by Darren Jones | Oct 5, 2023 | Leadership
Excuses are easy and quick to make, but they are also destructive. They prevent us from growing, thriving, and turning our failures into success stories. Simply put, excuses are tools of the incompetent to stay in their comfort zone.
When we make excuses, we are delegating our failure to step outside of the comfort zone. We’re ultimately saying “we’re not responsible for our future.” We’re blaming external factors such as bad luck, inadequate resources, or favoritism.
Incompetent people rely heavily on excuses, finding an easy alternative to utilizing their skills, knowledge, and motivation to overcome challenges. They’re afraid to take risks simply because they are stuck in their comfort zone.
When challenges arise and they are unhappy with the first resolution, they make excuses and settle for less, ultimately avoiding responsibility for their failures. They blame others, making excuses about their circumstances, seeking emotional support and staying in their comfort zone.
Is it easy? Yes.
Is this right? For some.
Is it for me? Absolutely not!
Why? Incompetent people rely on excuses because they lack the skills, knowledge, and motivation to succeed. They are afraid to take risks and they are unwilling to put in the hard work required to achieve their goals.
When things don’t go their way, they make excuses to avoid taking responsibility for their failures. They blame others, they make excuses about their circumstances, and they convince themselves that they are simply not good enough.
Do you feel as though your finding yourself in similar positions? Finding an excuse to find the easy way out? Do you feel excuses are holding you back, preventing your success? Here are a few tips for overcoming excuses:
Identify and acknowledge. The first step to breaking the excuse-making habit is to acknowledge that you are making excuses. Once you are aware of your excuses, you can start to challenge them.
Ask…why? What are you trying to avoid? What are you afraid of? Once you understand the root cause of your excuse, you can start to address it.
Mental Affirmations. Instead of saying “I can’t do that because I’m not good enough,” say “I am capable and I will succeed.” Affirmations can help you to build confidence and overcome your self-limiting beliefs.
Mentors. Having someone to support you and hold you accountable can be very helpful when you are trying to break the excuse-making habit. Talk to a friend, family member, therapist, or coach who can help you to stay on track.
Breaking the excuse-making habit takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. When you stop making excuses and start taking responsibility for your actions and your outcomes, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities.
Don’t let excuses drive your future. Step back, reflect, and challenges yourself to grow and strive.
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