I’m not capable of doing these things. I’m too busy. I’m too tired. I don’t have enough experience. I don’t have the money. I could never do a job that amazing.

Any of those sound familiar to you? Admit it. You have said one of those things, haven’t you? Or you’ve believed it when it came from someone else? I have and the first step to progress is accepting the truth. It’s time to stop beating around the bush. We keep accepting these excuses and we think it’s okay. But it is not okay, because we are hindering our own progress.

Excuses stop success from happening. If you keep making excuses and telling yourself all the reasons why you can’t do something… you will never come close to doing it because you will start to believe it. Excuses, whether they come from you or others, are actually more harmful then you realize. Speak positivity into existence. Instead of whining about why you can’t do something, realize why you can! If you just tell yourself why you are capable of accomplishing some of those goals, you’ll start to believe it and act in that way. And all those excuses won’t matter.

This post is not just for the excuses you make for yourself, it’s also for the excuses others make for you! Find your own ways to reach your goals. Make opportunities for yourself to be successful. There is no one way to do something and just because another person did not get successful doing what you’re doing doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing will happen to you. “Take the path less traveled.” Have you ever heard that quote?

Listen, if you can picture getting to your dream YOUR way, do it. Don’t listen to people saying “You can’t become wealthy doing that. You can’t buy a house that young. You can’t own your own business. You can’t run a company. You don’t have enough experience.” Start your own business or buy that new house regardless of what people say. Don’t live by their fear. WAKE UP CALL: it’s your life!! Whatever it is you want, you are never going to have if you don’t stop listening to all the excuses and find your own ways to get closer.

There was once a time I didn’t have any experience as a poet, author, or writer. And because of that a lot of people did not want to take a chance on me just because I was new. For a while, I used that as an excuse. But guess what? I still signed up for contests, submitted my work to magazines and journals, and I started this blog. People, I literally sent hundreds of emails to all kinds of platforms finding opportunities to get me where I wanted to be. Before I knew it, I was working as a professional writer and became a published poet and author!

What I am trying to say is that people are going to say no. People are going to turn you down or think you are crazy for chasing the dream that you are chasing. But YOU should not be one of the people stopping your success. So stop making excuses and stop listening to other people’s excuses. And at first glance, it might seem like there is no path or opportunity for you to get closer to your goals. But there is no direct path to success and there IS opportunity in the places you don’t think. People find success in their own ways.

Keep asking and keep searching until you get your opportunity. And when you get that opportunity, show off! Put on your best clothes, practice for that moment, and dominate that opportunity with confidence. Show off all your hard work, passion, and talent. All it takes is one moment to become everything you always dreamed of and more! But first, stop making excuses — make it happen. Period.