how to escape the trap of excuses (2/3)
Excuses confine us to a limited mindset, where our potential remains untapped and aspirations unrealized. All our excuses, as per retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink, are nothing but lies.
He explains this observation of his in these words: “You have to realize… You have to know, you have to accept — that all your excuses are lies. They are lies. All of them. Think about the things that you tell yourself. The lies you used to rationalize, taking the easy road and leaving discipline behind. Think about them. You don’t have time? That’s a lie. You don’t have support? You don’t have the equipment or the gear? Lies. You don’t know ‘the best way’? Who cares. That’s a lie. Or you’re too old, or you’re too young — of course you’re too old or too young. Lie. And there’s the ‘you’re too busy’… Sure you are. That’s a lie. Or you’re too tired, too sore, or you’re just plain not feeling it… Lies, lies, lies. And the list goes on and on and on. And it doesn’t stop if you don’t make it stop.”
So, how do we escape the trap that these excuses lay upon us? How do we stop telling these lies to ourselves again and again?
Jocko instructs: “Recognize that the excuses are not valid. They are trumped up. They’re conjured up, they’re fabricated. And how do you stop the lies? You stop them with the truth. The truth will set you free. The truth will stand and the truth will deliver you from procrastination and laziness, and the downward spiral that comes with a lack of discipline. So don’t believe the lies, believe the truth. And the truth is: you have the time. You have the skill, you have the knowledge and the support, and the willpower and the discipline to get it done.”
Author Brian Tracy too echoed this sentiment when he stated, "You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you."
Instead of using excuses as a crutch, we must develop an unshakeable belief in ourselves and our capabilities. This perspective empowers us to rise above excuses and harness our inner strength to face difficulties.
When we delve deeper into the root causes of excuses, we often find fear and self-doubt lurking beneath the surface. These emotions can paralyze us, preventing us from taking that crucial first step toward change. As former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." By acknowledging our fears and doubts, we can begin to dismantle the walls of excuses and embrace the transformative power of action.
