Why I Procrastinated on a Client Project (and What It Revealed About My Limiting Beliefs)

Ever procrastinate on client work? Not because it’s hard, but because something deeper is holding you back? 

That happened to me recently. It turned out to be less about the task itself and more about an old, familiar story running quietly in the background. 

This wasn’t your typical “too busy” or “low energy” kind of delay. I noticed myself avoiding one particular client’s work. Not because I didn’t want to do it. I was actually really excited about the project and the client. Every time I sat down to begin, I felt a wall of resistance. A strange combination of dread and self-doubt. I started to look for literally ANYTHING else I could do besides this – fold laundry, check my email, get a root canal.  

This client is incredibly high-level - quick-thinking, high-output, and deeply strategic. They work at a rapid pace, and while I know they don’t expect me to keep up with that intensity of rhythm, my nervous system still responded as if I was already behind. 

It felt like procrastination. But really, it was fear. Fear that I wasn’t enough. That I couldn’t meet the expectations. That I was somehow going to be exposed. 

What Was Really Going On: The Subconscious Programming Behind Avoidance 

This is exactly what I help my clients with, so it’s always humbling (and useful) to catch myself in the same pattern and I reprogram it in the moment as it’s happening.  

When we procrastinate on something important, it’s often because there’s a deeper, subconscious belief running the show. It might sound like: 

• “I have to be perfect to be valuable.” 

• “If I slow down, I’ll fall behind.” 

• “They’ll realize I’m not good enough.” 

• “I’m not as smart as they think I am.”  

On and on and on.  

These are limiting beliefs. And they don’t just live in our minds, they live in our bodies. Our nervous systems adapt around them. They shape how we show up in our work, our relationships, and our self-talk. 

For me, that old belief was: "I have to over deliver in order for them to like me, and when they like and approve of me, I will be safe.” So, when I sensed high expectations, even imagined ones, I froze. 

The Shift: From Reaction to Response 

This time, instead of pushing through or spiraling, I paused. I noticed the pattern. I let myself feel what was underneath the avoidance. Then I reminded myself of something truer: 

I bring structure to speed. 
I’m here to anchor the process - not match the pace. 
They may move fast. I think deeply. That’s the partnership. 

This is where the power of mindset work, and specifically hypnotherapy, comes in. Hypnotherapy helps us access the subconscious roots of these patterns, so we can rewire them at the source. It’s not about positive thinking or white knuckling our way through resistance. It’s about meeting the part of ourselves that’s trying to protect us, and giving it a new job. 

When we work with the subconscious mind, we stop reacting from fear and start responding with clarity. 

How Hypnotherapy Helps Break the Procrastination Cycle 

As a Certified Hypnotherapist, I’ve seen how often procrastination isn’t laziness, it’s self-protection. Our subconscious mind is always trying to keep us safe. And if success, visibility, or pressure feels unsafe (based on past experiences), it will slow us down. 

Through hypnotherapy, we can: 

• Identify and release limiting beliefs that keep us stuck 

• Rewire subconscious patterns that create stress and avoidance 

• Build new, empowering inner narratives that support calm, confident action 

It’s not magic - it’s mental fitness. It’s one of the most powerful tools I’ve used in my own entrepreneurial journey. 

Final Thoughts: Awareness Is the First Shift 

Catching this moment, naming it, pausing, and choosing a new way forward, was a turning point. 

Not just in that one client project. But in how I hold myself, trust my voice, and stay centered in all my client work. 

If you’ve ever felt yourself procrastinating on something important, not because you’re lazy, but because you’re scared, know this: 

You’re not broken. You’re protecting something and it’s possible to shift that. 

With the right support, you can move from reaction to response. From fear to trust. From playing small to rising into who you’re becoming. 

Curious what limiting beliefs might be running your show? Hypnotherapy is one way to explore, rewire, and reclaim your momentum. 
 
I’d love to hear from you!