What’s behind your excuses?

It has been my style most of my life to quickly dismiss what my heart desires.

I’m talking big and small things. Some of these things could come with ease and some with challenges. Many times, as soon as I want something, my head kicks in with a litany of excuses why I can’t or shouldn’t have it. ”You don’t need that; remember what happened last time you tried that; what makes you think you deserve to have that.”

I’ve been digging into why I have this pattern.

I believe it’s another level of blocking or not allowing myself to receive, like we talked about last week. I also believe fear is at the core of this behavior. Fear is at the root of most of our struggles. If we look past the excuses, we find fear in one form or another.

In the past, it’s been easier for me to make excuses for not doing something than to face the possibility of failing at it. Fear had a tight grip on me. Fear can do that when we stuff it down and deny it; pretending with our excuses. It grows when we hide it within.

Fear has a way of tricking us into thinking we are safe; it keeps us small. If we don’t apply for that promotion or ask that person out, we won’t have to face rejection. We’re just trading one fear for another.

What if we look at our fear as an opportunity to be courageous?

What if the feeling that grips us that we are in fear has the same effect on us as the feeling of disappointment over not trying?

What if we knew we deserved to have everything our heart desires?

What if we got curious and took some time to unwind the story behind our excuses for not doing something that we want to do?

I am for sure not fearless. I will say that when I feel fear, I take the opportunity to find out more about myself. I question all my excuses. I ask myself what I am really fearing. I talk about it with someone I trust. Talking about it makes it seem much less scary; it brings it out in the open. I made a vow to step into fear when I feel it.

I love to grow and expand; the best way to do that is stepping into my fears and doing whatever it is while I’m afraid instead of waiting for it to go away; another excuse.

You cannot live your dreams if you’re living your fears.

When we change the world changes.