What’s the one skill each of us has mastered?
Making excuses!
This is one skill that needs no highly coveted degrees nor has any age limits or any other kind of prerequisites.
All it needs is your creative thinking and lack of motivation to deal with the task at hand.
It’s one competition where finding a winner is not possible. Be at the kids or the adults, each works hard to come up with reasons, however incredulous or ridiculous.
Excuses don’t solve anything yet you’ wield them as shields to protect yourself from accountability. It’s your way of buying time till you figure out what to do next.
The instant you make an excuse, it lulls you into a comfortable (and utterly false) sense of control. You feel safe for that moment. But are you really safe?
Ninety nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. – George Washington Carver
The Classic Excuses
The classic excuse – “I can’t because …” is the chart topper, has been for ages.
I can’t work out because I’m too busy.
I cannot finish my project because I can’t get the right ideas.
I can’t read every night because I’ve other things to do.
What you’re actually saying – you’ve spent your time doom-scrolling or watching Netflix.
Each of these excuses makes you feel better for not doing something. You convince yourself with the justification.
But in reality it’s just letting you sidestep the action without actually admitting defeat. Genius, really.
Are you still feeling proud of yourself?
Every time you choose an excuse over action, you’re getting deeper into a space of inaction or procrastination. Not good.
Why You Love Excuses
The reason you make excuses is because it gives the impression you’re in control of the situation or that you know what you’re doing.
You’re not avoiding doing the task; that would have been easier.
What’s you’re trying to tell others is that you would’ve done it but everything else is not in your favour, hence your inability to do it. Or maybe you’re rationalising, giving it the thinking it deserves, planning out the sequence of actions to be taken.
But the truth is you’re stuck in neutral. Not moving forward. You don’t want to do it but you don’t know how to say it. Hence, the dilly-dallying.
Of course, you’ve taken the decision and that’s one point in your favour. But it’s still a bad decision because you’re not taking any action.
Is there no way out of this quicksand?
If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse. – Ryan Blair
Reframing Your Excuses
How do you go over this obstacle in your mind?
Simple – try taking action even if they are small steps.
You can start the workouts maybe once or twice a week.
To regulate your mind-numbing scrolling, set a timer so the phone or TV switches off by itself.
Try reading one or two pages daily to get yourself to read more.
Begin with reframing your excuses.
Instead of I don’t have time, try I’ll try to make some time tomorrow.
Or I can’t do it, can become I’ll start small and try to keep at it for a few days.
Just rephrasing the excuses by removing the negative approach can work wonders.
Imagine had you chosen action instead of the excuse, you would’ve finished reading that book or be on the way to achieving your gym goals.
Become an action taker instead of an excuse maker
Pause right now and write down one excuse you’ve made today. Reframe it into a positive action step.
Final Thoughts
Excuses are like Band-Aids, providing quick cover up for the problem but not providing a solution.
Get rid of them if you want progress.
Don’t stop yourself by saying I can’t; it will eventually lead to I won’t.
The next time you’re ready to make a fresh excuse, tell your mind to rephrase it and come up with a positive solution to the situation.
You’ll notice the change. Become the action taker.
Or are you going to let some silly excuses run your life?
