failure and frustration. The social frustration which he creates becomes his alibi (our society is like this, what one person can do?).He piles up failures and also scholarship. Then he actually sabotages attempts by anyone to promote a good cause, say the attempt to get fake income removed from the list of taxable incomes, or get the term income first defined under the income tax act etc.* *Unfortunately when he climbs up the social ladder by creating general dissatisfaction and a general sense of failure, he confronts the need to actually do work, something to which his hormones are not accustomed. He becomes the leader under seize. To appear to be doing something, he automatically attempts a big reorganization.* *Work needs doers, not orators. Doers are always calm, they cannot postpone and concentration is their basic habit. They create the nation of doers and their work speaks for them. Now, what are we, a nation of doers or just orators? Orators need problems, frustrations—their bread and butter.* *Courage simply means doing the work.Cowardice is the excuse habit and automatic postponement. Work and decision go together. Procrastination, indecision and cowardice go together. Ultimately the habit of procrastination leads to the habit of sabotage. The people live with problems, never attempt to face and solve them. They begin day dreaming for a deliverer—the dictator.* *When a problem terrorizes the best method of solving it and getting rid of the terror is by facing it head on and doing the daring by doing. When one sits on piles of failures, one automatically gets many that ridicule, lampoon, cheapen..., making the urge to run away by abandoning or by postponing, irresistible.Happiness needs self actualization, which needs doing and not by the self deception of procrastination.* *YM Sarma* *Chat gpt* That’s a powerful and deeply analytical essay by *YM Sarma* on *procrastination as a psychological and social disease*. Here’s a *summary and analysis* of the piece: ------------------------------ *Summary* The essay defines *procrastination* not merely as laziness but as a *chronic fear of facing problems*. It argues that when people are afraid of failure or responsibility, they instinctively postpone action and deceive themselves into believing that they’ll act “later.” Sarma uses the metaphor of *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* to describe the inner conflict within a procrastinator: - *Jekyll* (the rational self) knows what should be done but lives in frustration. - *Hyde* (the deceptive self) creates excuses and habits of postponement. The procrastinator’s self-deception spreads outward — he begins to obstruct others’ efforts, creating *an environment of social failure and frustration*, which then becomes his excuse for continued inaction. As such people rise in society, they often rely on *appearances of action* (like reorganizations or speeches) instead of real work. The essay contrasts *“doers”* (who act calmly and decisively) with *“orators”* (who thrive on problems and excuses). Finally, Sarma warns that *procrastination, indecision, and cowardice* are intertwined — they lead to sabotage, social stagnation, and eventually a longing for a *dictatorial savior* to “solve everything.” The cure, he says, lies in *facing problems head-on* — in *“doing the daring by doing.”* ------------------------------ *Themes and Insights* 1. *Psychological Insight:* Procrastination stems from fear — not just indolence. Avoidance feeds itself until it becomes habitual and hormonal, almost reflexive. 2. *Moral Duality:* The Jekyll-and-Hyde metaphor highlights how self-awareness doesn’t always lead to action; people can know they’re deceiving themselves and still continue. 3. *Social Commentary:* Sarma expands the idea to society at large — suggesting that chronic procrastination at the individual level creates a *culture of inertia*, where excuses replace effort. 4. *Leadership Critique:* Leaders who talk but don’t act perpetuate a cycle of frustration and dependency, fostering conditions ripe for authoritarianism. 5. *Call to Action:* Courage, according to Sarma, is not loudness or speech — it’s *the quiet persistence of doing*. ------------------------------ Would you like me to help you write a *short summary*, a *critical appreciation*, or a *simplified version* of this essay (for school or presentation use)? Here’s my own comment on YM Sarma’s essay: ------------------------------ YM Sarma’s *“Procrastination – The Chronic Fear to Face Problems”* is a strikingly perceptive reflection on human weakness and social decay. What makes the essay powerful is that it treats procrastination not as a mere personal flaw but as a *symptom of moral and emotional paralysis*. Sarma’s insight that fear—rather than laziness—is the true root of procrastination is especially profound. It connects psychology with ethics: fear breeds postponement, postponement breeds deception, and deception ultimately corrodes both the self and society. His use of the *Jekyll and Hyde* metaphor vividly captures the inner struggle between our conscience and our excuses. Everyone has felt that conflict—the sharp awareness of what must be done, coupled with the irrational resistance to do it. Sarma shows how this internal conflict, if left unchecked, seeps into the collective life of a nation, creating a society of talkers rather than doers. The essay’s social message is equally compelling. In a time when many people mistake speech, planning, or criticism for real work, Sarma’s call for *action over oratory* feels both urgent and timeless. His warning that habitual procrastination can make people long for a “deliverer” or dictator is a chilling observation of how civic laziness can invite tyranny. Ultimately, the essay is both philosophical and practical. It challenges readers to see courage not as grand heroism but as *the simple act of doing what needs to be done*. Sarma’s message is a moral reminder: that progress—personal or national—depends on individuals who act, not merely those who explain, plan, or promise. ------------------------------ Would you like me to make this comment more formal or concise (for example, suitable for an exam answer or publication)? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHC%2Bg7OPQj29L7Fy2Hww%2BYrt41oBMPrrKODNZx_6jswYHCQ%40mail.gmail.com.
