Pablo Picasso said, “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
What’s interesting about this quote is that Pablo Picasso had no will. Obviously, he was willing to die leaving this major area of his life unattended. According to a recent survey, 68% of Americans don’t have a will.
In March 2021, I posted on the Butler Counseling & Consulting Facebook page about famous people who died with no will and the consequences.
Pablo Picasso passed away in 1973 at the age of 91, leaving behind a fortune in assets which included artwork, five homes, cash, gold, and bonds. Because Picasso died intestate and left no will, it took six years to settle his estate for $30 million. His assets were eventually divided among six heirs.
Procrastination affects people and families across all socioeconomic levels. Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing something. It could be argued that sometimes delaying or postponing might be a good thing.
In this age of immediate gratification and attention spans of 10 seconds or less, learning to wait might be considered a virtue. The process of procrastination has more to do with “why” we delay or postpone something.
When we put things off due to fear, anxiety, perfectionism, or avoidance, we not only create difficulties for ourselves but also for our friends and family. According to Dr. Piers Steel, a professor of motivational psychology at the University of Calgary and the author of “The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done,” this behavior can be considered as self-harm.
One important distinction between procrastination and simply waiting is that procrastination lacks an end date while waiting has a trigger point that leads to completion. The problem arises when waiting becomes the excuse for our procrastination.
Let me explain further. Waiting often implies the belief that “I will get that done when…” We frequently use phrases like “getting around to it” or “one day” to justify our procrastination. These phrases imply that the task we are avoiding will eventually be completed. Other common justifications for procrastination include “it costs too much and I can’t afford it right now,” “I don’t have time,” or “it’s on my list.”
Procrastination based on negative emotions is a defense mechanism rooted in the belief that doing the thing we’re avoiding will cause us harm in some way. Many people feel that focusing on death or end-of-life issues will cause death to happen or, at the very least, cause a lot of pain. This way of thinking negatively focuses on ourselves and promotes an unhealthy self-image of “I’m not enough; I’m not good enough; or I have nothing of value.”
Sadly, the opposite is what’s real and true. We all have value to those who love us. We are all extremely important to someone. Even dysfunctional families have a story to tell that could shed light on why some bad things have happened in the family. Telling those stories could provide the healing and restoration to move a loved one forward on their journey or telling those stories could release long-held anger, resentment, or anxiety and finally bring peace.
The Guardian’s Gift is a place to let go of procrastination and finally tell the story, your story. We here at The Guardian’s Gift want to help you move past your procrastination so that you can create a legacy to be proud of, a legacy your family will cherish. Sometimes, we need someone to help us, to guide us, to move along with us.
We will guide you through a series of questions aimed at helping you create a beautiful life legacy book. Our goal is to assist you in completing and organizing a legacy plan that demonstrates your love and value to those closest to you. We can also help you share difficult stories that promote healing and family restoration.
Procrastinating on planning your legacy can be harmful to your family. You don’t have to be like the 68% of Americans or the Pablo Picassos of the world who pass away each year leaving important matters unfinished. Don’t let this happen to you or your family! Let us at The Guardian’s Gift lead you through the process to help prevent crisis and confusion.
“You may delay, but time will not.”
Benjamin Franklin
