Excuses, excuses, excuses....

It's rainy here today, and I don't feel like doing anything. Ever notice that about rainy days?

But wait a minute, if it were bright and sunny, I'd want to be outside not doing anything productive, too! Heck- on any day!

My thoughts go something like this... rainy day: "oh, I think I'll have a cup of tea and read a book." Sunny day: "I'm going out on the beach for awhile." Cloudy day: "I wish it'd decide what to do, I think I'll watch a movie." Snowy days: "oh, no one is going to work today, whey should I do any?" Tornadoes: "I'd better get into the shelter and take a nap." And so it goes.

The fact is, I can find any excuse not to do what I need to do (personally or professionally.) How about you?

*Is something bothering you, and you need to talk to your partner about it, but "after I finish the laundry," or "when he/she's in a better mood."
*Has your spouse asked you to do something, and you intend to "after the game?"
*Maybe you want to start exercising, but "not today because I'm too busy."
*Or you want to get your eating on a healthier track "but the kids need their chips and cookies in the house" which you then eat, too.
*You want to start meditating, but "I can't find the time."
*You'd like more business through marketing, but "I have to create a brochure first."
The list is endless.

Each reason not-to-do sounds plausible, but there is always an excuse. The result is nothing gets done. Your life doesn't improve or change, and you wonder why or feel bad about your lack of "motivation."

Remember, motivation follows action. So, take the action.

How? Here are some ways people put these things into their lives:

Meditation: I had a friend who would get to work 5 minutes early and sit in her car meditating.
Marketing: One professional I knew "pre-sold" her e-book despite not having it finished. By setting a delivery date for her sales, she forced herself to finish.
Talking: Set a time limit on how long you'll let an issue sit (no more than 2 hours, let's say) and get yourself to keep the limit by speaking to your partner before the time is up.
Requests: If your spouse requests something, set expectation by asking when they want it done by, and agreeing to it. Then you have a time limit for yourself.
Eating: Instead of trying to do it all, start with one step a week. Add a vegetable serving a day, then in the second week another small step. They add up and are easier to keep to.
Exercise: I exercise first thing when I get up. If I don't, I can find all the excuses. I also give myself a "treat" for exercising; I watch a favorite show or movie (often while I'm exercising.)

Much of these things are about pushing through the excuses. Not waiting to be motivated, but moving forward in action with faith. Usually as you see things improve you then find motivation.

Today's courageous work is to listen closely to yourself and challenge the excuses. As Shel Silverstien wrote, "Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts...." Then turn them around and make them "dos, shoulds, possibles, and wills." Make small changes and take different actions to move forward in your relationship and your life.

Remember, rainbows follow rain, flowers need it, and sometimes it is a good time to have that tea and read a book- just not all the time! Besides, the sky is clearing; I think I'll go out on the boardwalk now that I've written my post!