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Why do people procrastinate when it logically creates more anxiety and worse results? Using Bilam's story and Hillel's teaching in Avos, the shiur argues that procrastination stems from internal conflict - we delay tasks until external pressure forces action. The solution is developing genuine internal motivation rather than relying on external rewards.
Rabbi Zweig begins with a verse from Koheles (Ecclesiastes) 10:18 about laziness causing a roof to cave in, which the Gemara (גמרא) in Ta'anis interprets as referring specifically to neglecting Torah (תורה) study. He poses the fundamental question: why do people procrastinate when it logically creates more anxiety, difficulty, and poorer results? The paradox is that we act against our own logical interests by delaying tasks that become harder over time. Using a Midrash from Parashat Shoftim, Rabbi Zweig discusses how ants work industriously despite their short lifespan, storing far more food than needed because they hope God will grant them longer life. Unlike humans who use extra time as an excuse to procrastinate further, ants use the possibility of extended life as motivation to accomplish more.
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Parshas Balak, Koheles 10:18
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