A few weeks ago, I showed up for my Monday morning class at Orangetheory and saw the usual cast of characters getting themselves ready for what is always a good, but challenging, workout. With a handful of minutes before the class was to start, a few of us engaged in friendly chit chat while we stretched and hydrated and got our mindset in check.
Our crew—being at that age where you can’t do or eat anything and not feel some sort of aftereffects—began talking about the rib that was hurting, the shoulder that had been giving us some problems, and the soreness leftover from a previous workout. “There’s always something,” we all echoed, chuckling.
And yet, on that Monday morning, we all showed up. Because, despite our aches and pains, we remembered the phrase, “Never miss a Monday.” It’s a sentiment you’ll often hear at the start of the week at Orangetheory, and though each of us were feeling a little something, we knew the importance of showing up for ourselves and not folding into the excuses. Not on a Monday. Not any day.
Excuses we may tell ourselves
But this little lesson isn’t just for the gym. It can be applied to so many things in life. Things we use as excuses, which stop us from doing things that bring us so much fulfillment. Excuses like:
“My to-do list is a mile long.”
“My house is a disaster.”
“I’m just too tired.”
“That’s so far away.”
“I have nothing to wear.”
“I won’t fit in.”
“What if I don’t know anyone?”
“I can’t keep up.”
“I’m not smart/thin/pretty enough.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“What if I fail?”
The list goes on….
I won’t lie. I’ve certainly said all of these things in my head at one time or another, and some have even held me back from experiences that I could have shared with others.
Ways to get beyond our excuses
How about you? What excuses do you have rolling around in your head keeping you from showing up? From inviting friends over? From trying something new? From stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging your limits?
There’s always going to be something nudging its way into your life, threatening to throw you off your game, or impeding your confidence. But you have the choice for how you are going to respond.
Now, there will be times when a rest day is what you need. When a nap should be the only thing on your to-do list. When you grab take-out instead of cooking dinner. So if you’re truly in that spot, give yourself some grace and give your body and mind what it needs to recharge.
But then, after you’ve taken some time to recover, kick the excuses to the curb. Remind yourself that the negative comments in your head are just excuses and you are made up of so much more grit and strength and, well, pick your favorite superhero quality. Because, we can keep going despite our excuses. We can live our life in a way that brings us total and complete fulfillment.
Okay, perhaps your house really is a disaster, but your friends couldn’t care less. In fact, they’ll probably be relieved that they’re not the only one.