“Excuses are like [insert expletive here], everyone has one.” It’s true! Some may have more than one excuse too.
Lately I’ve been realizing that I cannot get some things accomplished. Things like working out at 6:00 AM every morning, preparing my meals or even making time to for me. To say the least, it’s been a challenge. Over the past few weeks I’ve been starting to pay attention and really try to figure out why everything seems to be a challenge. I noticed that I was in a major fog. When I look in each direction, I just see more fog. Your situation may not look exactly the same, but it might have some similarities.
Despite being in this fog, I’ve been trying to push forward. Today on my drive home from work, I heard a voice scream “STOP WITH THE EXCUSES!” At first I thought the voice was crazy and I told myself that I am not making excuses. Then I realized that voice was right. I have excuses and I’ve been allowing my brain to believe them. Here are a few that popped in my head when I really started to think about it:
- “I can’t wake up at 6:00 AM to workout. I’m too tired and my partner won’t get out of bed to workout with me.”
- “I can’t meal prep each week because I always have to cook two meals since we eat differently – one for my partner and one for me.”
- “I can’t create time for me. I have too many obligations and don’t know how to say no.”
Now that I heard that voice, I have realized it’s me that’s putting myself into the fog. It’s me that’s stopping me from getting things accomplished. It’s me that’s holding myself back. And now, I think I have an idea what to do with those excuses.
- “I can wake up at 6:00 AM to workout because the workout will energize me. If my partner can’t workout with me, he can do his own later.”
- “I can prep my meals on Sundays and make what I want to eat for the week. If my partner wants something in addition to what I eat, he can make it.”
- “I can create time for me. It all starts with setting my own priorities.”
All I’ve had to do is listen for the voice, allow the Universe to guide me toward the right path and stop allowing myself to block the path that’s in front of me. I’ve turned around my excuses and have changed the narrative of my life. You can do it too!
What’s an excuse that keeps coming up for you? How can you change that excuse into a motivating sentence that’s going to push you to keep going? How can I help you help yourself?