The Number One Excuse is….

What do you suppose is the number one excuse used by people who do not live out their dreams? Do you think that the answer is procrastination, lack of resources, a lack of knowledge or fear? Certainly, without a doubt these excuses will definitely compete for the top spot, but only one excuse can gain the number one top excuse of all times. If fear was your selection to earn the top spot for excuses used, you are correct. Although fear is the top excuse used for many avoided and failed attempts at accomplishments, it can never be viewed as a legitimate reason. Fear is a horrible monster that seeks to drain an individual of self-confidence and poise. It takes a systemic process to breakdown the psyche of a person leaving them helpless and victimized. Therefore, fear becomes an acceptable and justifiable cause for not moving forward. Stephen Graham said,

Excuses are tools of incompetents that build monuments to nothing and those that specialize in them are seldom good at anything else.

As a young kid, I use to climb trees and bridges and jump down without any fear of the height. As I grew older, I found myself playing more sports rather than jumping off things, which of course left me with only the memories of what was. At about the age of twenty I was helping a couple with some work on their roof, only to realize that I had developed a fear of heights. How could this have happen. I literally became fearful of coming down from the roof of the house. They continued to reassure me that I was only a few feet from the ground, but all I could think of was the view I had while standing on the roof. You see, I am six feet tall; okay 5’11” ¾ tall. Nonetheless, standing on top of something gave me the optical illusion that I was as least my height from the ground including the ten feet representing the height of the house. In actuality, my feet were about six feet closer to the ground. Unfortunately, fear had paralyzed me to the point that it took my friends about twenty minutes to talk me down coupled with them holding my legs for support. From that point on, I realized that I had to regain my since of composure and confidence in order to literally dismiss the fear that once gripped my heart and mind.

Once fear has been realized, it must be deliberately tackled like a brute linebacker going after the quarterback. Nothing should be left to chance or time once fear has been detected. You may not like what you have to do to overcome fear’s devastating hold, however, once you are free from it, you will be glad you regained your self-reliance and freedom so that you can with confidence pursue your dream.