Excuses Are Dream Killers
“Can’t” Usually Means “Won’t”
“99% of the time when we say we “can’t” do something, “can’t” is a euphemism for “won’t.” What does “won’t” mean? Won’t means we’re not willing. In other words, you don’t really want to.”
– Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable”
“You don’t want to do the work,” continues Forleo. “You don’t want to take the risk. You don’t want to get uncomfortable or be inconvenienced. It’s simply not a big enough or important enough priority. Saying that you don’t want something (or don’t want to put in the work or sacrifice to get it) doesn’t make you bad or lazy. It makes you honest.”
Wow.
“What’s crucial to understand,” says Forleo, “is that no matter what happened in your past or what’s happening now, if you’re not at least willing to take full responsibility for your life – which includes your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour – you give up the power to change it.”
“Excuses are dream killers,” says Forleo. “If we allow them, our excuses will keep us locked in a prison of our own making.”
Yup.
“If we really want to, we can all find something to blame for our lack of results. But nothing is more of a deterrent to your long-term success than an untrained mind. Whenever you catch yourself making an excuse, don’t buy it.”
Gotcha.
“There are two kinds of people in the world: those with reasons and those with results.”
– Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable”
Interestingly, I can spot someone else’s excuses a mile away. But identifying my own, when they pop up (which they do on a regular basis), is a work in progress.
“Being “crazy-busy,” stressed-out, and chronically overwhelmed has become a cultural epidemic,” says Forleo. “Just because overstuffing our lives with endless to-dos is popular doesn’t mean it’s wise.”
Because busy doesn’t necessarily mean productive i.e. getting the really important stuff done.
“There’s a difference between owning your choices and blaming yourself,” she says. “Own your choices. If you take responsibility for how you spend your time, you reclaim the power to change it.”
“If it’s important enough,” says Forleo, “I’ll make the time. If not, I’ll make an excuse.”
“It’s never about having the time; it’s about making the time.”
– Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable”
Yup.
“Most of us don’t realize how much time we fritter away on dumb shit that has no connection to our deepest values nor moves the needle ahead on our treasured dreams.”
– Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable”
Feel free to read that line again, too…it’s a gooder 😊
Here’s a Frightening Little Farting-Around-Fun-Fact For You (also pulled from Marie Forleo’s awesome book, “Everything is Figureoutable”):
“30 minutes a day dickin’ around on your phone/social media = 22 full 8-hour workdays!”
Yes, you read correctly. Half an hour a day on social media = THREE WEEKS!
I could write a screenplay in 3 weeks.
What could you accomplish in three full work weeks? Write a business plan? Apply for a grant? Write the first draft of a book manuscript? Create a room of your own in which to create? Click To TweetThe next time you habitually reach for your phone to scroll through dumb shit that has no connection to your deepest values, nor move the needle forward on a treasured dream, perhaps take a moment to remember how precious your time is…and that it is finite.
“Opportunity cost is no joke,” says Forleo. “Every choice has a price. Everything you say yes to means you’re saying no to something else.”
One final Forleo gem to ponder for today:
“Here’s the mantra I use to curb my own media consumption: “Create before you consume.” Meaning, it’s imperative that I create the life (and work) of my dreams before I unconsciously and habitually consume the creations of others.”
Amen, Sistah 😊
It’s not just excuses that kill dreams…so do distractions. The key is to be honest with ourselves about what we really want the rest of our lives to hold.
Related blog by Maryanne
Maryanne Pope is the author of “A Widow’s Awakening.” She also writes screenplays, playscripts and blogs. She is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and a co-founder of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. To receive Maryanne’s blog, “Weekly Words of Wisdom,” please subscribe here.
2 thoughts on “Excuses Are Dream Killers”
Great post Maryanne, and something I definitely needed to read today. I think I definitely need to check out Marie’s book.
Creating before consuming is something I’m getting better at. In an evening I’ll do do that power-hour of writing before I’ll even set foot near my living room (where that Netflix-filled TV lives).
But, I’ll make the time versus I’ll make an excuse..yeah, that resonates..and we always know when we’ve made an excuse as there’ll always be that pang of guilt inside, because we can smell our own BS.
Love this post. Thank you.
Elliot
Oh, you are so right…we totally KNOW when we are making an excuse! I, too, loved the quote about ‘creating before consuming.’ It is simple advice but so wise. We must put our own work & creativity FIRST…then binge-watch other people’s creative brilliance 🙂
Take care,
MA