THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK…AND OTHER EXCUSES FOR NOT LIVING YOUR IDEAL LIFE

 “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

 – Benjamin Franklin

Do you find yourself living vicariously through others – marveling at their Instagram, reading stories of amazing ventures that others dared to take on, 360 degree life changes that someone had the courage to figure out and tackle?

STOP! It’s time to stop making excuses for putting off your own Reinventions while envying others’. Especially now as you start to enter that next phase of your life. This has the potential to be the most exciting time of rediscovery in your life. Recognize the things that have held you back for the last 20+ years and stop hiding behind them because if you ever had an excuse, now’s the time to dispel it.

Put aside the excuses and make it happen. “What is it?” It is everything that you have been dreaming of yet haven’t had the courage to put into action. This could take ten minutes to act on it, or two years to plan on it; whatever it is… just do it, for goodness sake.

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t… ”

– Lucille Ball

Sure, you have a laundry list of excuses that you deem to be “valid,” but I’m here to hold the mirror up to you. Here are the 10 excuses we make for not getting on with the dreams/second acts/living large and there are plenty more of them — how many do you identify with…?

1. Too busy with the current version of your life

2. Not sure of what I want to do/be/explore

3. Don’t know what I’m passionate about anymore

4. Can’t afford to invest/spend money on the venture/”crazy/not-so-crazy” idea

5. Afraid to risk not being successful at this

6. What will others say/think?

7. Don’t know where to learn more about what I want to do

8. Never been good at starting something new and it’s overwhelming

9. Have to stay focused on all the things that help my family run smoothly

10. Always have to put everyone else first – they need me – I could never do that for me, it would be selfish

If you can relate to at least 2-3 of these excuses, it’s time to take an even harder look at all the reasons why you SHOULD dare to dream and pursue your passion. A passion that you’ve long yearned to pursue.

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So how are you going to do this? What will motivate you to stop making excuses? Here’s a little guidance – much of it obvious, but these reminders are to help you gain clarity and direction that might just get you there…

It won’t happen all on its own. You have to consciously create your reality and your life to be what you want. It’s not luck… it’s intention, a goal, a road map, and a plan to get there.

Come up with your Action List – pros, cons, things you have to do, people who may be a part of it, a timeline, goals, milestones, and ideas that will get you there.

Buy a great little notebook and make it your place to check-in daily. Create tabs or sections for each category you want to focus on and the project details listed above. You can use a computer or notepad on your smartphone, but writing on paper in a little notebook is more visceral – connecting at a deeper level with you, thus helping you to actualize it.

Pick a time each day that you know you can stick to – wake up 15 minutes earlier, 15 minutes before bedtime, 15 minutes of your lunch hour. Whatever else you’ve been doing, make this your new priority. Use this time for research, jotting down ideas and plans, making lists of how you’re going to accomplish your goals, writing down the challenges you foresee and how you’ll overcome them.

Reinvention and evolution in your personal journey are inspired, creative, exciting times. Don’t make excuses any more. Take those baby steps and with every step, comes a reward of accomplishment and satisfaction. You have the power to create what you want the moment you stop letting those excuses get in your way.

So take one small step towards creating your life with courage. Don’t sit on the sidelines and look at others in awe when that could be you fulfilling your own dreams. Every little step will be a major milestone for you to celebrate – with a pat on the back, a glass of wine, a victory dance – it’s yours, so own it! Let’s bury those excuses as far in the dirt as possible.