What excuses are you telling yourself, and how are they holding you back?
Sometimes I catch myself saying, "Yeah, but." This usually happens when something hasn't gone as planned. I begin searching for things or people that interfered with my progress. In other words, I start making excuses.
I could tell you countless times I've heard the same thing from others. We all do it at some point, even when the circumstances seem small or insignificant. The problem is that excuses can snowball into much bigger hurdles when we allow them to tell our story. Making excuses puts us on a dangerous path. It becomes too easy to dismiss a goal or put off something important. Before we know it, we've drifted away from our purpose.
First, excuses are often a sign that we're not following through. Something more enjoyable is pulling at us in that moment, whether it's our cell phones, a television show, or time with friends. We tell ourselves we'll get to our goals later. After a little scrolling, several hours have passed. We've allowed convenience and distractions to take priority over the things that matter most. Before we know it, we've lost our momentum.
What distractions are pulling you away from what's important?
Additionally, excuses reveal a lack of personal accountability. We sometimes lack the self-discipline to stay the course toward our goals. We become comfortable letting up on the gas and convincing ourselves it's okay to slack off. We may have a boss, friend, or spouse who helps keep us accountable. But what happens when nobody is holding us accountable? That's when self-discipline becomes even more important. We must take ownership of our choices and the direction we're heading.
Lastly, our excuses cheat us and those around us out of something bigger. More importantly, they can keep us from fulfilling what God expects of us. We may not see it yet, but we have so much more to offer the world. Our potential isn't meant to benefit only ourselves. The people around us can benefit from our experiences, contributions, and the person we are becoming. We owe it to ourselves and others to stay committed to our goals and dreams.
What other activities consume your time and interfere with your goals?
What practices or reminders could help you stay committed to your goals?
How have your excuses cheated you out of reaching your potential?
Excuses interfere with our follow-through, weaken our accountability, and can disappoint those who depend on us. It's easy to fall into the trap, and it can happen quickly. An excuse might seem small in the moment, but repeated excuses can lead us somewhere we never intended to go.
We can't allow that to happen. Following through on the simple things and holding ourselves accountable to our audacious goals is vital to becoming someone who influences the world. We owe it to ourselves, our friends, and a greater purpose to make the most of what we've been given.
Stay vigilant, my friends, and don't let "Yeah, but" become your excuse!
~Steve
