204. Procrastination Isn’t Laziness: What’s Really Holding You Back with Jon Acuff

The Best of You

Dr. Alison Cook

Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if procrastination isn’t about laziness… but a disconnect between who you want to be and what you actually do? So many of us carry goals we care deeply about: habits we want to build, changes we long to make, ways we want to grow. And yet, we find ourselves stuck in the same patterns, circling the same resistance, wondering why it’s so hard to follow through. In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook and goals expert and New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff explore what’s really happening beneath procrastination and how to finally begin moving forward. Because procrastination isn’t a character flaw. It’s a gap. A gap between your intentions and your actions. And over time, that gap can quietly erode something deeper: your trust in yourself. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by your goals, or caught in cycles of starting and stopping… this conversation will help you understand why and what to do next. You’ll explore: Why procrastination isn’t about laziness and what’s actually driving it The hidden impact of broken self-trust (and how to begin rebuilding it) How your “soundtracks” (repetitive thoughts) shape your actions and results The real reason discipline alone doesn’t work and what does The 4 key places people get stuck in the growth process (and how to move forward) This conversation offers a practical, compassionate path forward, helping you close the gap between who you want to be and how you’re actually living, one small step at a time. More Resources: Make sure to grab Jon Acuff’s latest book Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again and then claim $97 worth of free bonuses. Take Jon's free procrastination profile here. Connect further with ⁠@dralisoncook⁠ on Instagram Want to go deeper with Dr. Alison? Join 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. Want to hear more like this? Start here: Episode 199: How the Body Teaches the Soul with Justin Whitmel Earley Episode 157: Braving Change—3 Ways to Get Unstuck and Transform Guilt and Regret 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Remi - Start sleeping better with a Remi nightguard and use code BESTOFYOU and get 50% off your purchase. Go to ShopRemi.com/BESTOFYOU and use code BESTOFYOU. Aqua Tru - Join 98% of customers who have made their drinking water cleaner, safer, & healthier by visiting AquaTru.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get 20% off today! StoryWorth - Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to StoryWorth.com/BESTOFYOU! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	When was the last time you stopped and listened to your body?
0:03.0	Here's a Holland and Barrett ad break to do just that.
0:06.0	Go on.
0:08.0	Tune in to your body's energy levels.
0:10.0	Is your brain struggling to focus?
0:13.0	Are you about to let out a midday yawn?
0:15.0	Or is your body crying out saying,
0:18.0	You've got to show me love.
0:24.5	We know what your body's asking for.
0:27.2	In store online on the app.
0:29.7	Back your body, Holland and Barrett.
0:33.2	Procrastination is just when your actions don't match your intentions.
0:55.7	When there's a gap between who you say you want to be and who you actually are. A goal is never just a goal. A goal is a promise you made to yourself. And every time you break it, it gets easier to break the next one. The things you think become the things you do, become the things you get. And so there's a lot of times where we overfocus on the results we want, but we never change the underlying thoughts, so we don't get new actions.
0:58.4	Like, what does it look like for you to give yourself permission? And the four permissions that we found were the most valuable in this order were
1:03.0	permission to dream, permission to plan, permission to do, and permission to review.
1:18.9	Hey everyone, and welcome back to this week's deep dive episode of The Best of You podcast.
1:19.9	I'm so glad you're here with me today for this conversation.
1:23.9	Today's episode sits in a part of the growth journey that I think is so important.
1:29.2	So often here on the podcast, we talk about healing by looking beneath the surface,
1:34.4	by trying to understand our patterns, our pain, our stories,
1:37.7	the ways we've adapted in the places where we still need healing or repair.
1:42.1	And this work is so important.
	...

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