What's your excuse?

I may be a closet procrastinator.

If I am not in the mood to do something I can find a million reasons why I can’t...or didn’t… Especially in my personal life.  When someone asks why haven’t you done _______? Or what’s the hold up? Or what’s the deal? Boy, I am full of excuses… Are you?   

Work, for me, is different most of the time..  I don’t have the luxury of dragging my feet much.  At work, everything is on a time schedule. If I miss the schedule, things are worse for me, so I march on at work, but at home?….or in my personal life?….I can be slow as a snail...

I have noticed that when something did not work out as well as I wanted the first time, I tend to sweep it aside.  Exercise - I did not see instant results - that can wait. I am just going to have more clothes to fold tomorrow - those can wait.  It will rain in a day or two - the plants will be fine - opps they died….

For example, I was working on this exact blog...and, well, things did not go my way for a little while so I stopped.  My sister in law called and said “what's the deal? Are you done?” I ramble my excuses and then I say “Man I am full of excuses, but short version I need an IT guy..”  But really? Do I? No.. I don’t. A few friends read this blog at this time.. I am not a global phenomenon. I don’t have slews of people waiting to sign up….So what if my pop-up subscribe-link thingy isn’t working? So what if I don’t really understand Pinterest and how I’m supposed to add exposure through that site… By the way, if any of you readers do and want to help - let me know!!  Other than that I started this blog because I wanted to inspire others. I want to help others make a different choice. I started this blog so I could share positivity and hope! I started this blog to help people - I lost sight of that for a little while.

What is your excuse?  What is the thing you haven’t done yet?  Why?

Listen to your excuse...is it a good one?  Just because it may not be perfect doesn’t mean you should not try.  March on, soldier! Just because you think it could be bad doesn’t mean it will be.. What if it is awesome?  What if it is exactly what you needed? What if you weren’t so scared…

What if you got out of your own way?

“Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3: 5-6

How do you get out of your own way, you ask?  You stop making excuses. You take a step.

I typically need to be accountable to someone. For example, once I tell someone I am going to do something, I feel more obligated to actually do it.  If you don’t, you may try starting there… Don’t say you are going to do something and don’t. That's not cool. Only make commitments you are going to keep!  Only make promises you won’t break! If you don’t want to, or can’t, or won’t show up, say No! It's better to say no in the first place for all involved.

If you took the step and now it’s more than you wanted, take a break.  Take a little while to review and recalibrate. What was the original plan?  What did you want to do? What was the hope? Did you overextend yourself? Retract and wait.  

If I take a step back, what will people say?  Who cares?!? People are fickle. People change their mind with the wind.  People do not make you a success. You and God do!

Are you afraid to take the step?  Why? Because you might fall and fail...well you might fly too! What is the worst thing that can happen if you fail?  You try again! You just try a different way.

Get out of your own way.  Pray and Listen!

Start small, take a step today, tomorrow take another one..

Be Different Folks!