 crazy interactive therapy
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| crazy interactive therapy
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| menu excuses, excuses
simply press the start and stop buttons to generate your excuse
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| Making
Excuses Most of us are guilty of having done something we shouldn't have or of not doing something we should have. When we are questioned about our misconduct, do we accept responsibility and admit we are at fault? Usually not. Instead we make excuses. Making excuses for mistakes is not new. In fact, we can trace this undesirable habit all the way back to the Garden of Eden. For when God asked Adam if he had eaten of the tree he was commanded not to, Adam created the world's first excuse, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." (Genesis 3:12) And when God asked Eve what she had done, she gave the world's second excuse, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." (Genesis 3:13) Excuses negate responsibility, and it is responsibility that separates man from the rest of the animal kingdom. Unlike other animals, we are responsible not for what we have, but for what we could have; not for what we are, but for what we could become. If we are to take credit for our successes, we must assume responsibility for our failures. |
Trying to hide
our failures with excuses is like concealing a small hole
in our garment with a large patch; it only makes the
matter worse. Excuses are harmful because they prevent
one from succeeding. When we make excuses and repeat them
often enough, they become a belief. The belief then
becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, a sales
rep discouraged by his poor sales starts to blame the
price of his product. "No one wants to buy it
because it's too expensive." he says. After
repeatedly making this excuse, he begins to believe it is
true. The result? Dismal sales. Compare this with a
responsible sales rep. After hearing many prospects
complain about the high price, he accepts responsibility.
"It is my fault they are complaining," the rep
says, "for I haven't justified the cost of my
product by adequately pointing out its value." Once
we accept responsibility, we can evaluate our actions and
take corrective measures to find solutions to our
problems. Excuses, on the other hand, are like stop
signs; they halt our progress. By refusing to make excuses and embracing responsibility, we reap many rewards. The |
successes
brought by this attitude act as a foundation for
self-respect, pride, and confidence. Responsibility
breeds competence and power. By living up to our promises
and obligations, we win the trust of others. Once we are
seen as trustworthy, people will willingly work with us,
for our mutual gain. So, you see, making excuses can put
the brakes on our progress, while accepting
responsibility can lead us to the top. blah, blah, blah, anyway, back to the excuse machine... |
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