Do you feel stuck in the same cycle of wanting to change aspects of your life but never actually doing anything about it? Often, our thoughts end up holding us back from what we want to achieve.
We turned to personal success coach Esther Shpitalnik for advice on the subject. If you are ready to harness the power of controlling your mindset, keep reading. In this blog, we are going over three excuses that get in the way of our success and how to overcome them!
Meet Esther
Esther is an attorney who decided to take the leap and begin her own personal success coaching business. The pandemic was a major wake-up call for a lot of people but they weren’t sure what actions to take in order to actually change their lives. Esther began her coaching business during this time after feeling the exact same way. After transforming her own life, she is working with others to do the same! You can book a 1:1 coaching session here through her business, Esteem Coaching.
To get to know Esther more, let’s dive into the valuable advice she has to share today.
Excuse 1 – “I don’t have enough time.”
Our brain often comes up with excuses because we are ultimately afraid of trying and then failing. How often do you find yourself just about to begin a task but distract yourself with another thought instead? You might sit down to finally apply for that job or work on your business and spend the time scrolling on Instagram instead. Social media can consume a major amount of time. If your time waster isn’t social media, it might be other small tasks or distractions. It’s time to harness those thoughts that steal your time so you can accomplish your highest potential.
How to overcome it
To overcome the feeling of not having enough time, you first need to recognize how you utilize your time. We find the time for the things that really matter. If your goals really matter to you, it is essential to change your patterns. Often, we are wasting valuable time because of the fear that exists in most of us. For example, it can feel easier to do a load of laundry instead of working on the website for your small business. Think of why you are afraid. You will begin to catch your own thoughts as they try to hold you back.
Now that you have gained awareness of your thoughts, you can restructure your daily routine. Before you begin doing this, remind yourself that there will always be busier days and portions of life than others. This is simply a habit to help you make the most of your time on a consistent basis. Be kind to yourself!
Start by making a list of everything you need to do daily. Then, open your calendar and start scheduling those tasks that actually need to be done. The first time you do this, you will fail. You will find that tasks take more or less time than you thought. You might let your distracting thoughts take charge. Try again. You will start to grasp how much time tasks really take and you will be able to quickly reroute those unhelpful thoughts. Your goals and dreams are going to take discipline! Treat yourself with the same respect you would show to the CEO of your company. You wouldn’t miss a deadline or meeting with your boss or team. Prioritize yourself like you are the CEO of your own company.
Excuse 2 – “I don’t have enough money.”
This is a super common excuse. There are a lot of situations where a lack of money can be used as an excuse. Think about how many times you didn’t take that vacation, start the business of your dreams, or invest in your education. Money is a tough subject and it doesn’t have to hold you back.
How to overcome it
Instead of saying, “I don’t have enough money”, try saying, “I choose to spend my money on something else.” Even if you budget well, changing your phrasing helps you change your mindset. Money becomes something you have control over. We all make decisions on what we spend our money on.
Write down a list of what your priorities are. Is it coffee at that local coffee shop? Maybe it is skiing on the weekends. These priorities are by no means wrong! You simply need to see how you choose to spend your money. Is there something you have been using money as an excuse for that can become one of the priorities you invest in?
Excuse 3 – “I don’t have experience.”
Many women will tell themselves that they don’t have experience so they shouldn’t go after that new job. Perhaps you are applying for jobs you want but never make it to the hiring process. It’s time to access how you view the experience you do have! Esther is conducting research as to why high-performing women like you are missing out on opportunities they have interviewed for. Go fill out her survey about this topic after reading this blog!
How to overcome it
You actually do have the experience. Think of a job post as a simple wish list. Maybe you don’t have exactly what they say they are looking for. However, your unique life experience and skills are transferable. You need to look at what you know and are great at. How could this apply to the opportunity you want? Don’t let a job post trick you into thinking you aren’t qualified. You have items in your skill set that can help you thrive in that job. Just apply!
Once you make it to the interview process, watch the way you answer questions and talk about yourself. You need to be confident in your abilities and know how to mold your experience to different jobs.
We hope this post inspires you to overcome your excuses and start living the life you want! For even more information about this subject with Esther, listen to her episode on the Get Carried Away podcast.
If you found this blog helpful, read 5 Ways to Network Anywhere with Emily Merrell next!
