“99% of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” (George Washington Carver)

“A human being fashions his consequences as surely as he fastens his goods or his dwelling. Nothing that he says, thinks or does is without consequences.” (Norman Cousins)

“Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe.” (Robert Service)

“Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing.” (William Feather)

It’s so easy isn’t it? Blaming our circumstances or opinion of ourselves for lack of desired results. There is never a lack of reasons or excuses.

When it comes to accomplishing your goals and taking action toward your dreams, are you or others ‘pushing’ from behind or do you have a clear purpose that is ‘pulling’ you toward an inspired future that you have created? ‘Moving towards’ a vision is far more empowering than ‘moving away’ from what you do not want.

Do you know what you want? Do you still give yourself permission to want or have you numbed and diluted your desires?

Today it’s quite usual to ask each other what we ‘do for a living’ when we’re introduced. That wasn’t always so, I’m sure. Imagine a society where it is customary to share our dreams or our life’s vision and then in return providing a contribution; money, coaching, mentoring, a new idea, name of a person to contact. Your children would thank you for causing such a society.

What could you begin today and include as an activity in every day till you have clarity of you’re life’s purpose? How specific can you be when writing it down?

The thing to really come to grips with is that there is not a right or a wrong ‘answer’. It is created, totally made up, envisioned and then openly declared and shared. You’ll know it’s right

Listen from the heart. Deflect that heady, self defeating conversation. Write your purpose as though there were no boundaries, no limitations, this world really is your oyster.

Go for it! There is ample time for you to analyze later. It’s only ink on paper.

There is only now. The rest of today and all of tomorrow is not promised to you…and you know how useful yesterday is.

At the end of your life are you proudly displaying a lo...ng list of justifications and reasons or a huge list of adventures, contributions and accomplishments of which you can be proud? What are people saying about you at your funeral. Yes, a sobering thought, however an effective place to look if you’re looking to distinguish what YOUR life will be about. Only you get to say. Do you see anyone else in your skin?

A lengthy, yet excellent article can be found at http://www.neurosemantics.com/Articles/excuses.htm.

Two coaching tips

1. Get yourself a jar and throw in a gold coin each time you sell out on yourself and your dreams with an excuse. Donate toward having those things that are not yet in your life because you’d excused or reasoned them away.

2. Get clear on the purpose of your life. Why are you here? What is your life about? Create inspirational goals that are a self-expression of your life’s purpose, with clear pathways of consistent daily action for accomplishing these goals and then get to work.

Bonus tip: Use option one alongside the second option.

Are you stuck? Do you want a partner to support you in creating dreams and keeping you focused? Use a coach.

2005 © Thea Westra is an international life coach who resides in Perth, Australia. She is editor and publisher of a free, monthly newsletter which you can receive by going to her website http://www.forwardsteps.com.au She also publishes a blog called Triggers http://forwardsteps.blogspot.com

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