We all have the freedom to choose, and making up excuses is a choice too.

Someone Once Said:
“An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded.”

We human beings make excuses all the time.  We talk about what we want to change and make a million and one excuses as to why we cannot get what we want.  If someone says to me, “I want to start exercising,” and then proceeds to tell me 5 reasons why they can’t, one being that they cannot afford a gym,  I know that is just an excuse.  While it may be true that they may not be able to work out like an athlete, some activity is better than nothing. If the person is able bodied, they can walk or hike and that is free.

As a coach, I can recognize when people show up with a bag full of excuses as to why they are a “special case” and incapable of changing.  Heck, I am not excuse free. However, I can recognize when I am lying to myself and justifying my reason with an excuse. I am after all human. While I am not perfect, I am conscious and aware of my excuses.

Being awake is a gift and being aware of your excuses and then letting them go is something that you can learn to do.

The most popular excuse these days is, “I am too busy to do that.” And it is true, we are all busier. However, we do make time for those things we want to do. Transformation requires new routines and most people are resistant to that. It is easier to justify it with an excuse.

There are 5 main reasons that we make excuses:

1. We make excuses because we do not want to face the truth.

2. We make excuses because we do not want to take responsibility.

3. We make excuses because it is easier to complain and stay a victim.

4. We make excuses because we are afraid of the unknown.

5. We make excuses because sometimes having our heads in the sand is easier.

But is it really?

Having our heads in the sand is like living a life with blinders on and not being able to see the wonderful things that come our way. We often spend so much time being afraid or living in the dark that the joys of a life of self love and honest realization seem to hard to get to.  It is so much easier to just make up and excuse of why it can’t be. Can you see how there is not much room to change when one lives in the land of excuses rather than the land of possibility? One way of being is liberating and the other very constricting.  However, you can choose to make the change and stick to it.  You can choose the land of possibility.  That is the first step.

In honor of July 4th and independence day, I want to offer you the opportunity to live a life that is liberating and free rather than bogged down by excuses and fear.

I am offering two 4 week tele-classes this summer that will give you the tools you need to stop using excuses and begin a path of peace where losing weight and achieving self love is possible.  Please check it out, no excuses, sign up! www.summerdietfree.com.  I welcome it.

Five Reasons We Make Excuses

Happy November!

We all have the freedom to choose.

And making up excuses is a choice too.

Someone Once Said:
“An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded.”

And…

“Bad excuses are worse than none.”

We human beings make excuses all the time.

We talk about what we want to change and make a million and one excuses as to why we cannot get what we want.

If someone says to me, “I want to start exercising,” and then proceeds to tell me 5 excuses, one being that they cannot afford a gym,  I know that is just an excuse.

While it is true, that they may not be able to work out like an athlete, some activity is better than nothing. If the person is able bodied, they can walk or hike and that is free.

As a coach, I can recognize when people show up with a bag full of excuses as to why they are a “special case” and incapable of changing.

Heck, I am not excuse free. However, I can recognize when I am lying to myself and justifying my reason with an excuse. I am after all human.

While I am not perfect, I am conscious and aware of my excuses.

Being awake is a gift.

The most popular excuse these days is, “I am too busy to do that.” And it is true, we are all busier. However, we do make time for those things we want to do. Change requires new routines and most people are resistant to that. It is easier to justify it with an excuse.

Can you see how there is not much room to change when one lives in the land of excuses rather than the land of possibility? One way of being is freeing and the other is constricted.

How can you change when you are being held back with excuses after excuses?

• We make excuses because we do not want to face the truth.
• We make excuses because we do not want to take responsibility.
• We make excuses because it is easier to complain and stay a victim.
• We make excuses because we are afraid of the unknown.
• We make excuses because sometimes having our heads in the sand is easier.

But is it?

Have you been struggling with weight loss and body image issues? Have you been wanting to reach out to me for a complimentary call about my program?

Perhaps you have a great excuse as to why you have not done it yet.

If so, what is it?

The best excuse story gets an hour of free coaching with me.

I want to hear from you.

Wishing you Self Love!

