Manufacture Your Day by STOP MAKING EXCUSES

It has been said that if you want to reach your goals, you must shrink the size of your but. Many years ago I listened to a speech from a lady at Toastmasters. The title of her speech was “Why is my but(t) so big?”

I have never forgotten this speech because she talked about her struggles to lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle and how to be more courageous in her life.

Some of us make more excuses than others but we all make them. One thing you should know about excuses is that the more you make, the easier it becomes to make them.

May it be exercising, changing careers, learning a new skill, making a mistake, coming late to a meeting, missing deadlines, losing weight, eating healthier, stopping to smoke, starting a business or finding a new job.

Did you know that people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty?

That’s right. It is super easy to talk yourself out of any lifestyle change you want to attempt.

We choose excuses to

• justify our own shortcomings
• avoid responsibility for our own actions
• talk ourselves out of incompetence
• feel better when we flake out on something
• avoid fear of failure or fear of success
• prove to yourself that you can’t or that you are not good enough (lack of confidence)

As a committed early morning runner, I always say that the most difficult thing in the morning is to convince myself to get out of bed and out of the door. Excuses are always readily available – too hot, too cold, too dark, tired, not feeling like it.

I have used exercising, especially running and cycling, to strengthen my mind for years. I have practised (and still do) self-discipline, goal-setting, determination, persistence, positivity and mental strength in my athletic endeavours.

Today I would like to give you 3 great first steps to overcome excuses:

• Be selective who you hang out with – dump other “excusers”; it has been said you become the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with.
• Have a pro-active attitude and change your self-talk. Tell yourself that you can and that you will. Small steps will bring you little successes – celebrate them. These success celebrations (even only self-acknowledgement) will shift how you think about yourself.
• Trust the process and trust yourself – whatever you want to do, make a plan and follow that plan. Start small, finish big. This is such a wonderful confidence builder

Testing your limits is fun. You totally deserve to do more, have more and become more. I am rooting for you.

You look like someone who can conquer his/her excuses.

Food for Thought:

Do you allow roadblocks in your life to become your excuses?

Please read this article:

15 Motivational Quotes to Stop Making Excuses