People make excuses for many reasons. Some make excuses for something they forgot to do or to cover up a lie. Some make excuses because they do not want to do something.
People have learned to make excuses since childhood and so the saying holds true, “If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If not then you’ll find an excuse.”
Think about that for a minute. You’ve probably done it already today. You’ve made an excuse, or had multiple excuses go through your mind about something you were doing today.
This is why I find what Derek Sivers says useful. It’s either “Hell yeah! Or no.”
It’s ok though. Excuses or rationalisation is a defence mechanism in which perceived behaviours or feelings are justified and explained in order to avoid any true explanation.
However, what this means is that you are not taking responsibility for yourself or your actions. People who continually indulge in this kind of behaviour usually lack confidence in what they are able to do.
If you want to get ahead in life and feel fulfilled you need to change your thinking about what you can or can’t do. People by and large spend too much time justifying why they can’t do something instead of justifying why they CAN.
I’m all about sayings today so here is another one, “God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest”.
A lot of people keep hoping some opportunity will come along and release them from their dull and limiting existence. To find an opportunity you need to be constantly looking for it because it’s not going to be handed to you.
Realise that constantly being on the lookout for an excuse isn’t going to cut it. If you want things to change, start being your own boss, nobody is stopping you. Create a new belief about yourself and have high expectations about who you are and what you can do. Start using your imagination. Big dreams are actually easier to accomplish than timid little ones because they challenge the best in you.
Guess what? If you are serious about being successful, taking calculated risks every now and then is simply a must. Yes, there are foolish risks which should be avoided but, in the end, you simply have to take your share of calculated risks at a certain point. Living in denial is not an option and knowing that hiding behind foolish excuses will get you nowhere. Are you about to let something like that happen or are you ready to take action?
Keep in mind that to stop what you are currently doing you must start doing something else, something that makes you function positively. Stop making lame duck excuses. Make it a “Hell yeah! Or no.” and get more from life.