“The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves…” Richard Bach

How did you feel when you read that Bach quote?

What emotions did it evoke?

If you are like me, you felt a little defensive. That knee jerk reaction, I don’t tell lies, especially to myself!

But … is that, too, … a lie? It was for me. The discovery of which served multiple purposes. It scared me, excited me, energized me and made me a little angry. Angry at the realization of so much wasted time. I hate wasting time. These lies keep us stuck in that place where we claim we don’t want to be.

You are probably still feeling a little hesitant. A little …. doubtful. So let me ask you this question, have you used any of these phrases today? This week? Within the past hour?

I am too busy.
I don’t have enough money, time, resources.
I am not smart enough.
I am not thin enough.
My housework has to come first.
I don’t know how.
I can’t ….

Lies. Every one of them. All lies.

These are just some of the lies that keep us from reaching our goals, keep us from stepping out of our comfort zone. Keep us from trying. Keep us in a web of self-prepetuating circumstances. And we tell them to and for ourselves.

The one that I tell myself the most often is “I am too busy.” Granted, I have a LOT of things I want to do before I sing my last song, but with some focus, discipline, structure and priority I can do a lot of them. Maybe even all of them. At least if I stop adding to the list.

What am I too busy doing? Typically household maintenance – laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cooking, etc.

Sound familiar? These are the things we tell ourselves that we ‘have’ to do. Do they need to be done? Yes. Absolutely. Unless you have an endless supply of money and can buy new everything all the time.

The truth is, these tasks can be batched to save time and allow us to focus on the things that bring us joy and passion. Or you can bring abundance to your life and the life of someone else by hiring someone else to do them for you. Maids, personal chefs, dog sitters, lawn care specialists can be found in all price ranges.

Don’t tell yourself, or allow others to tell you these lies anymore. Just stop.

I could write for hours on this topic, and maybe I will. Each one of these lies and the many others could be a post in itself. Instead, I am going to focus on just one. The one that has come to be my current pet peeve.

It’s hard.

That’s right: “It’s Hard.”

I hear it from people who want to start their own business on the side of their current job and responsibilities – “it’s hard!”
From people who want to quit drinking or smoking – “it’s hard!”
From people who want to change their dietary habits, begin exercising, lose weight – “it’s hard!”
From people who want to stop fighting with their significant other and enjoy a peaceful life – “It’s hard!”

Yet people do it. Everyday. Each of these things. And more.

In all fairness, you might be thinking that these activities are hard because someone else told you they were hard. A friend, a parent, a spouse. Maybe even a coach or mentor.

Why are you choosing to believe them? They are not you. If it was hard for them, allow them to keep that choice for themselves. Choose a different path, your path. Choose a different word: exciting, invigorating, motivating.

Maybe you need a helping hand, new tools, some education to accomplish what you set out to do. Go get them.

I want to share a few things I have learned over the past few months. I consider them tools. After all, words can be tools, too – if used when you need them.

1) It is only hard if you say it is.

2) It is only hard if you allow it to be.

3) It is only hard if you make that your choice.

Yes, I wrote it. I said it. Your choice. You choose.

Every day someone else on this planet gets up and has the same issue you have, the same thoughts, the same doubts, the same hurdles. Some succeed, some do not. Ever wondered why? Some will use the word attitude, but attitude is a choice, isn’t it? What will you choose?

That is what it all comes down to, isn’t it? The choice. We choose to tell ourselves that something is hard rather than going out and making it happen.

That’s all from me for tonight. I am very busy, I have laundry and dishes to do {insert winky face here … }

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