“Dreams Fly on the Wings of Birds, But Never on Their Effort!”
Are dreams the same as goals? Ah, aren’t goals just dreams in action? When Usain Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals, was it just a goal that pushed him forward, or was it his dream as well?
Everyone has dreams that require relentless hard work and unwavering perseverance to turn into reality. But the real issue starts right there. The moment hard work comes up, countless excuses arise. The desire to take a break from work takes over. We want to give up, telling ourselves, “I’m not feeling it anymore.”
So what are the excuses that we often use to justify giving up?
First Excuse – “It’s Impossible for Me”
“What’s impossible only remains so until we stop fearing it.”
People who give up on their dreams continuously tell themselves that the task is too difficult. They convince themselves that they cannot achieve it. But as Dr. Robert Anthony once said,
“You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you can’t have it.”
So, is it impossible, or is it just that we perceive it that way? Let’s not let this false belief hold us back.
Second Excuse – “Do I Know Anything About This?”
Do you remember when we started school? Did we know how to read Bengali or English alphabets? No! But we still went to school and began to learn, right? Now, why is it that when we grow up, we’re afraid to start something new? We say we don’t know enough. But think about this: “The expert in anything was once a beginner.”
Those who are good at something started as novices. If they can start, why can’t we?
Third Excuse – “I Don’t Have Time”
“I need to teach tuition, help my parents with household chores, and study for school and work. Where is the time?”
But hold on! How much time has passed watching TV? And how much time have we spent on Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and other social media? So, we don’t have time for self-improvement?
It’s not that time is lacking. It’s about how we manage it. How about learning something useful while watching YouTube or practicing English while chatting online? Time is something we all have. It’s how we use it that defines our success.
Fourth Excuse – “I’m Not Talented Enough”
“Is my brain smaller than theirs?”
No, that’s not true! Talent without hard work will always be outdone by hard work. As basketball coach Tim Notke said,
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Those who work tirelessly achieve greatness, regardless of their initial talent.
Fifth Excuse – “I’ve Already Tried”
Remember when we were kids trying to walk? We kept trying and trying, even when we fell. We didn’t give up. That’s the mindset that leads to success.
The effort doesn’t stop after the first failure. Every time we try, we’re a step closer to success. So, even if we fail a thousand times, we should never give up. As we never gave up learning to walk, we should keep pushing toward success.
Sixth Excuse – “I’m Too Old for This”
“My age is advancing, can I succeed at this age? Should I even start at my age?”
Age should never be an obstacle. Just look at Colonel Harland Sanders, who started his famous fried chicken recipe at 65. Or Laura Ingalls Wilder, who published her first book at 65. Age doesn’t define success; determination and persistence do.
So, let age be just a number. If you can overcome the excuses, you can succeed, no matter your age.
