What's Your Excuse?

What’s Your Excuse?

It's true, believe it or not! For many, the tendency to procrastinate is overwhelming. Why? Sometimes it’s lack of motivation, depression, laziness, fear of making mistakes or blaming someone or something for why we can't move forward. Many individuals find reasons to put blame on circumstances or people, instead of taking responsibility for the issue at hand. Here is an example. If something goes wrong while using a computer, it becomes the computers fault, when in reality, it's the user who makes the mistake most of the time but refuses to take responsibility or to take the time to investigate what the problem may have been. Typically, the user is in control of all actions. The end result is frustration and quitting. This scenario is relevant to most situations.. Allowing oneself to be victimized by circumstances rather than taking control, limits the individual to the land of excuses.

The first step in overcoming most obstacles is changing our mindset to one that is positive. Extracting all negative thoughts, believing in yourself, taking the approach of CAN DO rather than can’t do. Let’s face it folks, people with or without disabiliteies have a hard time getting started! It’s like a baby taking it’s first step, putting one foot in front of the other, the baby may fall and cry, but gets back up and does it all over again. Challenge yourself to take small steps, allow yourself to work through the task both mentally and physically. The key is to know your abilities and what you are truly capable of.

Sometimes we take things in life for granted, expecting something or someone to take care of it. Ask yourself, what is it that you would like to accomplish today? What steps will you take to achieve the goal? Put it down on paper, it helps make the goal real. Set a time line, challenge yourself. Do & say, I will accomplish the task at hand. I guarantee you will find it worthwhile. Focus on what is, rather then what isn’t. Blank out all the internal chatter or mental garbage which blocks out all the good ideas. A clear vision allows a person to move forward.

Ok, so it sounds easy on paper. It takes a drive within yourself, a strong desire to feel a sense of accomplishment, the determination to be all you can be and the expectation of a world without limits. It’s important to remember you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Ok,yes, perhaps there are limitations at times, but ask yourself what it is you’d like to do and set a plan of action to and get around the limitations. Find the tools necessary to tackle the project. Get started on it and don't make excuses. If your excuse is, I have a disability and I'm not independent, then it’s a simple question back to you. What are you doing about it? Its about choices. Do you have abilities or a disability!

Finally, I know many accomplished people who just happen to have a disability. They've set their eye on a goal, pushed themselves to the limit and then went one step beyond! The choice is yours. It all starts with you! Find a way, Don’t Make Excuses!

Respectfully submitted
Mitchel Shapiro