Doesn’t life get in the way sometimes? You’ve committed yourself to an action. Prepared to follow through and get the job done. Then the unforeseeable pops up. It happens. What do we call a change in plans? Excuses, reasons, explanations or justifications.
Is this an isolated occurrence or does it happen on a regular basis? That’s what we look at in this post.
An internal alarm should be sounding off when you hear an excuse forming in your mind. It’s worth thorough examination. This could well be a blind spot in your thought processors. Unaware your words and actions maybe holding you back. This behaviour may even impact others.
Have you ever heard the beginning of the following sentences come out of your mouth?
- I can’t exercise today because….
- I detoured on my diet because…
- I was late because…
- I behaved the way I did because…
The top two show lack of discipline. The excuse is so you’re not haunted all day from breaking a commitment to yourself. Sloppy justifications make something we wanted changed, remain exactly where it is. This attitude stagnates progress.
I ate cake when I was on my diet ‘because’… Who do you think the excuse is for? Nobody cares about your weight more than you do.
Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day’s success. ― Israelmore Ayivor
Numbers 3 and 4 are justification for others. You’re late and it impacts people you’re committed too. How many times do you think this will be tolerated before you’re ‘that person’ in the team, people would prefer not to work with? Would you rely on someone who is consistently late?