In this post, I’m going to share with you 21 stop making excuses quotes plus some powerful tips to stop making excuses that are holding you back.
Every excuse you make to avoid doing something is just an excuse to put off living a full life.
“No one gets out alive” is not true. You can live a meaningful and abundant life, even with obstacles in your way. It’s up to what you want and how hard you’re willing to work for it.
It’s better to do something imperfectly than not do it at all. There is no such thing as perfect so stop trying to find it and get started on what matters most now.
The sooner we start, the less time we have left for regrets, for things undone, or unshared.
Life becomes more about the journey than the destination if we find ourselves moving forward towards the horizon instead of looking back at what’s already behind us.
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Why Do We Make Excuses In The First Place?
Have you ever been moved to make a good change in your life, only to find that your excitement quickly turned into doubt?
When thinking about making a change, it’s normal to feel uncertain, self-doubt, and fear. However, for some people, these feelings can stop them from starting at all.
Instead of making changes, they may make up reasons not to. Excuses may make people feel better about not taking action, and they can help them make up a story about why they can’t get what they want, which keeps them from going after it.
Here are 5 reasons why we might come up with an excuse:
1. We let our habits get the best of us.
You might be excited at first about going to the gym or looking for a new job, but as soon as you get into a routine, going to the gym might feel like too much work, and studying or looking for a new job might seem harder than you thought it would be. As a result, you might let the comfort of “familiar” take over.
At this point, some people might think it’s easier to keep doing what they’ve always done instead of pushing themselves, so they might make an excuse to do just that.
Think about breaking your goal into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Instead of trying to go to the gym seven times a week, you might want to start by trying to go three times a week.
Instead of expecting to get your dream job right away, think about what steps you can take over time that will help you get closer to your goal.
You can make a change easier on yourself if you break it down into small steps.
You can also become more self-aware and start to notice when you’re making excuses by asking yourself if the reason is really true. Breaking things down and staying aware of your inner dialogue can help you overcome any resistance to sticking with something. We either make progress or we make excuses.
2. We doubt ourselves
You might be thinking about going after your dream, moving abroad, taking a new course, or starting your own business. You might look into what steps you can take to make it happen because you’re excited about it.
After getting excited about your idea, you might tell your friends, family, or spouse about it, only to hear things like, “Are you sure?” “Is it worth it?”,”Can you really do it?”
Your excitement might be replaced by a doubtful voice inside your head that asks if you have what it takes or tells you it’s impossible. Before you know it, you might be talking yourself out of your idea by saying things like “I can’t do it,” which could stop you from moving forward with your plans.
Think about what you liked about your idea and what wouldn’t happen if you didn’t go after it.
You could also reach out to people who have already done what you want to do and talk to them about how they did it. You could also join a group of people who are all working toward the same goal as you are.
This lets you spend more time with people who are just as passionate and excited as you are, which can help you feel less doubtful.
3. We’re scared
Trying something new and getting out of our comfort zone can feel scary at first, but this is usually because we are afraid of things like failing, being rejected, making mistakes, or being judged by others.
Keeping these beliefs can often stop you from moving forward, and instead of embracing the unknown, you may resist the uncomfortable feelings or use them as excuses to avoid feeling the fear and do it anyway.
If you don’t like the idea of change, you might want to do it at a pace that makes it easier for you to handle. Maybe you can start with small changes, like trying a new class or going on vacation to a new country. Over time, this may give you the courage to make bigger changes.
If you think that deep-seated fears are holding you back, you could also work with an NLP practitioner who can help you get past them.
4. We aren’t ready yet
When we want to make a change, feeling ready is one of the most important things that help us move forward.
Once you’ve planned out what you can do to move things forward, you need to take the leap. We may not always be 100 percent ready for everything, but we can always learn as we go.
However, for some people, the need to make everything “perfect” before starting can make them put things off and not do anything at all. This makes them feel stuck in a cycle of “perfectionism” and keeps them from moving forward.
Write down what you need to do to feel more ready to move forward with your plans. What steps can you take to build your confidence so you can take the leap?
You could also read the autobiographies or blog posts of people you look up to find out how they did what you want to do. This could give you a lot of useful information about what they went through and how they did things.
5. We don’t have any drive
Why do you do what you do? Do you want to make a change because you’re excited about what it will bring you, or is the pain or stress of your current situation forcing you to?
Some people try to get motivated by thinking about the “reward,” but their inner drive may be more connected to the pain they will feel if they don’t overcome their current challenge.
For example, if someone wants to lose weight, they might think of a bikini body as a reward. However, if they don’t work on improving their diet, they might not be able to beat a health problem like obesity, diabetes, or any other condition (pain of not dealing with it).
Putting your attention on the wrong thing can make you lose motivation quickly and give you reasons to give up.
Find out what motivates you and connect with those feelings so you don’t try to connect with an idea that doesn’t make sense to you.
When you keep in touch with your motivators and look at them often to make sure they are still important to you, you give yourself the best chance of reaching your goals.
You could also talk to a life coach, who could help you come up with a plan and keep going.
It takes courage to face your excuses and admit to them, but by doing so, you’re one step closer to getting rid of them so you can move forward with your plans.
