Excuses allow us to stay within our comfort zone, but do excuses really let you live the life you really want? Sure, going after your dreams may be scary, but isn’t it more scary to succumb to your excuses and live a life of mediocrity?
In each of our lives, sooner or later we come upon a crossroads, where we have to choose which path to take. This is not a rigid sort of crossroads that is unchangeable, but merely a metaphorical one. You see, everyone is capable of making excuses, but the difference between the people who get what they want and those who do not, is that they accept their excuses and keep moving forward.
With all that said, here are my 6 simple and quick ways to eliminate excuses:
1.Breathe
Breathing is an essential tool. It’s simple and often neglected. Sure, you breathe all the time, but do you really breathe?
We’re often stressed, worried and afraid of a multitude of things all at the same time. The effect breathing has is that it takes you back to the present moment.
All you have to do is take deep belly breaths. Inhale through your nose and breathe out through your mouth, all the while focusing on your breath going in and slowly going out. Notice how even reading that sentence makes you a bit calmer?
2.Perspective
When you’re done breathing, your head is clear and you feel just a little more at peace. When you’re at peace, things tend to fall into place much easier.
While we all make excuses, not all of us listen to them. You can say you don’t have enough time, but you can also overcome it if you really want to.
3.Acceptance
Accepting your excuses will take you a long way. Your excuses usually stem from your fears, so overcoming and accepting isn’t the easiest task in the world, but it is essential if you really want to follow your passion and live a fulfilling life.
Whenever I’m doing something new, I have excuses
pop up constantly, but I simply try and accept them, say hi and let them move on. They don’t have to paralyze you.
4.Meditate
If I feel extremely stuck with an excuse, I take a 10-minute time-out and meditate. Meditation for me simply means sitting down, breathing and focusing on my excuse, without getting involved in it.
I observe my excuse and my body’s reaction to it. When I feel calm, I ask myself why this excuse has risen to the surface and wait for the answer.
The answer can be anything, so don’t be surprised if it isn’t what you expect it to be. It can be a feeling, a thought or even a picture.
5.Imagination
Your imagination is a powerful tool, which is why I use it to analyze my options and motivate myself to get started. Let’s say I want to write a book, but I have excuses about not doing it. I’ll imagine my future, and I’ll look at how I’ll regret my decision of not facing my fears and going through my excuses.
The time to live is now. If I don’t take risks and do what my heart really desires, I’ll end up cursing myself later, so I might as well get started now.
Your excuses are signals. They are there to tell you what you really want to do.
6.Eliminate
Remember, excuses are just excuses. They aren’t the authority on what you can or cannot do. You are in charge of what path you embark upon, so choose wisely.
Written on 7/26/2010 by Henri Junttila
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