Progress and the issue of Excuse-fluenza.
How many people tell you what they would ‘love’ to do or ‘wish’
they could do and then quickly say but I can’t because…. Pay attention to this
because the truth is we all do it. We have beautiful dreams that we quickly sabotage
because we have a mental sneeze which covers our dream in our doubtful slime.
This common mental ailment is Excuse-fluenza – it is the contagious mental
disease of positive thought and the mental flu of progress. Now, before we go
any further, I want to mention that this approach is not about ignoring reality
and realistic situations. It is more about how we sabotage ourselves before we start.
You may decide to be an astronaut and everyone will think you are a ‘space
cadet’ and tell you why you can’t but you could experience being and astronaut
by experiencing weightlessness in a simulation machine. The point is there are
other ways of doing things and the dream can be landed in reality if you are
open to alternatives. When I was in my early twenties I decided that I wanted
to go around the world. I had no money to fund it and everyone told me that I
had to work and save to do this trip. Well, that was one way, the classic way,
but me being me was not going to be told no. I wrote down a list of all the
places I dreamt of going and collected the pictures. A few years later I was
offered a job as a photographer on an exclusive cruise ship that circumnavigated
the globe. During my time on ships I circumnavigated the world eight times and
went to Antarctica twice. I am glad that I did not listen to the voices of
doubt. If anything I heard them and thought f* you – I WILL FIND A WAY!
While working on the ships I had the privilege to meet some
very successful people. They all had a ‘can do’ attitude and certainly didn’t
make excuses. Instead they looked for challenges and ways to succeed. One of my
favourite moments was in Antarctica when I was stood on the bow of a ship with
two very well know mountaineers who were studying various mountains and passes.
These mountains had never been conquered and they were discussing the best way
to ascend them. I asked them how they dealt with people who ‘told them they
couldn’t’. They said they viewed them sympathetically because they realised
they were telling them why ‘they’ couldn’t and that ultimately such attitudes
led people to lead mediocre lives with no adventure. That was an insight for me
because there are always doubters, there are always those who are jealous and
in truth that is them – not you. Transform their doubt into fuel and use it to
drive you to succeed!!! Hurrah!!!!
So the issue of success and the mental sneeze… Can we all be
successful? I believe the answer is yes. According to all the negative messaging
we receive – the answer is no. Well actually if we consider how we all define
success then we can shift that perception. Success does not mean we all have to
be celebrities or millionaires. Instead success is as wonderful as being a
loving mother and nurturing a family. To another it might simply be becoming
good at dancing. There are different levels of success and quite often the
ideals we are fed destroy the success we are experiencing on a daily basis. I
think one of the most under-valued successes is being a good friend. Instead we
all chase financial ideals, being a celebrity or object ideals to demonstrate
our success. Success can be in the person and who the person is. What is the
point of achieving being a millionaire and being a selfish git? Financial
success with a personality of an arse? Oh well done!!! Clap, clap! Although
that individual may well be a huge success at being an arse!
So before going any further, if you wish to work on your
success, write a vision of what success is for you? Is it paying off your
mortgage? Becoming a world champion water-skier? Going for a jaunt around the
world? Or becoming the best friend, mother, confident… When you know what it is
that you want to achieve – write down all you mentally snotty reasons why you
can’t. Apply the Excuse-fluenza and get it out of your system! Now it is time
to realise that is your inner doubter. Next to each negative write two reasons
why you can. That is your inner motivator. Now consider the classic ways to
achieve it and now consider the alternatives… There are always ways and means,
sometimes you simply have to be open to alternatives…
In the meantime, look at your excuses and ask yourself why
you are stopping yourself.
I can’t do it because…
I can’t do it because I am too old, too fat, too tired, there
is not enough time, I don’t have the money.
Now look at the people who are doing what you desire. I
heard someone say they couldn’t start yoga because they were too old. I then
mentioned that I had a 90 year old yoga teacher who started yoga in their
sixties. The response was – but that is not the same. Actually it is! There are
people doing the things you want to achieve who had the same issues. In terms
of time – know this: we all have exactly the same hours in the day. Can you
swap watching television to focusing on generating success?
As I said, this disease of Excuse-fluenza is an accepted
state. We all buy into each other’s mental sneezes and infect each other. The
only way you can cure it is by noticing the self-sabotaging thoughts and
shifting your mental habits. Use that sneeze a momentum to achieve your
success. Good luck!
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