64. excuses
We all want something different, yet we’re too scared to try. Instead of facing fears that allow us to become who we want to be, we insist on making excuses. The problem is, all excuses are valid. It’s a trap anyone can fall into. For example, I often hear “I want to lose weight, but I can’t eat like that” or “I wish I could look like that, but I don’t have the discipline to go to the gym.” While I appreciate the honesty, it’s really a bunch of bullshit. What these people fail to understand is that they are more interested in looking for a way out, than a way through. If you want something different, yet you are too afraid to do anything other than what you’re doing, you’ll never be able to achieve anything more than what you have.
They say things like:
“Oh, but Ryan, you don’t understand my situation.”
“Would love to eat better, but it costs too much money.”
“That sounds great, but there isn’t enough time for me to workout.”
“It must be nice to have great genetics.”
“Let me just get through today, so I can worry about that tomorrow.”
If you’re looking for excuses, the list is endless.
If you’re caught yourself making statements like these, you’re more attached to your excuses than you are committed to being deliberate and intentional about your life. A simple and fundamental law of life is: you get to keep what you defend. If you think you need a specific amount of money to start eating better, you’ll always find cheaper options and declining health. If you feel that you just aren’t disciplined enough to make room in your schedule to incorporate a small amount of daily exercise, you’ll always live a less than optimal life. If you believe it’s not possible to be a certain weight or look a certain way because your parents dealt you a bad genetics hand, you’ll continue to be that person. If your mindset is founded on excuses that keep you from moving forward, then you’ll always be where you are, but it’s okay because you’ll always have an excuse.