Excuses are a Bitch!
Two years ago, before this pandemic craziness, I attended a live, in-person event hosted by Jack Canfield. He picked an audience member to come on stage and participate in a demonstration. I got to be one of the lucky ones on stage with Jack for about 15 minutes.
You can view the full video HERE
In the demonstration, Jack said words that really got me thinking.
He said, “90% is a bitch! 100% is a breeze.”
When we commit to a goal outcome and allow wiggle room, renegotiation, or leave a way out, we are have committed at a 90% rate.
When we give our full word, not allowing for any wiggle room on our commitment, we are committing at a 100% level.
I thought of the times I had said, “I need to work out more.” And only committed to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday routine, negotiating with myself that if something more fun, or more important
than working out came up then I would delay and push the commitment out. Essentially I was not keeping my word and, would justify why I could not work out that day.
Jack also demonstrated how our bodies know the truth and that, if we muscle test, we can know the strongest answer to our deepest questions. We do innately know what is right for us. And we also know what isn’t. Yet isn’t it interesting how we so easily can make excuses, procrastinate and not follow through on commitments we give our word to?
If there is one thing that I would love to help all my friends, family, and clients rid their lives of it would be giving excuses.
Excuses are like viruses in our own biology of belief and form the basis for all self-doubt, lack of confidence, and failure.
When one toughens their mind against the energy of the excuse mindset, they activate a direct pathway to their greatness.
While committed to doing the #75Hard program, I have been able to hear the loudness and persistence of my own excuse mindset more than ever. Its presence had been lying in wait, an available companion for any thought, decision, dream, or desire I would pass through my mind.
Oh, you can do that later.
You’ve already worked out so hard this week.
You do not want to get injured.
You worked so hard today, you deserve to relax.
The excuse list was long and so rehearsed.
More than not I would let the excuses be the winner over my attention.
Years of excuses led to a struggle in my own self-belief.
I would give my word to others and keep it, yet when I gave my word to myself, it was very easy to break.
I had noticed on many occasions an internal dialogue that would sap my energy and leave me feeling confused, stuck between the empowering decision that had once felt empowering and the excuses mindset that had lined up with a myriad of reasons why the empowering decision would not work out, or how I did not have what it took to make it happen.
Evidence the excuse mindset was in control of my life included:
• A steady gain in weight
• Lack of mindfulness over my health choices
• Avoidance of my financial situation and easily skirting the discussions I had to have to be on track with wealth growth
• Becoming a workaholic and letting go of the things I loved like painting, going to museums, self-care
• Feeling drained and out of energy
• Getting easily distracted and forgetting things often
• Not staying focused on what was most important in my day
Then life changed.
On the #75Hard program the excuse mindset quickly began to lose its unconscious control over my mind and my life.
I kept committing to each brand new day, staying consistent, and mastering one day at a time.
I went for each day’s set of checks marks with gusto, and even when I was tired, instead of allowing the excuses to win, I summoned the energy to WIN THE DAY.
With dedication, persistence, and resilience my stronger mind has become extremely aware of past habits of making excuses, justifications, and procrastination.
Now, I feel like a whole new person. I have amazing energy, I am happy, focused, extremely productive and the excuse mind, it's quiet!
Not until we push ourselves to stop making excuses will we feel our ultimate powerful selves.
Our belief in ourselves, belief in others, and trust in the world are determined by the strength of our minds. When we conquer the excuse mindset, because, as Jack said, “90% is a bitch!”, we unleash our true passion and greatness.