Excuses, Excuses

I am proud to say that this blog post marks the 1 year anniversary of Random Thoughts!!!!

How many times have you had things that needed to be done but tried to find every reason not to? Then, we try to justify our procrastination with little EXCUSES that we know are menial. This is typically the case for me when it is time to hit the gym. I think of every reason why I should put it off until tomorrow. "I'm tired from work. It looks like it's going to rain. I need to organize some paperwork. I have things I need to write." But, the truth is, I know that working out will not interfere with the majority of these things, and I probably won't end up doing the other ones anyway. We are definitely not the first people to make up excuses for not wanting to do something. Even Moses tried to use the old "My dog ate my homework" trick when God commanded him to return to Egypt and declare that the Pharaoh release the Hebrews from bondage. "Moses said to the Lord 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.' The Lord to said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?'" (Exodus 4:10-11) What we fail to realize is the fact that these are the times that we need to get up and do it anyway! These are the situations that test our will power and determination. It is in these instances that we build mental strength and recognize our true capabilities. My college coach always preached to us about discipline and mental toughness. He said that mental toughness would keep us focused even when we are tired. Being tired doesn't always refer to a physical state; it more often refers to our mental state of being. We can't allow our minds to control us, but instead, control our minds. Our flesh acts like a spoiled brat-- it whines whenever it doesn't get its way. That's why our stomach starts to growl and head starts to hurt whenever we fast. Our body is throwing a temper tantrum and it is the responsibility of our mind to overpower it. I can remember many hot summer days in college during conditioning drills when my body told me to quit. It was over 100 degrees, I was tired, and my lunch felt like it was about to come back up. I had remember that I was working towards something that was more significant than the pain I was feeling at the time. The same was true for Moses. He tried to use his speech as an excuse to stop him from delivering an entire nation! The only way for us to be better than average is to stop making excuses and JUST DO IT!

Have you ever let an excuse stop you from accomplishing something that you later wish you had done?