Self-Doubt & Fear: 

The Perfect Recipe for Procrastination

At the launch of any project, dream or goal, external opinions can initially fuel our motivation and even improve our work.  

But nothing we create will ever be universally loved—all appreciation ultimately comes down to personal taste.  

When we obsess over perfection or external validation, we betray our core motivation: the pure joy of painting, cooking, writing, or whatever makes our soul come alive.  

Worse, by overvaluing others' opinions, we erode our self-esteem. Why? Because we're chasing an impossible ideal.  

The more we orbit others' expectations, the slower we act—until we're completely paralyzed by our own standards.  

This is how insecurity takes root, how fear ("What if I fail?") creeps in, and how depression crystallizes.  

This is the birth of chronic procrastination: we're terrified, insecure, and utterly disconnected from our original calling—first by others' expectations, then by our own.  

Neuroabsurdism offers a solution with 3 exercises from "The Fall of Lord Fear": 

1. THE IGNORED MIRROR 

When grooming, turn your back to the mirror. Style your hair, shave, or apply makeup as if you're watching yourself—but don't look.  

Ever notice how you avoid mirrors when feeling low?  

That's why neuroabsurdism treats mirrors as "The Great Judges." For several days, practice ignoring yours while sensing its silent judgment. This breaks neural circuits of external (and internal) criticism.  

2. THE BRICK & THE ICE 

Walk holding a brick in one hand and an ice cube in the other (or keep them in your pockets).  

This teaches acceptance: some discomforts (like the ice) are temporary, while others (like the brick) are the very materials with which we rebuild our lives—one heavy block at a time.  

3. INSIDE-OUT CLOTHES 

Wear your sweater, hoodie, or pants reversed at home.  

This disrupts neural pathways of self-judgment by violating your own arbitrary rules—the invisible prisons we build with "shoulds" and "musts."  

Pro Tip: Rotate objects (switch hands for brick/ice) or clothing items when exercises stop feeling awkward. The discomfort is the rewiring.  

Discover the Neuroscience Behind Absurd Exercises

Do you read in another language?