When you don't want to do something, it is very easy to make excuses. For some reason, excuses provide the illusion of getting you off the hook, or making it okay not to do whatever you committed to or planned to do. Excuses are, however, just excuses - not really a reason to not do what you said you would do. Instead of making excuses, make the choice. Excuses render you powerless, while choices are empowering. You can choose at anytime to do or not do whatever you're contemplating.

I signed up and paid for an event I was excited about attending. However, when the date drew near, I found myself making excuses as to why I didn't want to go. I had a lot of work; I had out-of-town company; I had a cold; the weather wasn't right – the list went on and on. When I stepped back and looked at the situation, I realized that I was in fear. I was afraid to attend the event. As exciting as it was, it was also scary. It was something I had never done before with people I didn't know in a place I had never been. The excuses were covering up the fear. Once I realized that, I made a choice to face the fear and go to the event. It felt good not to feel that I needed to hide behind an excuse.

Excuses are not the reason you don't want to do something. The excuses are the mask. Usually when excuses begin to fly, there is something else going on. For me, the excuses were covering up fear. Before you let the excuses stop you, figure out what they are trying to tell you. Once you know what is behind the excuses, you can make a choice to do or not do something. You'll be operating from truth and you won't have to hide behind an excuse.

Excuses are not the reason you don't want to do something. There is something else going on. Until you figure out what it is, the excuses will run you, and you will not be at a place to make a firm choice. When you find yourself making excuses, stop and ask yourself, "What am I afraid of?" Or, "What are the excuses trying to tell me?" By taking a step back and looking at the excuses from a different, more objective perspective, you can determine the reason the excuses are flying and then make a choice on what to do.

Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching – Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com.

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