Excuse me
In truth, there is really one main excuse for everything I haven’t done. I didn’t want to do it enough covers almost everything. Yep, it was all on me. This doesn’t include not becoming a brain surgeon or mastering high wire walking. Those are probably out, even if I work on my balance. The main excuse is really a little closer to what holds most of us from starting, continuing or finishing everything we get into our brains.
Easy out
Most of the time, a simple excuse can get me out of most things. A lack of time, money or knowledge can hold up results. But what is missing most of those times is the want. I probably didn’t really want to do it. Every morning starts out with following a common routine. I exercise, shower and dress, make the bed, grab some breakfast and get to work on whatever has to be done. There are few days when I am heady about the excitement of completing that routine. But I do love the feeling after. Exercise feels great after it is done. Making the bed makes me feel accomplished and creates that future thought about returning to my comfy bed to sleep. A hot shower makes me feel and smell good. A tasty breakfast reminds me that I am fortunate to be able to eat great tasting food. The work of my life needs a new, catchier name. Most of what I consider “work” is pretty soul satisfying. I exempt dusting; it has a good outcome but not enough to make me smile. But those tracks I leave after vacuuming are good looking.
Excuse my curiosity
I have learned to stop and be curious when I think a thought about not wanting to do something. Literally, I pause. I can take that time to come up with the cons about the task. Shockingly, I can also come up with the pros. One of these sides is going to win this battle. It depends on the day. I see myself as the referee. That makes me feel as if I have to be fair and impartial.
Allowing for the excuses
I try not to show too much negative bias toward my thoughts in general and allow for all of them, even when they sound like excuses. Maybe I need to make excuses about actually getting things done to balance out the undone and remove that negative bias. Just being more mindful about my decisions has resulted in more of them getting done. Sometimes I don’t even want to get into a thought battle with myself and end up choosing the quicker decision just to do the thing. I can still ponder it but I can give into myself too. If I wanted to initially do something, I made that first thought for some reason. I can back up and remember my why to move forward. No excuses.
A common childhood statement is “I don’t want to.” Is that a common adulthood statement buried in thought also? Can you remain curious about your wanting or not wanting to do the things that make up your life?
