A few days ago I wrote on the subject 14 reasons to stop making excuses. I explained the motive for making excuses and suggested 14 reasons why we should avoid doing so. This is a follow up to that post and my focus will be; listing 13 ways to stop making excuses.
It’s already established that giving excuses attempts to divert the attention from you (the individual) and tries to explain several reasons for not accomplishing or carrying out various tasks. It also puts up a wall of defence for exhibiting particular behaviors such as failing to keep promises, quitting certain habits etc.
Here is a list of 13 ways to stop making excuses:
You have a part to play in your success or failure: Winston Churchill said “Responsibility is the price of greatness.” It starts and ends with you; the choices you must make, the responsibilities to live up to, the attitude you portray, your level of seriousness and commitment etc. In all you do, there’s always an element of contribution towards your success/failure.
Monitor your progress: Occasionally examine how well you are fairing in every aspect of your life. Compare where you were yesterday with where you are now with where you aspire to be in the future. Assess you behaviour, actions, strategies. Are they making you head in the right direction? Are your plans and strategies still effective? If yes, carry on, if no , don’t make excuses, but rather look for alternatives.
Learn from your mistakes: As humans, you will always make mistakes. Don’t give yourself a bad time. Learn from the experience of failing. Accept responsibility and look for solutions on how to resolve the problems rather than making excuses.
Build your confidence: Develop a high level of self confidence in yourself, what you do and what you are good at. I have always emphasized focusing on your strengths and working on your limitations. Making excuses won’t get you anywhere; rather it will just increase your feelings of insecurity.
Make good use of any opportunity: Be aggressive but with a bit of common sense. There are numerous opportunities to shine, improve yourself, grow physically mentally, morally but you won’t know this if you keep making excuses.
Build on your successes: Being successful in anything doesn’t come easy and it’s definitely not cheap. So cherish your successes, let them be a source of encouragement but at the same time look at your flaws. Work on it; be willing to learn from them. Make a list of all your accomplishments and the areas which require further development. Start taking progressive steps to success in every sphere of your life.
Know your limits: Know what you can do or can’t do. Don’t do things to please people and get frustrated in the long run and at the same time don’t relinquish your duties or responsibilities because you are extremely lazy and isn’t interested in any positive outcomes. If you are serious about making progress, don’t make excuses.
Be Optimistic: Dwell on the brighter side of life and be optimistic knowing your repeat performance will bring about success. Don’t come up with excuses because you have failed in the past. Come on!!! maintain a positive attitude and see benefits in what you’ve set out to do.
Accept responsibility: This list won’t be complete without mentioning the fact that we need to own up to our responsibilities. Stand up to your faults, successes, failures etc.
Create solutions: Create solutions to various challenges and obstacles that come your way. Don’t just sit there and make excuses, think hard and think well!!!
Listen: Learn to listen carefully to people, instructions and conversations. I have discovered that because we are overwhelmed by our fears, worries and inadequacies we do not to listen carefully to what’s being said to us and quickly come up with all sorts of excuses.
Don’t be defensive: Avoid being defensive because your response to certain issues may be blunt and out of order. Gain control of your emotions and exercise a bit of patience. If you’re going to stop making excuses, you have to learn to stop being defensive.
Go Forward: Whatever you do, wherever you are, in whatever situations you find yourself go forward!!! Take positive steps in order to advance your growth and personal development. Giving excuses will only create stunted growths in your life. Go forward today. Place that foot forward, don’t make any excuses.
It is important you make up your mind on how you want to deal with excuses. I believe there are more tips that could aid this. I look forward to your comments, thoughts, ideas and suggestions on ways to stop making excuses.
Ayo Olaniyan is a certified Unitive Life Coach. He is also an Accredited Professional Counsellor with the Counselling Society.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
First task you posted is great. Be optimistic.
Don’t let thoughts of anxiety, confusion or depression to keep your mind in the dark. Think good thoughts. Why? You become what you think about. Why become a pessimistic, no action taking person. When you can become the greatest you can possibly be. Don’t try to become someone else, but be the best you can possibly. Take things in stride, with bite size steps. Don’t tackle the whole world, but tackle the obstacle in front of you until you conquer it.
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Hello Jonathan.
Thanks for always stopping by. We need to constantly work hard at being optimistic knowing we can face challenges that are within our strength and capability rather than giving excuses
Bravo! Hope people take the advice that you have given. Excuses will take you no where.
Hello Todd,
Thanks for stopping by. You are right excuses will take no one anywhere.