Further Reading: 11 Things To Do When You’re Lacking Motivation
10 Most Popular Excuses That Are Holding You Back
Most of us don’t reach our goals because we have problems like making excuses and talking badly to ourselves.
But we don’t notice them until we become aware of them. And you can’t start to change them to help you move forward until you realize you have them.
Here are ten of the most common reasons why people don’t follow their dreams:
1. I don’t want to take a chance.
Every time you go to sleep, you run the risk of not waking up. Because of this chance, do you not sleep?
Next time you think taking a chance is stupid, awkward, or scary, ask yourself, “Would I take a chance if I knew I wouldn’t wake up tomorrow?”
2. There isn’t enough time.
It is the most often-used reason. You waste a lot of your time sleeping, watching TV, spreading rumors about other people, and feeling sad about your life.
Then it’s clear that you’re too busy. People who are successful never waste their time on things that drain them. You will be more successful if you stop doing at least one thing that wastes your time.
Further Reading: 15 Time Management Techniques To Get More Done Faster
3. I don’t deserve to be successful
If you say it, your actions show how you see yourself.
But if you say things like, “I’m successful, I can do this. At least I can try,” you will experience a different truth.
Who says you have to deserve the things you want? You just have to stop negative self-talk. Someone else said those things.
4. I have no idea what that business is about.
You can find free information about anything you want on the Internet.
Look for reviews from influential people, successful business owners, and bloggers.
Read about how they got to where they are today. They didn’t become successful overnight, but they knew what they wanted and worked hard to get it.
5. I’m not getting any chances.
Chances are all around us. You don’t believe they are there, so you can’t see them.
If you want to be successful, look at how many chances are out there for you to take.
When you are open to new chances, you either see them or make them. People who are successful make their own chances. They don’t wait for them to show up.
6. I am afraid of failure
No one is afraid of failing, only of succeeding. You feel panicked when you feel unsafe. What if I get it right?
My life is going to change, and I don’t feel ready for that. How do I deal with success?
When you’re successful, you have more work to do and more obligations. Will I know what to do with so much money? I’ve never had so much money before. Do you want to succeed or are you afraid of failing? Pay attention to what you want and what’s good in your life right now.
You will reach every goal you pay attention to.
7. Perhaps I should stay where I am.
You don’t have to stay where you are if it’s not making you happy. Yes, you should always be grateful for what you have, no matter how hard it may be.
But don’t stay in it if you want to change it, which we all do. You need to get out of your bad comfort zone and make a new, better one. Step by step, you can change your habits.
8. My goals are too big to reach.
No goal is too small or too big. It depends on how you see them. If some goals scare you, you might say that you can’t reach them because they are too big.
Break up your “big” goals into smaller goals that you can work on every day.
But write down or keep in mind bigger goals. Some of the best people in the world would not be as good if they had set small goals for themselves.
Henry Ford would have never been able to make cheap cars for middle-class Americans if he hadn’t set a “big” goal to do so.
Roger Federer would have never won all four Grand Slam tournaments if it hadn’t been a “big” goal for him.
Further Reading: 9 Top Strategies To Achieve Your Goals
“The worst thing we can do is give up. “Trying just one more time is always the best way to be sure of success.” – Thomas Alva Edison
9. I’m scared of what other people will say.
The fear of being wrong comes from when you were young. You cared about what your parents thought and what older people said.
You came to think that you have to do what other people say if you want to be liked. There will always be someone who doesn’t like you or how you live. You don’t have to change to fit in with others. Instead, you should follow your own feelings. Only then will you not be afraid of what people will say.
10. I’m not sure where to begin.
It’s overwhelming to look for information you don’t plan to use. Start with one thing that is most important to you right now to avoid getting too much information.
And use it to help you. First, try it. Then go on to the next one. You won’t get anywhere unless you do something. As long as you only read about success and think about it, you will stay right where you are.
What success means to you now will be different from what it means to you when you start doing things.
When you activate, you won’t have any more reasons to quit. There will only be reasons WHY you should do well.
Further Reading: How To Start Anything From Scratch
21 Best Stop Making Excuses Quotes
1. “Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.”-Donna Brazile
When you find yourself making an excuse, stop and think about why you’re doing it. It’s usually a way of trying to avoid responsibility or not doing something that makes us feel uncomfortable.
2. “The difference between an excuse and an explanation is this: an excuse says, ‘I can’t,’ while an explanation says, ‘I can.'”-Unknown
One of the biggest hurdles for people is not just giving up but telling themselves that they can’t. This becomes an explanation for their lack of success and why they are never going to make it.
3. “Successful people don’t make excuses; they create new beginnings.”-Malcolm Forbes
It’s been said that excuses are the tools of people who want to make a living without working. Successful people don’t make excuses, they create new beginnings.
In order to see new beginnings, all you need is a clean slate.
