Many people make excuses for failure, excuses about your choices in life, excuses about what you feel you have accomplished. Excuses fuel dysfunctional thinking – and consequently, undesirable actions and behaviors. Making excuses instead of taking one hundred percent responsibility for your actions, your thoughts, and your goals is the reason people fail or succeed.

Part of the power of taking responsibility for your actions is that you silence the negative, unhelpful voice in your head. When you spend your thinking time on success, goals and accomplishments, instead of on making excuses, you free up the emotional space formerly inhabited by your negative thoughts and emotions.

The next time you catch yourself making an excuse, whether for the late project, the unmet goal, or the job you work, gently remind yourself – no excuses. Spend your thought time planning your next successful venture. Positive thinking becomes a helpful habit. Excuses fuel failure.