Creating Alternatives Instead of Excuses
My father once told me something I have never forgotten during rigorous softball practice. I told him I was tired and sore and wanted to stop; keep in mind I had two previous practices before the one I was in. He quoted Tim Notke and said, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." At first, I was convinced he wanted my arms to fall off, but once I set my excuses and complaining to the side. I was finally able to understand and interpret what he had just told me. You see, life is always going to throw you a curveball whether you're expecting it or not. Life is not on your time; you're on life's time, and when you discover how you plan on spending the next moments, it is entirely up to you. What you want to do and who you want to be is what you need to start asking yourself. There is no stopping you; the only person who has the potential to stop you from fulfilling your purpose is YOU. So I ask you, are you ready to find your purpose or create excuses? The choice is and will always be yours. In life, we sometimes choose to do what is more comfortable than harder. We prefer to react and respond in a particular manner because we can anticipate the outcome. Once we become uncertain and lose control of the possibility or result, we panic and get scared. Why? Is it because we like to control? Is it because we want to prove ourselves, right? Or is it the simple fact of being scared of the unknown?
We often convince ourselves what we are doing is right, the choices we make are the right ones, and how we choose to proceed is justifiable. What if I told you, we validate our actions by creating excuses. We don't have a reason. Instead, we excuse why we couldn't work out today, why we couldn't finish that assignment, why we couldn't do that simple chore, why we couldn't be there for a friend in need, why we didn't tell the truth, etc. The list is endless, and so are our excuses. For so long, we've convinced ourselves of so many why's instead of creating many how's. How can I find the time? How can I do better? How can I be better? How can I find an alternative? How can I continue?..
Lets Practice Accountability
Take responsibility for what you say and what you do.
Admit the truth to yourself. If somethings hard, if you don't understand, admit to it.
Change bad habits and negative thinking.
Forgive your past failures and manifest positive outcomes.
Learn your weaknesses and strengths.
No one can make decisions for you; ultimately, everything you do is your choice. Take responsibility for everything you do and keep yourself accountable to remind yourself of making the right choice for yourself. Sometimes it can be challenging to admit the truth, especially when difficult decisions have to be created once you confront the reality. However, staying true to yourself helps to be honest with those around you. In school, when others seem to understand what's going on and you find yourself confused or lost, it's okay to admit it. If you continue life without asking questions and adequately understanding, you lose knowledge and keep yourself growing. Don't be the one to hold yourself back from your potential. Challenge yourself and educate yourself by the power of asking questions. Chances are you're not the only one, just the only brave one. At some point in our lives, we have all experienced failure, whether from a test, sports, work, friendships, relationships, etc. Failure is inevitable. How we overcome it and continue from it is how we learn. Loss can either keep you from trying or teach you a lesson. We can stop thinking negatively about our past mistakes and learn to move forward by thinking positively and being optimistic about what we strive to accomplish. One of the most incredible things to know is your strengths and weaknesses. To achieve goals and continue working towards dreams, you need to be honest with what you're capable of doing and what will be most challenging. Admit to your weaknesses and find alternatives to improve while growing through your strengths and embracing who you are.
“Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”
Babe Ruth
