10 Reasons To Boycott The Word 'But' And Stop Making Excuses For Everything
But: It’s a word that changes sentences, intentions and even actions. It controls us and most of us don’t even realize it. “I want to get in shape, BUT…” “I used to think I could do that job, BUT…” “I should go on that date, BUT…”
It doesn’t matter what comes after “but” — all that matters is that it stops you from accomplishing something.
If you really wanted to get in shape or you really thought you could do that job or you really want to go on that date, then you should f*cking do it! Excuses are our brain’s way of giving us an easy out; they make giving up acceptable.
Now is the time to boycott the word “but." Here are 10 reasons why:
1. Excuses hold you back.
Ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecies? That’s what happens when you make excuses. You think you can’t do something, so you can’t. When you make an excuse, you admit that something is stronger than your will to move forward.
You miss out on opportunities to better yourself, your life and your world.
2. They’re probably bullsh*t anyway.
We like to use bullsh*t excuses because they’re easier to accept than our own faults and failures. Obviously, there are circumstances we can’t change and some excuses are legitimate, but probably only about 20 percent of them.
Instead of using the sh*tty things that happen to you in life as excuses, use them as motivation and reasons to improve.
3. Excuses mess with your self-esteem.
Continuously telling yourself why you can’t do things will starve your self-esteem. When your excuses prevent you from reaching any and all goals, what will your self-esteem subsist upon?
4. Excuses make you apathetic.
Making excuses can be a slippery slope. Over time, you’ll actually convince yourself that you won’t be able to achieve what you want to achieve and then you’ll stop caring about whether or not you actually achieve anything.
5. Excuses are a waste of our energy.
Imagine if you could apply the time you spend convincing yourself not to do something to actually doing it. Experts have identified worrying as something that consumes a lot of energy, so conserve that energy, stop worrying about why you can’t do something and just go do it!
6. You don’t gain anything.
Excuses do nothing positive for you; they don’t make you feel better about yourself, lead you anywhere, teach you lessons or get you want you want.
7. Excuses are too easy.
You never hear about the people who took the easy way out. Rather, you hear about people who work hard, push forward and never let anything or anyone (even themselves) get in their way.
8. They change nothing.
You can mull over why you can’t do something or you can say f*ck it and keep going anyway. You can make progress and get results or you can make excuses. There’s no way to do both so don’t let the fear of failure hold you back.
As cliché as it sounds, the only real failure you can have is convincing yourself that you shouldn’t even try.
9. They hide who you really are.
Making excuses stops you from reaching your full potential. Excuses are often just lies disguised as reasons; they give you something to hide behind and something else to blame other than yourself.
10. They weaken us.
As soon as you use the word “but,” you’re losing control — control to accomplish what you want. You’re handing the reins over to whatever your excuse is, whether it’s your age, what other people say about you, a disability, your fears, uncertainty or just pure laziness.
Be in charge of your own life and don’t let excuses like these stop you from reaching your goals.
Next time you think about making an excuse, ask yourself whether your excuse or your goal is more important. We are all capable of extraordinary things; it’s just a matter of whether or not we’re willing to take the time and make the effort.
It’s time to boycott the word “but” in your life. If you really want something, you’ll find a way. It may not be easy and it may not be fun, but what really matters is if in the end, it was worth it.
So, stop making excuses and invest in yourself. You ARE worth it.
Photo Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures/The Dark Knight