We all have excuses. We blurt out a reason for why we’re less successful than we want to be. Or we excuse our poor behavior.
Excuses run rampant in our lives. It’s become an epidemic of massive proportions.
I was recently thinking about a few excuses I’ve used. My excuses include:
- But I don’t have a compelling and challenging upbringing
- But I was raised in a great home
- But I don’t have the great immigrant story to tell
- But I have never truly struggled for much in life
- But I don’t have enough experience
Many of our excuses lack substance. Other excuses people use are:
- But I’m too young
- But I’m too old
- But I’m a white male
- But I’m an African American male
- But I was born an immigrant
- But I’m not an immigrant
- But I had no money growing up
- But I had money growing up
There are examples of successful people from each category of excuses. There are success stories from poor, white families and there are success stories from rich, white families. There are successful African American men like Dr. Ben Carson who was raised by an illiterate mother. And then there are success stories about successful African American men who had a great upbringing.
We need to stop using our excuses to dismiss our business failings, our moral failings, and our lack of drive and motivation.
Your excuse will get you somewhere. Your excuse will get you to your current spot.
We can do better than this. We can overcome our excuses.
Get Rid Of Your Excuse
You don’t have to live a life of excuses. You can move past your past and become someone who takes responsibility for their lot in life.
To get rid of excuses, you will have to realize you’re using them. You can identify excuses by looking for keywords in your speech or your thought life.
Are you constantly thinking “But my life would be better if this didn’t happen to me?” or “But Bobby told me I was stupid.”?
Our buts are leading us down a path of excuses that are drowning us in a sea of doubt, confusion, and denial.
Look for at your thoughts and speech. Are they accepting responsibility? Or are they looking for a finger to point and something to point at?
When you’re able to identify the excuses you’re using, you can begin to change the words and thoughts you’re using. You can stop using but. You can become someone who accepts the responsibility of your position and actions.
Let’s stop making excuses and begin to own our lives.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.