For many years I had a career as an personal coach. My daily focus was helping people find ways to improve their lives. I got to work with people from all over the world, from many different backgrounds and age groups.

Most of them wanted to work with a coach, because they were stuck.

They wanted to do, be or have something in their lives, yet they somehow were not doing what they needed to do.

Of course, they had every excuse imaginable. Time, money, experience, permission, knowledge, contacts, education. 

Everything shared as the reason why people weren’t taking action towards what they want.

But these were all lies. 

It took me years to figure it out, but right at the very core of every human being, is that there are only two reasons why we don’t do something that’s important to us:

We are scared, or we are lazy.

Think about it. Whatever reason you give about why you aren’t taking action towards a goal, it always boils down to being scared or being lazy.

If you say you’re going to do something but fear failure or rejection, you can still do what you want to do while being terrified. Or you can continue to be scared.

If you are avoiding doing something because of the effort involved, then you can simply force yourself to make the effort. Or you can continue to be lazy.

I often use this as a reminder for myself whenever I feel stuck or blocked. At the core of any excuse I might have is a deeper reason; I’m either scared or lazy.

Anything else is me lying to myself.

– DMS