Excuses give us permission to make choices that eventually will sabotage us in our work, at home, in our relationships, and many other areas of our life; which eventually will bring us  to the feelings of overwhelm, panic, anxiety, depression, and unhappiness.

This past month I had to stop and take a closer look at my excuses.  I was faced with some very challenging circumstances and, instead of using my Fearless Living tools, I returned to my negative thoughts.  For example: “why don’t I feel good, why can’t I get anything done, why is life so difficult, why am I feeling unhappy, why am I feeling so stressed and anxious, why am I afraid, why doesn’t anybody understand, and on and on”.

I had stopped my daily walks, I put off writing my newsletter, I ignored work that needed to be done in my business and around the house, I pulled away from relationships that I felt were becoming difficult, and I was skipping meals and eating in the evenings – which isn’t good for weight loss, restful sleep, and overall health.  When I stay in this place of making excuses for very long, the feelings of panic, anxiety, and depression return and I start to feel overwhelmed and unhappy with my life.

It continues to amaze me how our old patterns of behavior and thinking can return so easily.  I know in my conscious mind that when I begin making excuses it’s going to take me to a place I don’t want to go.  I also know the Fearless Living tools and concepts well and that they can take me out of fear and excuses, with ease and little effort, and back to where I want to be – in my freedom.  Freedom from anxiety, panic, depression, and feeling overwhelmed and unhappy.

In our subconscious mind we never get rid of those old patterns of thinking, but we do want to outsmart them.  That’s where the miracle comes in because in our conscious mind we can become aware of those negative thoughts; we can then choose to put our focus on shifting to better feeling thoughts leading us to better, more productive behaviors that feel good to us.

Once I became aware of my excuses, I began practicing my Fearless Living tools once again.  Within a few days I began to let go of my excuses and my negative thoughts were replaced with gratitude.  I started recognizing the blessings in my life and acknowledged what I was doing well.  I then shifted my focus to what I wanted to do and made choices that felt good to me.  I didn’t beat myself up, instead I was gentle with myself in acknowledging the negative place I had gotten too, yet relieved in knowing that I could make a different choice and put action behind it.

The longer we stay in fear and our excuses, the harder it is to get out of them. It’s like a mountain – It’s easy to climb down, but the farther you go down the harder it is to get back up.  We have to consciously choose to shift our thinking and actions even if it feels painful and difficult at first.  The results you receive are joy, peace of mind, calm, and you begin making choices that will take you where you want to go with ease and little effort.  You will become the person you truly want to be creating the life you want.  A life of happiness, health, peace of mind, and success.

Let go of your excuses this week and instead begin each day with gratitude and  acknowledge the things in your life that you are doing well, the things you like to do, and the people that you love and who love you.  Then begin taking small steps and set goals that feel doable.  Embrace the freedom and power that is already within you, and make new and rewarding choices no matter what your circumstances are.

Sending you love and gratitude, Joyce

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