When you are late to an appointment or you make a mistake at work, do you offer a reason or an excuse? More times than not, most people will sacrifice their integrity for a lame excuse rather than being upfront and giving an honest reason. They are quick with excuses almost like they have a pocket full of them ready for any situation at any given time.
Pockets are a very simple, yet fantastic invention that helps keep us all organized and to a point, mobilized. They are the unsung heroes to our daily routine. It is because of our pockets that we can easily access things we need and we can do it quickly.
Things like:
- Keys
- Wallets
- Change
- Phones
- Breath mints
- Frogs
Okay, maybe not frogs but you get the idea. However, I have been known to put a small turtle in my pocket once.
Unfortunately we also carry with us a Pocket of Excuses that is just as easily accessible. However, as tangible pockets help our daily lives, this intangible pocket hurts us. Understand that excuses are merely masks that cover up true and honest reasons. My question to you is “What types of excuses do you carry around in your pocket?”
- When we forget to do something we said we would do
- When we say something that offends someone
- When we are too afraid to start our dream
- When we are late to work
- When we miss a deadline
- When we screamed like a baby on that roller coaster
Do not be fooled as there are no “good excuses” in life. There is only real and factual reasons. I believe that Benjamin Franklin said it well when he said:
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
- Jeopardizes your integrity with others
- Gives you a false sense of reason
- Can become a habit and hard to stop
- Is a sin and frowned upon by God
If you rely on excuses to cover up truth, then you actually rob yourself from an honest life. When this happens, your integrity goes out the window with everyone. Doing so will cause great harm to your personal and professional life.
I encourage you to resist the temptation to pull out any more excuses from your pocket. Actually, sew that pocket up, never open it again, and just be honest! Yes, I agree that it is hard to do at times. But remember that it is your integrity that is at stake.
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