I've been thinking a lot about excuses lately. All the reasons why we can't do something; all the reasons why we won't. This week I've heard reams of excuses from parents who can't / won't help out at the school. From colleagues who can't / won't meet a deadline. From the Tsunamis who can't / won't do their homework, have a bath, eat their dinner, forgodsakegotobed. But mostly excuses uttered by myself for one reason or another. I even make excuses for why I'm making excuses.
The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking only one thing about excuses any more.
Excuses suck.
I was particularly interested in the list of excuses that followed my friend's recent statement: "I want to be happy, but..." I want to be happy, but. Have you ever heard a more poignant statement?
After a long and involved conversation, all the reasons why she can't / won't be happy came down to these:
1. I don't have time (to be happy)
2. My children are too needy (for me to be happy)
3. I'm too fat (to be happy)
4. I'm addicted to TV so I can't spend as much time doing the things I love (so I can't be happy)*
We both agreed: excuses really suck. You might have also met their close cousin 'If Only'. Both are just self-delusion in a pointless disguise. A way to disown responsibility because if you think you don't have control over something then it's not your fault if you fail.
I'm challenging myself to own my actions and stop making excuses. Rather than palming things off with a 'because' or an 'if only,' I'm going to dig deeper and find out the real reasons why I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I want to be in the position where instead of making excuses, I'm making statements.
Do you find yourself making too many excuses?
Do you know why you do it?
What sorts of things are you trying to avoid?
* My personal favourite.
[Image via weheartit]