NO EXCUSES
Excuses are design flaws that need to be edited
Excuses are a disease. They will break you down from being the strongest person to being the weakest. Giving excuses = a major flaw in one’s character. I should know, I used to make a lot of excuses for myself and my behavior. Why I didn’t get certain things done, why I wasn’t where I wanted to be in life, why my behavior was the way it was. I made myself sick.. As well as the people around me. They knew me to be better than that.
Excuses will derail you from where you need to go in life. They will hold you back, causing you to miss many opportunities. They will cause others to lack trust in your abilities to get things done, or even be a person they can rely on in general. EXCUSES WILL DESTROY YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU CARE ABOUT.
Think about it like this… excuses are a scapegoat, they place the blame somewhere else instead of you looking WITHIN yourself to find where you have faults and how to correct them. No one else should have to deal with your shortcomings. When you bring out excuses, you put the weight of your burden on those around you, making life for them a lot harder… and life you for harder as well. It may seem easier at first because it seems like you skipped away free of any troubles but really you are just building an excuse habit for yourself. A very nasty habit to have.
Excuses give you a way out, you need to figure out a way in.. through owning up to your flaws and mishaps and learning from them.
How To Be More Accountable + Give Less Excuses
Being more accountable and reducing excuses requires a mindset shift and consistent effort. Changing your mindset and lifestyle can be hard but it can be done with consistent effort. You will notice your emotional response to things change when you take accountability and stop looking for excuses.
1. Own Your Actions
Recognize that your choices, not external factors, shape your outcomes.
When something goes wrong, instead of blaming others, ask, “What could I have done differently?”
2. Identify Your Excuses
Pay attention to common excuses you make (e.g., “I don’t have time,” “It’s too hard”).
Challenge these excuses by asking, “Is this really true, or am I avoiding responsibility?”
3. Set Clear Goals & Deadlines
Define what you want to achieve and set specific deadlines.
Break tasks into smaller steps so they feel more manageable.
4. Develop a Solution-Oriented Mindset
Instead of dwelling on problems, focus on how to fix them.
Replace “I can’t” with “How can I?”
5. Track Your Progress
Keep a journal or use an accountability app to monitor your commitments.
Regularly review what’s working and what needs improvement.
6. Surround Yourself with Accountable People
Spend time with those who push you to be better.
Consider an accountability partner or mentor to keep you on track.
7. Embrace Discomfort & Discipline
Accountability often means doing things you don’t feel like doing.
Strengthen your discipline by sticking to commitments even when it’s hard.
8. Learn from Mistakes Without Excusing Them
Accept failure as part of growth.
Instead of justifying mistakes, ask, “What lesson can I take from this?”
9. Speak with Honesty & Integrity
If you commit to something, follow through.
If you fail, admit it without justifications and work on improving.
10. Take Action Immediately
The longer you wait, the more excuses creep in.
Build momentum by taking small steps, even if you don’t feel ready.
There is no easy path to owning up to your mistakes and making yourself better. BUT owning up to your flaws and refusing to make excuses for your actions (or lack of action) will take you a lot further in life than not holding yourself accountable and skating by on excuses. You will only get so far with the latter.
