Mindset Shift: Let Your Excuses Become Your Reasons
I go through phases with listening to personal development content.
On one hand, I love learning and growing and maximizing my potential as a human being.
On the other hand, I’ve spoken about how personal development can become an addictive trap — how we can always be in searching learning more, which leads to procrastination and a lack of implementing what we’re learning. This, in turn, actually prevents us from obtaining the true, lasting change we’re actually seeking.
Interestingly enough, whenever I’m pregnant, I feel like I grow LEAPS AND BOUNDS as an individual.
During my first pregnancy was the first time I went to therapy on my own (not just as a couple).
I was growing at such a rapid pace and was forced to confront a lot of deeply emotional issues that were presenting themselves in my life. I also felt like there was absolutely nothing more motivating to me than wanting to grow and expand for the sake of another human being — I think my brain went into “hey, you’re about to give birth to a human being so you should probably sort some shit out before he gets here” mode. On that note: of course we’re never “perfect” or “healed” and that’s not the point. The point (in my opinion) IS to keep learning, growing and evolving into who we are meant to become, and getting back to who we were at our core before years/decades of conditioning and self-limiting beliefs were imprinted on us.
SO… long story long lol, I’ve realized that during this pregnancy, I’ve gotten back into personal development again. I’m soaking up loads of knowledge on mindfulness, mindset work and all around learning how to become a better parent/human.
Some resources I’ve been loving lately:
Tessa Romero and her “positive motherhood” mindset
Joe Dispenza mediations (which ones I do vary — I just search them on YouTube)
Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins (currently listening on Audible. this book is blowing. my. mind)
Plus I’m always learning about nutrition — in general, but right now the topics of pregnancy/infant and toddler nutrition are of particular interest to me, as that’s the season of life I’m currently in.
I got the strong urge to take a social media break (is this shocking to anyone at all? haha) towards the end of my pregnancy in preparation for birth. Instead of spending those hours or social, I’m using that time to learn, grow and expand and it honestly feels so right.
I really admire the work of Elizabeth Benton. I’ve listened to her podcast, Primal Potential, on and off for a few years, and I really enjoy her no-BS, no-nonsesnse approach to nutrition and mindset. I always find myself gravitating back to her messaging when I need some tough-love, kick-in-the-pants type of energy.
In one of her episodes a few months ago, I heard her say something that I know will stick with me forever:
Let your excuses become your reasons.
Meaning: if you allow them to, all the excuses as to why you can’t do [insert thing here], can actually become your reasons for wanting to do said thing in the first place.
Since hearing this, it has profoundly affected how I show up in my life. Let me give you some personal examples:
Excuse: I’m too tired to work out.
Reason: I’m tired, so I should work out to create some energy. *ESPECIALLY TRUE WHILE PREGNANT
Excuse: I don’t feel like going downstairs to switch the laundry. It takes too much effort.
Reason: I like looking in my drawer and having tons of clean options to choose from. (It also really bothers me when I’ve left clothes in the dryer too long and they’re all wrinkly lol)
Excuse: I don’t have enough energy to do [activity] with Leo. We can do it tomorrow.
Reason: Leo doesn’t understand that I don’t have energy — it matters how I show up for him NOW, despite how I “feel.”
Excuse: I don’t have time to make a healthy lunch for myself. I’ll just grab a protein bar and call it a day.
Reason: I feel so much more full and have more energy when I take 5 minutes to put together a simple, healthy lunch for myself (e.g. leftover rotisserie chicken + nuts + chopped carrots/cucumbers and hummus + sliced apple with almond butter). I am worth spending five minutes on.
You get the point.
Today, I’d love for you to examine where your excuses are preventing you from showing up as who you want to be in your life.
How can your excuses become your REASONS for doing what you’ve been avoiding? How would things change for you if you adopted that mindset?
Let me know in the comments below — I’d love to hear from you!
KEEP LEARNING
Blog photo by Ellie Neely