Are Your ‘Reasons’ Really Just Excuses?
we are experts at rationalizing any time we fall short of a goal, fail to follow through on a commitment, or miss the mark. We can come up with what sound like legitimate reasons for why we didn’t succeed. Over time, we get so good at this that it becomes second nature — a way to absolve ourselves from responsibility whenever it’s convenient. But while these rationalizations might make us feel better in the moment, they are really just excuses disguised as logic. The truth? We messed up.
The Danger of Excuses Disguised as Reasons
This habit of offering explanations that are really just excuses is something Bernard Roth, a professor at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, explores in his book The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life. It’s no surprise that a book about achievement would call out the need to stop making excuses for our behavior. Roth argues that reasons often serve as a crutch, allowing us to continue behaving in ways that don’t serve us.
Why Do We Make Excuses?
1. Shifting Blame to External Factors
It’s easier to point to external factors — the economy, the weather, the competition, or a packed schedule — than to admit we didn’t manage our time well or didn’t put in the necessary effort.
One excuse I know I’ve leaned on is “I’m too busy.” But let’s be real: “I’m too busy” usually means “I didn’t prioritize this” or “I wasn’t organized enough.” It’s not about the clock — it’s about how we use the time we have.
2. Protecting Ourselves from Our Weaknesses
Excuses protect us from confronting our weaknesses. Admitting that we fell short because we lacked discipline, focus, or preparation is uncomfortable. It’s easier to blame something outside of us than to sit with the reality that we need to work on a particular skill or mindset. But avoiding our weaknesses doesn’t erase them — it just keeps us stuck.
3. Preserving Our Image
We want to be seen as competent, reliable, and strong. Admitting failure can feel like a hit to our pride, so we mask it with reasons that shift the blame elsewhere. The problem is, when this becomes a pattern, people start to see us not as someone who always has “valid reasons” but as someone who never takes ownership.
Be Unreasonable with Yourself
The solution? Be unreasonable — not in the sense of being stubborn or difficult, but in refusing to lean on flimsy excuses. Being unreasonable means taking full ownership of our actions, our choices, and the results we get — good or bad.
How This Ties Into Health and Fitness
This mindset is just as important when it comes to health, fitness, and nutrition. It’s easy to say, “I didn’t work out this week because I was too busy,” or “I didn’t meal prep because things were hectic.” But those are just excuses. The truth is, if something matters enough, we make time for it.
If building strength, eating better, and prioritizing our health are important, we have to be honest with ourselves about what’s really getting in the way — and it’s usually not the schedule or the circumstances. It’s about taking ownership and finding a way.
So this week, let’s ditch the excuses. If you miss a workout, own it. If your nutrition slips, acknowledge it without hiding behind “reasons.” Progress starts when we stop rationalizing and start being real about what needs to change.
Tim
