“WHEN I GET AROUND TO IT”
If you use different excuses on different days, you’ll likely be able to get away with quite a lot—until it catches up with you. My favorite excuse is, “I’ll do it when I can get around to it.” How do you like that for a vague promise that lacks any concrete time limit or expiration date? Rationalizations and statements such as these will certainly put people off. As a reminder, I carry my “round TUIT” wooden token in my pocket. Now that I have a round TUIT, I can get around to it!
EXCUSES…EXCUSES
Here’s the menu of common excuses:
- I don’t have time to do it
- I’m too old/young to do it
- I’m not in the mood to do it
- I don’t know how to do it
- I’ll do it later
- They’ll get mad at me if I do it
- I’m too unhappy/nervous to do it
- I’m too shy to do it
- I’m not a good enough communicator to do it
- I’m a procrastinator
- I don’t want to try it and fail
- It’s not my job to do it
- I’m too tired to do it
- I can’t afford to do it
- I don’t have the experience/credentials/degrees to do it
- The economy is too bad/risky
- What will other people think?
- My family/kids/husband/wife won’t approve
- I’ll do it when I get around to it
WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF YOUR LIFE
Making changes in your life is not about achieving instant perfection, but taking steps toward a more positive end. By constantly trying to rationalize why you can’t do something (or will…when you get around TUIT), you’ll have little chance of improving your life. What your life is ultimately about is self-improvement, which you can accomplish every, single day.
So, when will you get around to it?
There’s no time like the present.
DAYTON, OHIO THERAPIST AND TRAINER
Dr. Dennis O’Grady is a Dayton, Ohio Communications-Based Cognitive Therapist (CBCT) and TALK2ME communications training workshops seminar leader. Dr. O’Grady can be reached at (937) 428-0724.