How many times have we tried to accomplish a particular goal or make a passionate dream of ours a reality, only to have it fall short?
Or how many times have we made a small amount of progress, only to settle or give up before reaching the height we set for ourselves?
I know I for one have, on more than one occasion.
How We Get In Our Own Way
We as a species tend to create excuses masquerading as reasons for why we can’t do something.
Feeding ourselves excuses as to why we can’t accomplish what we would like to achieve is a complex way we lie to ourselves and trick ourselves into thinking we are not capable of doing something.
We are more than capable of doing anything we set our hearts, minds, and souls to! Sometimes we all need a reminder that the dreams we seek, big or small, are all within our reach.
First and foremost, we must believe that we can!
There’s No Time Like The Present
Perhaps you would like to implement a new exercise regimen to your daily routine to boost your energy levels, maybe you’d like to focus more on painting sacred geometry, maybe you want to cook more plant-based meals to encourage better health for your family, or perhaps you’d like to help underprivileged kids by volunteering at youth centers.
Whatever it is that you’d like to do, we all need a good kick in the ass from time to time to motivate ourselves to do what truly matters and resonates with us.
In order to become the greatest versions of ourselves and create the life we desire, we must cast aside the false beliefs and narratives we tell ourselves every day.
3 Lies That Are Holding Us Back
1. I’m Too Tired
Yes, you’re tired, I’m tired, your oddball uncle’s tired, your eccentric dog is tired – we’re all tired!
Life can be draining if we’re constantly in a state of giving energy to things we don’t truly care about. Potential sources of energy drainage could be the dead-end job you can’t stand, friends that you don’t resonate with on a meaningful level, or the unending demands of raising a family.
If we are always waiting to do what needs to be done until we’re not tired anymore, we will be waiting until we’re dead, or at least very close to it.
2. I Don’t Have Enough Time
This is, simply put, bullshit.
After all, we’ve all heard that Oprah, Michael Jordan, Elon Musk, and Teal Swan all have 24 hours in a day just as we do.
It isn’t that these individuals are more worthy of success or that they were just born blessed or somehow “got lucky”. No, they became successful because they worked at it.
Regardless of how tired or busy we are, we must put aside time to do things that feed our hearts and souls. In this way, we will give ourselves some of the love and energy we put out into the rest of our lives.
By nurturing the things that matter to us, whether it be a passion project or a learning a new hobby, we will find that these things in fact return energy to us.
It’s not that we don’t have enough time, it is however true that we prioritize the things we do according to the time we have. We always make time for the highest priorities in our lives – eating, taking care of our children, working.
3. I Can’t (Insert Your Excuse Here)
The idea that we “can’t” do something stems from the underlying belief that we are somehow not good enough.
This type of limiting belief is something we have created for ourselves.
These beliefs may have stemmed from childhood experiences or societal conditioning, but the fact remains that as adults, we are now the ones perpetuating these erroneous belief systems.
WE are now the ones responsible for changing this kind of corrosive thinking.
How To Accomplish Your Goals
So how do we overcome these lies we feed ourselves? We must start to reprogram the way our minds operate. Easier said than done.
Instead of saying “I don’t have time”, try saying “This isn’t a priority for me” and see what happens.
Let’s say getting your health back on track is the success you’re focused on. The next time you find yourself justifying that fast food meal because you’re a busy individual, try saying instead, “My health is not a priority”. Or “my dream of being an entrepreneur is not a priority”.
This simple way of changing your self talk can put some things in perspective.
Whatever it is that you think you’re too busy, too tired, not able to do – DO IT ANYWAY. Just start! It’s simpler than it appears to be.
When we push ourselves to do what resonates with us, no matter what, we soon learn that these limiting beliefs are simply false narratives we have been creating and that we alone are the ones responsible for feeding those lies.
In the end, we can all lie to ourselves as much as we’d like. The only ones we are hurting are ourselves.
So do it today – decide. Are you living the life that drives you mad with giddiness? If not, then start doing it!
Start small. Start slow. Start imperfectly and learn along the way! Just start.
How did you change your self-defeating talk? Share your story in the comments section below!
*edited source link for image “Goal”
Grace Huang Coaching 