The 10 Most Common Excuses for Giving Up and How to Change Them

by Andrew Abba Festus

Image Credit | Twenty20.com

Why don’t you live the life you want? It`s because you are full of excuses instead of acting towards your goals. Successful people don’t have excuses to give up, only reasons to succeed. They don’t sit desperately and curse their poor and ugly destiny. You are not weak. You are afraid, and you need something or someone to boost your confidence and push you forward.

Here are the most common excuses for giving up and ways to start to acting NOW:

1. I don’t want to risk it

You risk every time you go to sleep, to not wake up. Do you not sleep because of this possibility? Next time when you think of how stupid or awkward or scary it is for you to risk, ask yourself this – “Would I take a risk if I knew I would not wake up tomorrow morning?”

2. I don’t have enough time

It is the most common excuse. You spend hours of your precious day on sleeping, watching TV, spreading rumors about others, feeling sorry over your destiny. Then it’s obvious that you don’t have time. Successful people never spend time on things that take away their energy. When you stop doing at least one thing that takes away your time, you will be more successful.

3. I’m not worthy of success

If you say it, then your life is a real example of how you see yourself. But if you say “I`m successful, I can do this. At least I can try” you will live a different truth. Who says you need to be worthy of what you want? You just have to stop negative self-talk. Those are the words of someone else.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Buddha

4. I don’t know anything about that business

You can learn free information on the Internet about the topic that interests you. Search the ones that come from influential people, successful entrepreneurs, and bloggers. Read their process of success. The success didn’t happen overnight, but they knew what they wanted and went after it.

5. There are no opportunities for me

Opportunities are everywhere. You can’t see them because you don’t believe that they exist. If you want to succeed, look how many opportunities are waiting for you to grab them. When you are open to new opportunities, you see them or create your own. Successful people are creating their opportunities. They are not waiting for them to come.

6. I am afraid of failure

There is no fear of failure but only a fear of success. Insecurity brings you a feeling of panic. What if I succeed? My life will change; I don’t feel like I’m ready for that. How will I manage  success? Being successful brings more work, more obligations. Will I know how to handle all that money? I never had that much money in my life. Is your focus on success or fear of failure? Focus on what you want and what is good now in your life. And you will achieve each goal on which is your focus.

7. Maybe I need to stay where I am

No, you don’t need to stay where you are if that doesn’t fulfill you. Yes, you have to be thankful for your present, no matter how hard it seems. But don’t stay in it if you have (and we all have) a will to change it. You have to get out of your negative comfort zone and create a new, more positive one. Change your habits, day by day, with baby steps.

8. My goals are big and unattainable

There are no small or big goals. It’s the way you see them. If some goals scare you, then you will say it’s unattainable because it’s too big.
Split your “big” goal into small, daily steps, as your smaller goals. But have higher goals in mind or written on paper. Some of the greatest people in the world would not have been so great if they had small goals.
If Henry Ford didn’t have a “big” goal to mass produce affordable cars for middle-class Americans, he would never have achieved it. If Roger Federer didn’t have a “big” goal to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, he would never have won them.

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison

9. I am of afraid what others will say

The fear of criticism comes from your childhood. You depended on your parent’s opinion and from older people in your life. You gained a belief that you must do what others say to be accepted. There will always be someone who will not like you and the way you live. You don’t need to adapt to others, but to follow your inner feelings. Only that way you will live free from fear of criticism.

10. I don’t know from where to start

Searching information without using it in your reality feels overwhelming. Instead, to collect too much information, start with one thing that is your priority at the moment. And use it in your life. Try it first. Then move on to the next one. You will not get anywhere until you act. As long as you only read and think about success, you will stay in the exact same place you are now.
What success means to you now and what it will mean when you become active, will be two different things. When you activate, there will be no more excuses for you to give up. There will be only reasons WHY you need to succeed.