Live With Intention

Words 2012

Excuses

Why hello there! "Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you.  Never excuse yourself."  ~Henry Ward Beecher

How many times have you said any or all of the following:

I can't because I am tired.

I don't have any time.

I am too busy.

I am not thin enough.

I am not strong enough.

I don't have enough money.

I don't have enough friends.

I don't feel like it.

I can't.

That is impossible.

There isn't enough _______.

"I attribute my success to this:  I never gave or took an excuse.  ~Florence Nightingale

We make excuses for ourselves because it is more comfortable than risking, than coming out of our safe little jacked up cocoon and actually seeing what we are capable of.  We say that we are too busy, too tired, not skilled, not rich etc. when the real situation is we have all the tools we need to do whatever we want.  First, we have to stop making excuses.  We have to stop allowing ourselves to get out of something because we may have to work at it.  When you allow yourself to be responsible for what you do and what you decide not to do you realize just how truly capable you are.

We choose to live where it is comfortable, even if we are unhappy.  The unhappy place may be safer than pushing the edges of the box you've constructive to live in.

What can you choose to own right now?  What will you stop making excuses around?

It is easier than you think.  When you hear yourself giving a reason around your behavior simply stop and do what your highest self would do.  Period.  No excuses.

xo

a

"Pessimism is an excuse for not trying and a guarantee for personal failure."  Bill Clinton

ps, I LOVE music, as you must know and I LOVE Alanis Morissette.  Here are the lyrics to a fantastic and appropriately titled (for this post) song.

EXCUSES BY ALANIS MORISSETTE

Why no one will help me 

I am too dumb I am too smart 

They'll not understand me 

I am lonely 

They'll hate me 

And there is not enough time 

It's too hard to help me 

And god wants me to work 

No resting no lazy 

 

These excuses how they served me so well 

They've kept me safe 

They've kept me stuck 

They've kept me locked in my own cell 

 

I'm too far from home 

It takes far too much energy 

And I cannot afford to 

No one will ever see me 

 

These excuses how they served me so well 

They've kept me safe 

They've kept me stuck

They've kept me locked in my own cell 

 

These excuses how they're so familiar 

They've kept me blocked 

They've kept me small 

They've kept me safe inside my shell 

 

Bringing this into the light 

Shakes their foundation 

And it clears my sight 

Now my imagination 

Is the only thing that limits 

The bar and its rise to the heights 

 

No one can have it all see 

I have to they want me to 

And I can't let them down 

I'll never be happy 

 

These excuses how they served me so well 

They've kept me safe 

They’ve kept me stuck

They’ve kept me locked in my own cell 

 

These excuses how they're so familiar 

They've kept me blocked

They've kept me small 

They've kept me safe inside my shell