Mary Shearer Eckert on Overcoming Procrastination, Fear, and Trusting God's Calling

In this inspiring episode of The Neil Haley Show, bestselling author Mary Shearer Eckert, author of Wounded Sisters, opens up about one of the greatest struggles she has faced—not only as a writer, but as a person: procrastination. While many people associate procrastination with laziness or poor time management, Mary reveals that its true source is often much deeper. For her, procrastination is rooted in fear—fear of failure, fear of success, and fear of stepping into the calling God has placed on her life.Mary begins by admitting that she has battled procrastination for most of her life. As she works on the highly anticipated sequel to Wounded Sisters, she finds herself confronting the same internal struggle that many writers experience. With the success of her first novel, she now faces the pressure of asking herself whether she can create something equally meaningful. That uncertainty often causes hesitation before she even begins writing.She explains that many writers describe this feeling as writer's block, but she views it differently. For Mary, it's the constant battle of sitting in front of a blank page while every distraction suddenly becomes more appealing than beginning the work. Household chores, errands, and countless other tasks seem to take priority over the one thing she truly wants to accomplish.Throughout the conversation, Mary emphasizes that overcoming procrastination begins with recognizing the fear behind it. Instead of allowing anxiety to dictate her actions, she has learned that discipline and consistency are the keys to making progress. One practical strategy she recommends is establishing a dedicated writing schedule by choosing the same place and the same time every day to work. Even if inspiration doesn't immediately arrive, simply showing up and remaining committed creates the habit necessary for creativity to flourish.Neil Haley expands the conversation beyond writing, pointing out that procrastination affects nearly every aspect of life. Whether it's launching a business, pursuing a dream, writing a book, or tackling personal goals, people often delay taking action because they become overwhelmed by the size of the journey ahead. Together, they encourage listeners to stop waiting for the "perfect" moment and instead begin with what they can accomplish today.The discussion then shifts to an even deeper perspective as Mary connects procrastination with faith. She explains that many people procrastinate spiritually as well. They tell themselves they'll attend church tomorrow, begin praying tomorrow, or commit their lives to God tomorrow. Yet tomorrow is never guaranteed. God gives each of us today, and today's opportunities should never be postponed out of fear or uncertainty.Mary shares how this realization has transformed her own writing. Rather than viewing her novels simply as creative projects, she now sees them as ministry. God has given her the gift of storytelling, and she believes her responsibility is to faithfully use that gift to encourage, inspire, and bring hope to readers. Instead of allowing fear to prevent her from writing, she is learning to surrender the process to God and trust Him with the outcome.Another important point Mary discusses is the fear of success. While many people talk about fearing failure, she admits that success can be equally intimidating. Greater visibility often leads to more speaking engagements, book signings, interviews, travel, and new responsibilities. As someone in her seventies, she honestly wonders if she'll be able to handle everything that comes with growing success. Ultimately, however, she reminds herself that if God opens those doors, He will also provide the strength to walk through them.Neil shares his own perspective as an entrepreneur, explaining that life never truly becomes less busy. There will always be another project, another client, another opportunity, or another responsibility. Instead of complaining about having too much on our plates, we must learn to manage them, embrace the process, and recognize that meaningful work often brings meaningful responsibility.One of the most memorable moments of the episode comes when Mary encourages listeners to believe in themselves before expecting others to believe in them. Whether someone is a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or creative professional, confidence begins with believing that God has uniquely equipped them to fulfill their purpose.This heartfelt conversation offers encouragement to anyone struggling with procrastination, self-doubt, or fear of taking the next step. Mary's transparency reminds listeners that progress doesn't require perfection—it requires faith, discipline, and the willingness to begin today rather than waiting for tomorrow.To learn more about Mary Shearer Eckert, purchase her bestselling novel Wounded Sisters, and follow updates on the upcoming sequel, visit MaryShearerEckert.com. Whether you're pursuing a creative dream or simply trying to overcome fear in your own life, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that the best time to start is always today.