Stop Mistaking Your Excuses for Common Sense

What Your Excuse Really Are

You know that voice in your head? The one that sounds so reasonable, so logical, so responsible? The one that's always ready with a perfectly valid reason why now isn't the right time, why you're not quite ready, why you should wait just a little longer?

That voice is fear. And fear is a manipulative little bitch who's been living rent-free inside your head.

When your thought process is based on fear, you won't get far or accomplish much. And here's the kicker: no one else has to hold you back if you're doing it to yourself.

Fear Doesn't Announce Itself

Here's what makes fear so dangerous: it rarely shows up wearing a name tag. Fear doesn't knock on your door and say, "Hi, I'm here to destroy your potential." It's far more cunning than that. Fear dresses up in respectable clothing and whispers thoughts that sound like wisdom, like prudence, like sense.

Fear is that person standing behind you, leaning in close, whispering in your ear all day long. And you've been listening so long, you think those whispers are your own thoughts. But they're not.

The Many Faces of Fear

Let me show you how fear disguises itself in your daily life:

The "Timing" Trap: "I'm not ready yet. I need to learn more first. When the timing is right, I'll do it. After I save more money, get more experience, feel more confident... then I'll start."

The "Realism" Mask: "I'm just being practical. I'm being realistic about my situation. That's not how things work in the real world. I need to be smart about this."

The "Responsibility" Shield: "I have obligations. People depend on me. I can't be selfish right now. What about my family, my job, my commitments?"

The "Humility" Costume: "Who am I to do that? I don't want to seem arrogant. There are people better qualified than me. I should stay in my lane."

The "Logic" Façade: "The odds aren't in my favor. Statistically speaking, most people fail. It's too risky. The market is saturated. The economy is bad."

The "Care" Charade: "I don't want to disappoint anyone. What will people think? I might hurt someone's feelings. I don't want to let anyone down."

Sound familiar? That's because you've heard at least one of these whispers this week. Maybe today. Maybe in the last hour.

My Battle With the Voice

I ran a sewing business, and for the longest time, I was taking every project that came my way. Casual clothes, simple alterations, small repairs—anything that would pay the bills. And you know what? I was busy. I was working. I could tell myself I was "building a business."

But I wasn't building what I actually wanted. What I loved, what lit me up, was wedding gowns. I had already been the Alterations Manager at a large, multi-million dollar bridal business. I had the experience. I had the skill. I knew I could do this.

But that voice kept whispering: What if you fail? What if you embarrass yourself? What if you're not actually good enough? Remember all the mistakes you've made and all the things that could go wrong.

So I played it safe. I took the casual wear jobs. I said yes to projects that didn't excite me. I told myself I was being smart, being practical, being realistic. I was lying to myself.

What I was actually doing was letting fear dress up as common sense and run my business into mediocrity.

The Shift

The turning point came when I made a decision to listen to something louder than fear. I started listening to my intuition. I replaced fear's voice with faith, with the faith that if I pursued what I was actually meant to do, things would work out.

Not feel like they would work out. Not hope they would work out. I made a decision that I was going to work it out.

And then I took the scary step: I put myself out there as a bridal and special occasion seamstress. Period. Not "and also casual wear." Not "I'll take whatever comes." Just bridal.

That meant turning away work. That meant saying no to the safe, easy projects. That meant making room for what I actually wanted, even though I had no guarantee those bigger, more lucrative projects would come.

But here's what happened when I stopped negotiating with fear: within two years, I became an internationally and nationally awarded bridal seamstress. I was featured on NBC and other media. The thing I was "too afraid" to pursue became the thing that changed everything.

Not because I got lucky. Not because the stars aligned. Because I made a decision and stopped letting fear convince me it was wisdom.

What Fear Is Really Costing You

Let's be real about what's happening when you listen to fear's whispers:

You're staying in a job that drains you because fear says, "At least it's stable." Meanwhile, your soul is dying a slow death and your real talents are rotting unused.

You're not starting that business because fear says, "You need more preparation." Meanwhile, someone with half your skill and twice your audacity is building what you're dreaming about.

You're not having that conversation because fear says, "What if it goes badly?" Meanwhile, resentment builds and the relationship slowly deteriorates anyway.

You're not creating that art, writing that book, launching that program, making that career change, having that baby, ending that toxic relationship, moving to that city, because fear has convinced you that waiting is the responsible choice instead of recognizing it as fear.

But waiting isn't responsible. Waiting is just another word for dying slowly.

Fear Doesn't Deserve a Seat at the Table

Here's what I need you to understand: fear doesn't get to make your decisions. Fear doesn't get to determine your potential. Fear doesn't get to write the story of your life.

Fear is not your advisor. Fear is not your protector. Fear is not looking out for your best interests.

Fear is that toxic person who disguises sabotage as concern. Who mistakes your ambition for recklessness. Who confuses your growth with danger.

And you've been giving fear the microphone for way too long.

The Real Question

The question isn't whether you're capable. You already know you are. The question isn't whether it's the right time. There is no perfect time. The question isn't whether you might fail. Of course you might.

The real question is: how much longer are you going to let fear's whispers determine your reality?

How many more months, years, decades are you going to sacrifice at the altar of "maybe later"?

How much unrealized potential are you willing to take to your grave because you kept mistaking fear for common sense?

It's a Decision, Not a Feeling

Here's the truth that most don't want to hear: you're never going to feel ready. You're never going to feel confident enough, prepared enough, fearless enough.

Courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is telling fear to shut up and doing it anyway.

My sewing business didn't turn around because I suddenly felt brave. It turned around because I made a decision. I decided that my intuition deserved more airtime than my fear. I decided that faith in my ability mattered more than fear of failure.

And that decision, not a feeling but the decision, changed everything.

Your Move

So here's what happens next. You're going to finish reading or listening to this, and fear is going to immediately start whispering again. It's going to tell you that this doesn't apply to your situation. That your circumstances are different. That it's more complicated than I'm making it sound. Don't listen. These are lies!

Instead, identify that thing you've been hiding behind excuses. That thing you know you should be doing. That thing that lights you up and terrifies you at the same time.

And then take one step toward it. Not tomorrow. Not when you're ready. Not after you've figured it all out. Today. Tell that manipulative voice in your head to shut the hell up. Stop letting it dress up as wisdom when it's really just sabotage. Stop giving it permission to write your story. That voice doesn't get a vote anymore.

The Bottom Line

When your thought process is based on fear, you won't get far or accomplish much. But here's the beautiful, terrifying, liberating truth: no one else has to hold you back if you're doing it to yourself. Which means the power to stop doing that is entirely in your hands.

Fear has been running the show for too long. It's been disguising itself as common sense, as responsibility, as realism. It's been whispering in your ear that waiting is wise and caution is smart.

But you know better now. You know that voice is a liar. You know those excuses are just fear in fancy dress. Fear had its moment. Now it's your turn.

That voice in your head? It doesn't get to win anymore. Not today. Not ever again. You're done being held hostage by what-ifs and maybes. You're done playing small. You're done letting fear dress up as wisdom while your dreams collect dust.

One year from now, you'll either be living proof that you can do hard things, or you'll still be making excuses. Take the step. Make the call. Start the thing. Today.

Because the only thing standing between you and everything you want is a voice that's been lying to you all along. And you just stopped listening.

Now go do the thing that scares you...

Fatima Bey The MindShifter

International Speaker, Coach & Creator of the MindShift Universe