Do you often make excuses when you’re not able to achieve a certain set goal? You are not alone!
A survey report by the Statistic Brain Research Institute shows that a shocking 92 percent of people set New Year goals, but never achieve them. This is probably true not only of New Year resolutions, but also of various other objectives.
Sometimes, things don’t unfold as planned; and instead of continuing your journey towards your objective, you give up and make excuses to free yourself of the guilt.
Excuses sound great for a while. They justify your unwillingness to act and soothe your mind. Consequently, you feel relieved and are able to live with your failed expectations. You earn a bonus too – people around you sympathize with you. As a result, you start believing that you are better off without/incapable of achieving your goals.
Here are eight commonly used excuses that people make when they’re tempted to give up on their aspirations.
I Do Not Have Adequate Resources
It is easy to rationalize your inaction by saying, “I will begin when I have the time, money, education, and experience.” Often, you wait for the availability of adequate resources to start off and end up making more excuses as time goes by. Soon, you get caught in this vicious circle of excuses and find it impossible to achieve something you once cared a great deal about.
The answer to such excuses lies in discipline and perseverance. Lionel Messi once said in an interview, “It took me 17 years and 114 days to be an overnight success.” There is no shortcut to success and everyone (including extraordinary people) has 24 hours in a day. You must manage within the available resources.
If you feel you lack the funds to realize your goal, think about ways to raise funds. Classify your expenses into ‘Important and Urgent” and “Important, but Not Urgent.’ The latter expenses can wait, while you invest in something worthwhile. Resources will join in as you begin, so get to work!
It’s Not the Right Time to Begin
This is one of the most common excuses that people make to escape pursuing their dreams. Several people live in a willful illusion that it will always be better to start later. They continue to procrastinate until their goals seem unachievable. According to a new survey, 40% of the U.S. population experienced financial losses owing to the habit of procrastination.
The truth is, there is no such thing as the perfect time. If you do not act now, you will regret it later. Regrets of inaction in the past can be extremely painful. Overcome this excuse by asking yourself, “What is the smallest step I can take that will get me started now?” When you are clear and can get going, the momentum will keep you on the path that leads towards your goals.
It Is Extremely Risky
Everyone wants to control their own lives. The fear of not being in control of the outcomes can stop you from chasing your dreams. Taking risks means you are no more in control of the situation. However, the paradox is that not taking risks doesn’t give you any control either.
Everything you do involves risks. The risks you take can have a positive or a negative impact on your life. Nevertheless, your current situation is your only chance to test your tenacity to overcome the challenges life throws at you.
To overcome the fear of taking risks, try reverse psychology on yourself. Behave in a confident manner and tell yourself that you are fully convinced about taking this risk. Fake it until you make it and you will experience the anxiety dissolve in no time.
What Will People Think?
Fearing opinions and criticism that come from the people begins from one’s childhood. When you were younger, you depended on your parents and other elders for suggestions. As you have grown older, you’ve probably continued to come across people who comment on your way of life. However, know that you are neither expected nor obligated to adapt to these opinions and suggestions.
How does it matter what people think? The people who criticize your decisions now will give you a thundering applause when you realize your goals. Most of these people are unsure of achieving their own goals. Therefore, don’t let their negativity impact your determination to succeed.
Regardless of how you choose to live, people will always be critical or allow their hang-ups to come in the way of encouraging you. Don’t let the fear of people stop you from being you.
I Am Too Young/Old for This
When it comes to achieving business/personal successes, age cannot be the limiting factor. When you are young, you are full of energy, have few family obligations, and are willing to take more risks. Similarly, when you get older, you are armed with experience in your field and make rational decisions because of the knowledge you possess. Either way, the best days will be ahead of you only if you are willing to step out and take action.
Colonel Harland Sanders, best known for being the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, introduced KFC when he was 62 years old. This proves that age is merely a number. There are umpteen examples of people who found success at various stages in their lives. There is no “right age” to pursue your dreams. It’s only the present that matters.
I’m Afraid to Fail
The fear of failure can be one of the biggest obstacles in your path to success. According to a BBC article, the average lifespan of U.S. companies listed in the S&P 500 Index has dropped from 67 years in the 1920s to 15 years in recent times. This is primarily because companies are too afraid to try new things as they fear failure.
This applies to individuals too. Whether you are venturing into something new or making a life-changing decision, failure (like success) is a possibility and you should be prepared for it.
If you feel you’ll fail, remember that there is a fifty percent chance of succeeding as well. To triumph over this excuse, ask yourself, “What if I succeed?” Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before inventing the light bulb. Take inspiration from Edison and learn to innovate from each of your unsuccessful efforts. Being ready with a backup plan is also a great way to manage failures.
It Is Impossible
When your boss dumps a huge project with a tight deadline on you, you say to yourself, “No, this is impossible!” When you enjoy being in your comfort zone, breaking out of it seems impossible. Maybe the project is genuinely challenging. However, saying negative things to yourself will not help you realize your potential. Your senior has entrusted this project to you because he/she believes in your potential. This is an opportunity for you to prove your ability.
The trick is to become comfortable with uncertainty. Stop the negative self-talk and say to yourself “I will be successful. I can at least try.” If the goal seems big, split it into small, daily, achievable tasks that take you towards your goal. Doing this will help you ease your inner fears.
I Don’t See Any Opportunity
Most often, opportunities do knock on your door, but you are unable to recognize them as you believe they don’t exist. When you are in a positive frame of mind, you recognize opportunities even in the most adverse situations. Successful people don’t wait for opportunities, they create them.
When you feel hopeless, remind yourself that the opportunities are aplenty, but you are not able to see them coming your way. If you are confronted by a seemingly undesirable change, try to list down its positive aspects. By doing this, you will calm your anxiety and be in a better state to accept the change.
Every change is an opportunity. Focus on identifying such opportunities so that when you come across one, you can grab it with both hands rather than shun it.
Each of the above-mentioned excuse is a self-imposed limitation that stops you from achieving more. No one is born successful. You become successful by making certain choices and taking chances. If you want to taste success, figure out which of the above excuses you identify with the most and liberate yourself from it/them in order to chase your passion. The aforesaid excuses are the ones you will be tempted to make when you feel life is getting tougher. Make sure you avoid succumbing to them so that you can attain what you truly desire.
Korie Cantor has been working as a freelance writer for a long time. She has a diverse background in health, mobility and fitness. She loves sharing her opinions on the latest issues affecting women.