XOXO,

Laura

P.S. “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” – Plato

I suggest you move this holiday season.  Or call me if you are resistant. Either way, it will do your body and your mind good.

I have a sign that is in full vision to the right of my computer screen.  I bought it years ago in Hawaii.

It reads, “A Beginner’s Mind = Open Mind”

When I begin any of my work with students whether in a group or one on one, I ask them to act as if, they are beginner’s because our hearts and heads tend to be more open to new information without the weight of ” a know it all mentality”.

Even when we are learning practices we may have learned many times before, it is best to start with an open mind and open heart. Having a beginners mind does not discount what you already know, (it takes nothing away), it just adds to a deeper learning without arrogance and impatience.

Resistance

Resistance is the opposite of flow and flow = freedom.

When we resist, we are blocking self love and self care. Resistance also keeps away our ability to receive.

I know that anytime I show up for something minus gobs of resistance, I will always learn something new about myself. This is true for me no matter what I am doing. Anything from trying a new meal plan, to going to a workshop, to starting a yoga practice. I wish I could say that the resistance voice was gone for good. It is not. The gift is that I now have tools to be with it, honor it, accept it rather than deny it. I can be with the resistance and “do it anyway”!

• What about you? What does beginners mind mean to you?

• How do you think it would serve you to let go of resistance to learning something you may already know with an open mind?

• How do you think that would serve you more around your body?

Please take a few minutes to answer these questions on paper and notice what shows up.

I can tell you that resisting my work or any other work that will free you from negative body image is most likely not serving your being happy, joyous and free. And whenever we are in resistance to something chances are we need to go into that resistance, accept it  and find out what is really there. Perhaps it is something we do not want to feel. And what we do not feel, we cannot heal.

An Invitation

I invite you to step into your feelings a moment at a time. When I feel resistance to something coming on, I visualize myself taking one Pinky step. One small step, like the kitten is taking on the piano. And from that place, miracles show up all over the place. And I welcome miracles every day.

Aren’t you ready to be committed to your health and well being too?

]]> http://onepinky.com/abeginnersmindopenmind/feed/ 0 http://onepinky.com/myfavoriteprayer/ http://onepinky.com/myfavoriteprayer/#comments Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:31:59 +0000 Laura Fenamore http://onepinky.com/?p=1690 Continue reading →]]> My favorite prayer, felt called to share this today.

“May today be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be… May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you… May you be content knowing you are a child of God… Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of you.”

I am away like you Leah, funny we are both away at the same time. :):)

I hope you and Leigh are having a great time. You deserve it.

I miss the Pinky’s, and I am looking forward to our call Monday night…

A simple practice for today….

Take a moment to stop, as you are right now,  to breathe deeply, to stand and hold your arms out from your body and to squat down and feel the ground under your feet. You ARE RIGHT NOW. You are not in your worries or your plans or the endless stream of thoughts in your head. You are in this moment. If you find yourself distracted by the chaos of others or your own endless, beautiful mind, you can do this simple exercise of stop, breathe, center and GROUND yourself to the moment you are in. Center your thoughts on the Earth. Ultimately, we ARE the ground. We are part of everything around us.

Be the grounded space you are.

Sending you Love and Peace, XO

Laura

Great call tonight!

How do you know you have forgiven someone?

Great question and I want to reiterate what I shared about on the great call tonight.

I define forgiveness as freedom.

Forgiving my past, saved my life. That I know for sure.

Forgiveness is often collapsed with forgetting and one thing has nothing to do with the other.

Forgive does not mean forget, it means FORGIVE…

People ask me this all the time…how do I know if you have really  forgiven yourself or another person, place or thing?

A simple answer is  when you think about them or the incident, or yourself,  revenge,  shame, pain, blame and guilt do not show up.  Neutrality, balance and inner peace equals freedom and that is forgiveness.

Ask yourself, how has forgiveness served you and how is holding pain or resentment towards another holding you back in your life?

And I invite you to ask that question to yourself about your self forgiveness…

Why can you do it for others and not for yourself?

Good place of inquiry.

Ask the universe for support, ask your pinky power partner for support and know you are being held and loved.

Good work, learning, loving and letting go!

XO, Laura