| k"> | | | | you suddenly had a bunch of debt again. How did |
| Silly excuses. Let’s face it, we all have them. | | | | THAT happen? Maybe you vowed you would start |
| You know the kind. Like when you’ve said | | | | an emergency savings fund but found that you |
| you really want to start painting your art again but | | | | never quite had any "extra" money at the end of the |
| instead find yourself on an evening or weekend | | | | month so years went by and you had nothing to |
| saying "I’d love to but I don’t have | | | | show for it. |
| time, I have to do the laundry." Or you say you | | | | While this is just one financial related example, the |
| want to get fit and boost your health but then say | | | | same holds true for self-care (especially self-care |
| to yourself at the end of the day "I’m too | | | | because it is so easy to write ourselves right off our |
| tired to exercise". Know where that leads you? (hint: | | | | to-do list), taking stock of your long-range business |
| you won't like the answer...) Silly excuses. | | | | planning, eating healthier, or any other desire you |
| Let’s face it, we all have them. You know | | | | have. |
| the kind. Like when you’ve said you really | | | | In oh so many ways, rather than make empowering |
| want to start painting your art again but instead find | | | | choices we let silly, unimportant excuses get in our |
| yourself on an evening or weekend saying "I’d | | | | way. A consistent string of seemingly small, silly |
| love to but I don’t have time, I have to do | | | | excuses leads to our very own deterioration: of our |
| the laundry." Or you say you want to get fit and | | | | health, well-being, financial independence, passion for |
| boost your health but then say to yourself at the | | | | life, and overall potential. |
| end of the day "I’m too tired to exercise". | | | | Have you ever noticed your desire to change and |
| Whether you admit it or not, you know you have | | | | then thought, ok I am just going to do it all on my |
| them (I know I do) and they can run the spectrum | | | | own. I know what I need to do and so it’ll |
| from "too tired" to "I just think I need to clean the | | | | just happen. I’ll go down to the bookstore, |
| entire bathroom tile with a small toothbrush before I | | | | grab a great new self-help or DIY book on the topic |
| can ". Believe me even the most successful | | | | and then all my problems will be solved. 30 days to |
| entrepreneurs are not immune. I often read about | | | | a whole new life for me! |
| my colleagues confessing that when they have a big | | | | How has that been working for you? Are you |
| deadline looming or something important to work on | | | | seeing the results you desire? Even more |
| for their business strategy it is those times that the | | | | importantly are you feeling the way you most want |
| most laundry and cleaning gets done as they | | | | to feel? Or, are the books gathering dust and your |
| procrastinate from doing the very thing that will bring | | | | excuses are still running your life they way it has |
| them what they desire. I’m not perfect | | | | always been (or maybe just an itsy bitsy |
| either as on more than one occasion I have been | | | | incrementally bit better...you are a good reader after |
| known to bake cookies rather than handle something | | | | all). |
| in my business because it just plain old felt more | | | | I thought not. I know... I’ve been there and |
| comfortable. What about those first few months in | | | | tried that. Why doesn’t this approach work |
| my business? Well, neighbors and friends were well | | | | even for talented, intelligent, and self-sufficient people |
| supplied with baked goods and still hold me | | | | like you and me? |
| responsible for weight gain. Thankfully for me my | | | | Because if just reading about it, thinking about it, or |
| coach was expert at keeping me focused and on | | | | knowing what we need to do were enough, we |
| track with my vision even with my occasional bouts | | | | would all be doing, being, or having all that we most |
| of baking. | | | | desire already, wouldn’t we? If struggle |
| While it may sound funny and we all know we do it | | | | were the secret wouldn’t we all have exactly |
| from time to time (and that’s ok, | | | | what we want by now? |
| we’re human after all)...do you know what a | | | | Ready to do things differently? |
| consistent pattern of living by your silly excuses | | | | Comfortable in Your Own Skin Coaching Challenge: |
| brings? As one of my clients shared this week..."All | | | | 1. Find a quiet, sacred spot where you can just |
| these silly excuses leads to a person deteriorating." | | | | be present for a short time and take a few deep |
| I invite you to take a moment and really think about | | | | breaths. Allow yourself to land in this spot. |
| this most powerful statement: your silly excuses | | | | 2. Make a list of one or two things that you |
| lead to a person deteriorating. And that person | | | | most want for yourself. Those things you just |
| is you. | | | | know would make a huge difference in your life or |
| After the initial impact of that very succinct and | | | | business. |
| eloquent statement took hold for me I realized just | | | | 3. Now, make a list of the excuses you tell |
| how true it is. Have you ever said you wanted to | | | | yourself why you cannot do, be or have these |
| reduce your debt and start saving money? Then, | | | | things. List them all, no matter how silly they seem |
| you found yourself out shopping and bought one | | | | (even the silliest have a huge impact). |
| more thing because of course it was on sale and you | | | | 4. Read over this list, get friendly with your |
| just can’t pass up the sign in the window that | | | | excuses, and then ask them (your excuses) "Do I |
| says sale, right? Or, you decided to consolidate | | | | really want you to be deciding my present and future |
| your debt into one overwhelming chunk and pay it | | | | reality? |
| off. Before you knew it a few months passed and | | | | |