You might be saying things that are holding you back in life. Maybe you tell people that you don’t have the time, money, or motivation to achieve your goals when, in reality, you’re afraid of failure or afraid to put in the work. Instead of avoiding personal growth, it’s time to stop using these 15 lame excuses. They’re not doing you any favors!
1. “I just don’t have the time.”
If you use a lack of time as an excuse for why you can’t do something you love or meet up with someone you like, this just doesn’t cut it. You’re basically saying you’re “too busy” to make time for something that’s important to you, which implies that it’s not enough of a priority for you. If you really want to do something, you’ll make time for it!
2. “That’s been done before.”
When your friend or partner tells you that you should chase your dream and make it happen, you might respond negatively by saying, “That’s been done before.” The thing is, everything’s already been done before, but they haven’t been done in your unique way. Using this excuse forces you to ignore what makes you special and what you can offer the world, which is sad.
3. “I don’t know how to do that.”
Everyone lacks knowledge about certain things, but using this as an excuse for feeling ill-equipped in life is just putting yourself down. You can learn anything in the world, thanks to internet searches, books, YouTube videos, courses, and other resources. The problem with this excuse is that it implies you don’t have the skills, but it’s really saying that you don’t want to learn them.
4. “I’m not ready.”
You might assume that you have to have everything in your life “just right” before you take a leap and go for what you want, but this is a myth. Maybe you feel like you’re not ready to have a relationship, have kids, or chase your passion. But if you’re not ready now, when will you be? Your circumstances are never going to be perfect, but you’ve got to work around them to go for what you want.
5. “I just don’t know what I want.”
When opportunities arise, you might turn them down by saying you’re not 100 percent sure of what you really want. But, you could be using this excuse because you’re afraid to fail or you lack self-confidence. If you constantly use this excuse, you could become stagnant. The result? You settle for mediocrity. Growth comes from pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and striving for something better.
6. “I’m too old to start.”
It’s a cop-out to use your age as a so-called “valid reason” for not chasing your dreams. The thing is, you’re never too old to do anything, it’s your perception of your age that’s making you avoid opportunities. For example, you could think that being older means you’re not as hip/cool as other people chasing the same goal. But that’s all in your head. Being older can help you achieve your goals because you’ve gained more experience and knowledge.
7. “Everyone will laugh at me.”
Everyone cares about what other people think of them and no one wants to feel silly or judged for taking a chance and going for their dreams. But, being obsessed with seeking validation from others can prevent you from focusing on what you really think, feel, and want. It’s sad to hold yourself back from happiness because of other people. What they think is their problem—not yours!
8. “I’m already on a different path.”
You might think you can’t change something in your life, like your career path, because you’ve invested years of effort in it. But who said you have to stick to every decision you made in the past? If you’re not open to trying something else and testing it out to see if it’s a better fit for you, you could miss out on a much better path in life. You could be sacrificing your happiness without even realizing it.
9. “I’m not motivated enough.”
You might think you lack the passion and drive to achieve your goal, so you don’t bother trying. The thing is, motivation is just like confidence: It needs to be worked on constantly so that you stay amped to reach your destination. It’s also important to consider that if you’re not feeling motivated, you might just need a different goal to look toward and that’s okay!
10. “I’m scared to fail.”
Having a strong fear of failure can keep you stuck in life. If you’re scared to make a mistake and fail at something you set your heart on, it can be devastating. But, fearing something shouldn’t be a lame excuse you use to avoid going for what you want. If you do fail, you’ll be able to learn from it and improve your strategy. That’ll ultimately lead you to find a different way to chase your dreams. Failure can work for you, too.
11. “I don’t have enough money.”
Feeling like you can’t do things in life to improve yourself because of money is an excuse that prevents you from putting in the hard work. For example, if you want to get fit you don’t have to purchase expensive fitness equipment. Similarly, if you want to start a business you don’t have to attend an expensive training course. There are many ways to achieve your goals, so keep your mind open to them.
12. “I don’t know where to start.”
You might tell yourself or others that you’re not going for what you want because you’re unsure of where to begin. But just think of how much time you’ve already wasted by believing this lie. The best thing to do is start small. If you want to run a marathon, start by running for five minutes a day. If you want to publish a book, write five pages every day. Simply starting, in whatever capacity, will boost your confidence to continue in your journey.
13. “I’m not as good as [insert person’s name].”
Comparing yourself to others and assuming you can’t do something because you’re not as smart, educated, or confident as them is an excuse. The only reason you can’t achieve your goals is because you’re more focused on what other people are doing instead of your own journey. Everyone’s valuable in their own way—focus on the positive traits that will help you succeed instead of what other people are working with.
14. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”
Sometimes it can be powerful to surrender to life and see what happens. But, if you’re using this as an excuse for why you shouldn’t try, you can’t expect good things to happen. Don’t just sit around and wait for your biggest dreams to come true—if you don’t work for them, you’ll be waiting forever.
15. “I’m too set in my ways.”
If you say, “I’m too set in my ways” when an exciting opportunity rolls around, you’re telling others and yourself that you don’t think you’re capable of changing or adapting to new situations. You’re stuck in a fixed mindset where you’re blocking personal growth and development.
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