Excuses are the enemy of abundance. They’re what we hide behind to avoid leaving our comfort zone. For most of us, we don’t knowingly decide to settle. We’ve just been there for so long we’ve convinced ourselves that it’s where we belong.
I thought about that a lot this past month, as we launched our “I am” campaign, asking people how do you define you? Women from around the world responded with powerful affirmations that declared their value and worth. The question for me though is, what’s next? How do we take all these powerful affirmations and put them into action? I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking one of the first things I personally need to do is to kick my excuses to the curb.
Trust me, I’ve got a lot of them. Anything I haven’t done – I’ve got an excuse for it. The question is why am I using my energy to find reasons why I can’t get something done, instead of focusing on what’s possible? I said, “I am Unstoppable”, but do I believe it?
Hmm…do you believe what you say about you? Last month I saw affirmations that said I am Valuable, I am Enough, I am Strong, I am Fierce, I am Love…is that what we think is true in our heart of hearts? Only you can say for sure how you really feel, but I’m betting that if you’re like me, you do believe it’s true. But when faced with what seem like insurmountable odds or circumstances we can’t change, sometimes our actions are governed by our fears. Phobias rooted so deeply beneath the surface, that we almost forget they’re there. That is until life throws us a curve ball, and we have to decide whether to step out on faith, or stay stuck in fear.
It’s then that our mind starts conjuring up excuses for why we can’t make bold choices. Heck, why we can’t make a choice at all. We let those wild, errant thoughts in our head hold us back, convincing us of what we can’t achieve. As a result, months or years later we look up and marvel at how the world has kept going, but we are in the same place.
Well, I’m not buying it anymore. I’m challenging all of us to let 2015 be our year of manifestation. To boldly live out our beliefs, and bravely put them into action. For me, that means that I will not say, “I am Unstoppable”, without tenaciously pursuing my destiny – in every area. I will not trust God with just a part of my life. It’s got to be His way all the way, and that is a BOLD statement for me.
You see, for years I have trusted God with my career, my child and my care. But relationships with men? Mm…not so much. I wanted to do that part my way. Because I had needs, you see, and He clearly wasn’t interested in those. I was afraid that by waiting on Him, I was going to end up alone. So, I took matters into my own hands, using the excuse that I’m getting too old to keep waiting.
But truth is, I wasn’t getting too old. I was just tired of waiting. Impatient, and ready to have things on my own timetable, I found an excuse to do it my way. And guess what, it turned out a hot mess. As opposed to the areas of my life where God was in control, and things just sailed along. Not problem free, but free of fears that encouraged me to make bad choices.
That’s why now, I’m dropping the excuses and getting back on the Divine plan. Is it easy? Not always. Not even going to lie about that. But it is doable, and here’s how:
- Remember the Source. The reason I can say “I am Unstoppable”, and believe it, is because God has said with Him all things are possible. It ain’t about my strength. It’s about His power.
- Repeat the Positive. I tell myself “I am Unstoppable” everyday. When I’m frustrated, don’t understand or feel inadequate, I intentionally change the narrative.
- Redirect the Excuses. Every time I have a limiting thought about what I don’t have or can’t do, I immediately follow it up by asking myself, what’s possible? Remember, we always have choices even when we can’t change our circumstances.
Listen, God wants us to have life abundantly. Don’t you want that for you as well? I know I do. So I’m kicking my excuses to the curb, and I invite you to join me. Are you willing to get on board?
Loving on Me as I Love You! Hugs and Blessings ❤
Andrea Anderson says
Ready to join you in kicking my own excuses to the curb! Great article!
Katrina McGhee says
Thanks Andrea! Have a grand day! 🙂
Athena Russell says
I so needed that article… great read