You Can Create Solutions or You Can Create Excuses
Ever catch yourself saying, “I just don’t have the time” or “I’m lazy,” “I’m unmotivated”?
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Life throws curveballs, obligations pile up, and the last thing you want to do is tackle the hard stuff. But here’s the thing: Every time you choose an excuse, you’re closing the door on a solution—and with it, an opportunity to grow.
..and I get why you’re doing it.
It’s easier to say, “I’m lazy,” or “I don’t have time.”
Creating solutions takes a little more energy and effort.
There’s a book called, “The One Minute Manager," and in the book, the author’s main message was: “Come to me with answers and solutions, not problems.” The goal of the book was to teach people to really think things out, take ownership and be self-sufficient.
Maybe, the thing you’re working on, isn’t that important to you - either consciously or subconsciously. You might know you, “should workout,” or you “should eat more vegetables.” You might even have set a goal in your mind, and something like “losing weight” is really important to you.
…So WHY is it that you can’t seem to stick to your action plan?
WHY do you keep making excuses?
Maybe you don’t really KNOW “why” you’re doing something. You don’t have a goal.
Maybe it’s fear of failing, or fear of change, discomfort.
Excuses act as a shield, protecting us from the vulnerability that comes with trying.
But that shield is actually a cage. It keeps us stuck in the same patterns, the same habits, the same mindset, the same situation.
It’s keeping you playing small.
It keeps you stuck where you are, which, is probably super uncomfortable.
Creating solutions, on the other hand, is an act of self-empowerment.
It says, “I’m not going to let my circumstances define me. I’m going to find a way to make this work.” And it takes shifting your mindset, just a little, to look for possibilities instead of roadblocks.
How to Create Solutions Instead of Excuses
1. Call Out Your Excuses
First, you’ve got to name it to tame it. Write down the excuses you catch yourself using. “I don’t have time,” “I’m not ready,” or “I don’t know how.” Once they’re on paper, they’re a lot easier to challenge. Ask yourself, “Is this really true? Or is it a story I’m telling myself to avoid taking action?”
2. Ask Better Questions
Instead of focusing on why something is hard or impossible, start asking, “How can I make this easier?” or “What’s one small step I can take right now?” Solutions don’t have to be grandiose. Sometimes they’re as simple as prepping your gym clothes the night before or committing to five minutes of movement instead of skipping a workout altogether.
Sometimes, when my clients get really stuck, I ask them, “2 Crazy Questions.”
1) What is GOOD about NOT changing?
(In other words, what are the benefits of things being the way they are now?)
2) What would be BAD about changing?
(In other words, if you did change, what would you lose or have to give up?)
The first question challenges you to identify the comforts, conveniences, and pleasures that come with your existing lifestyle. The second question makes you confront the challenges that might come up. It makes you consider the fears, uncertainties, and sacrifices that you might have to take.
Examples:
Q1. I like sleeping in and hitting the snooze button.
Q1. I like eating cereal for breakfast.
Q1. I like not having to wash my hair every day.
Q2. I’d have to go to sleep a little earlier so I wouldn’t be able to watch TV at night.
Q2. I’d have to make some more time in the morning to make breakfast.
Q3. I’d have to wash my hair more than I want to.
Bonus: Ask yourself… "Is this really true? What am I willing to give up?"
Q3. No, I could watch 1 episode, I don’t need to watch 3.
Q3. No, I can get premade egg bites and pop them in the toaster while I get ready.
Q3. No, I can use dry hair shampoo or put it up a few days a week instead.
3. Shift from Perfection to Progress
One of the biggest barriers to finding solutions is the belief that you have to do it perfectly. Newsflash: you don’t. Progress beats perfection every time. If you’re waiting for the “right” time or the “perfect” plan, you’ll be waiting forever. Start messy. Start small. Just start.
4. Focus on Your Why
Excuses are surface-level. Solutions come from a deeper place. When you connect to your “why”—whether it’s wanting to feel strong, be a role model, or live without pain—you’ll find it easier to create solutions that align with your goals. Write down your why and keep it somewhere visible.
5. Celebrate Every Win—Big or Small
Creating solutions takes effort, and it’s important to acknowledge that effort. Did you swap out a negative thought for a positive one? Win. Did you take a walk instead of scrolling on your phone? Win. Each solution you create builds momentum, and momentum is the antidote to excuses.
Excuses will always be there, whispering in your ear and offering a way out.
Because your brain isn't focused on making you happy, it's focused on keeping you safe, and change requires you to be in the unknown for a little. Unknown (to the brain) = not safe.
Solutions are your power move.
They’re how you take control of your life and show up for yourself in ways you didn’t think were possible. So, the next time you catch yourself reaching for an excuse, pause and ask: “What solution can I create instead?” Get curious.
The choice is always yours.