Create a fresh start by tossing out everything you’ve been using to get where you are today, be it outdated beliefs and philosophies or techniques that no longer work for you
4. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”-Milton Berle
5. “When you meet with resistance, remember that your goal is on the other side of it.”-Unknown
6. “Excuses won’t help you reach your goal.”-Chael
7.“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” – Samuel Johnson
8.“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”- Dwight D. Eisenhower
9.“Success is a journey, not a destination.” -Jon Bon Jovi
10.” It’s not your fault if you’re not successful, it’s just the wrong time. Wait for the right time to come and you will be successful. -David Sukhin
11) “If we are not willing to risk what we cannot spare, then we shall not win anything worth having.” – John W. Gardner
12) “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”- Chinese Proverb
13) “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have the same number of hours in the day as Beyoncé.” – Robin Sharma
14) “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson
15 – “If you don’t have time, make time.” – Donna Pincus.
Time is a resource that can be managed and allocated better.
16 – “Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.” – Robert Kiyosaki.
You can’t win if you are not willing to take risks.
17 – “Successful people do what they want, not what they feel like doing.” – Tony Robbins.
Successful people set their own terms and conditions for themselves to follow their goals because they know that it’s important to stay motivated and inspired in order to achieve them.
18 – The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that’s the day you start to the top. – O. J. Simpson
19 – Ignorance of the law excuses no man from practicing it. – Addison Mizner
20 – Most people don’t have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims. – Carlos Santana
21 – Being honest with myself is something I like. I am happy that I don’t make excuses when I make a mistake. This is a good way to improve in the fastest way. – Charles Leclerc
5 Simple Tips To Stop Making Excuses And Take Control Of Your Life
People will always find reasons why they can’t do something or haven’t reached a goal. Most people I’ve worked with have a good sense of when they have a real problem they can’t get around and when they’re just making an excuse.
We’ve all been there, so don’t be too hard on yourself. If you find yourself making excuses a lot, try these practical tips to get yourself out of the excuse vortex and back into a productive frame of mind.
Tip 1: Hear your inner self.
Look at the things or situations you don’t want to deal with and talk to yourself about them.
If you realize you can’t solve a problem and you think it’s because of something outside of your control, you should just accept it.
Life sometimes throws us impossible situations, and learning to deal with them is part of being human.
On the other hand, be honest with yourself if you have a feeling that the problem you’re facing isn’t the end of the world but can be solved with a little planning or time.
Sometimes all we have to do is look at ourselves in the mirror and tell ourselves to stop.
Most people have good instincts and know themselves better than they think.
People know when they’re making an excuse for something they can handle and when they just have to accept what’s going to happen. Pay attention to your gut.
Tip 2: Set Small Goals To Achieve Big Goals
Instead of setting big, general goals and letting weeks and months go by while you don’t get any closer to achieving them, set small goals you can reach every week or micro-goals you can reach every day.
Small goals will help you reach your big goal and allow you to start crossing things off your wish list.
Set small, specific goals. For example, if your ultimate goal is to travel to Europe, a small goals checklist could look like this:
Choose the countries you want to visit by Wednesday night.
Choose a travel date by Friday night.
Find out how much tickets and places to stay cost and have some options by Monday’s end.
Make your flight plans by the end of August.
Be sure to reserve your hotel room by the end of September.
This format can be used for any big goal, whether it’s to lose weight, improve your health, make more friends, or switch careers. Any change you want to make in your life will depend on the steps you take, which bring you closer to your big goal every day.
Tip 3: If Other People Have Done, Why Can’t You?
Do you want to change something in your life, but you just dream about it instead of making it happen?
Have you ever looked at a world traveler’s Instagram feed and thought it was beautiful? Or went to a fitness website and saw success story after success story of better health and change?
Think: If other people have done this, why can’t you?
Why you can’t be the person who makes other people feel good? You don’t have to be the only one who stays the same while everyone else grows and has fun.
Once you realize that all people can change and grow, you will stop thinking of yourself as not good enough and realize that you can change just as much as the people you look up to.
Tip #4: Instead of saying, “I want to,” say, “I’m going to.”
Words can change things. What number of times have you heard someone say, “I want to work out more, travel more, find a new job, relocate to a new city…”
Most of the time, a person who always says “I want to” doesn’t make the changes they say they want to. The difference between “wanting to” do something and “going to” do something is a powerful one.
“Wanting to” is a dream, an idea, but it’s not clear or planned. It’s living in the clouds.
“Going to” is an action word that shows a goal, a desire for the next steps, and the desired end result.
Watch yourself the next time you talk about something you want to change in your life. Do you say “I’m going to” or “I want to”?
Tip #5: Learn About What You Don’t Know
People often put things off and make excuses because they are afraid of what might happen. It is hard to change the way we live and what we do every day.
Changes always involve taking risks, which is why we’re slow to try new things or make big changes in our lives or careers.
Stop being afraid of what you don’t know.
Instead, accept it! If you want to change careers, think about your options and the pros and cons of each. If you want to make a change in your life for your health, a better relationship, or more friends, you should think about the pros and cons.
Find out how these changes can help you and what challenges, risks, and bad things could happen.
If you research, think about and write down what you find, you can start to figure out what you really want and how much you’re willing to risk to get it. The unknown will become known, making it much less scary.
Further Reading: How To Love Reading: 3 Simple Ways To Make Reading a Habit
This post was about the 21 best quotes to stop making excuses.
