The World’s Best Excuse

The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse.

I’m a world-class excuse-maker.

I guess it’s good to be really accomplished in at least one skill; creating excuses seems to be my special gift. Put an unpleasant task in front of me, give me a few seconds, and I’ll offer a variety of highly developed lines of reasoning to justify avoiding, procrastinating, or (my favorite) cleverly shifting the task onto someone else’s plate.

My gift for excusing is augmented by one objective, undeniable fact: I have a great, built-in excuse. On the rare occasions when my innate talent for spinning excuses from thin air fails me, I can always default to my fail-safe, bulletproof excuse.

I’m paralyzed!

I’m a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair. Who in their right mind could possibly expect me to accomplish anything? All I need to do is whine a bit and look pathetic, and I’m off the hook.

I used to really feel a sense of accomplishment when I concocted an especially convincing excuse. As I’ve become a lot older and perhaps a bit wiser, I’ve recognized that these “victories” are hollow.

Excuses don’t get the task completed. If it isn’t important or I just don’t want to do it, why not just say so? And if it is important, time and energy are better spent finding a way to accomplish the task.

Excuses diminish me. An excuse always says I’m not smart enough or persistent enough or resourceful enough to figure this out. Why invent reasons for others to think less of me?

My excuses usually fall into a few broad categories.

Complaining. It’s not fair.

Worrying. What if is a great way to stall for time.

Blaming. Obviously, it’s someone else’s fault.

Comparing. Someone else is always smarter, faster, stronger, or better equipped.

I really think that most excuses are based on fear, and the thing I fear most is failure.

I wonder what would happen if I summoned the courage to face the fear, stop making excuses, and focus my efforts on doing what’s important.

What’s an excuse you’d like to drop right now?

Please leave a comment, visit my website, and/or send me an email at rich@richdixon.net

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