5 Subtle Excuses That Sound Like Good Reasons

Sometimes, you do everything required for success and miss out. That's okay. At least you took action and can feel good about your effort.

The most common reason we don't achieve our dreams is that we make excuses. Sometimes these are subtle, subconscious discussions we have with ourselves. When you consciously spot these justifications for not taking action, you can see them for what they are - just excuses.

Look out for the following common limiting statements you might be telling yourself. In some cases, they might be correct, but they are usually based on limiting beliefs that will never let you live the life you dream of.

This subtle excuse sounds like you are making proper preparations. You convince yourself it's not smart to act until you have the resources/money/tools/support that you need.

Make a list of what you need to succeed. What is required to make progress? Review that list and focus on what you have rather than what you lack.

The time is never perfect. If you need proof of that, consider the stock market. The wealthiest investors consistently miss out on gains and suffer losses in the stock market. That's because nobody can predict the perfect time for just about anything.

The best time to plant a tree was years ago. The second best time is right now.

You know you have what it takes to generate a desired outcome, but you are just too busy. In reality, you might be influenced by a limiting belief that has been causing you to avoid taking action.

"I don't have the time" might be easier than admitting, "What if I fail?"

A fear of failure could motivate you to do anything other than what's required to create progress. Instead of using limited time as an excuse for doing nothing, prioritise what you must do to realise the change you seek.

Spend time on high-impact, outcome-based activities before you invest time and energy on less important things.

If you used this excuse to rule your life, you never would have learned to walk. You'd still be wearing a diaper. You wouldn't have learned to drive a car, ace a job interview, or do just about anything.

This might be driven by a limiting inner voice telling you that people will make fun of you if you fail. What will they think? The answer is, who cares?

If you want to do something you never have before, ask yourself what small step forward you can take to show progress, even if it is minimal. Taking a small step forward is better than taking no steps at all.

Sometimes we hesitate until we feel 100% sure of success. But certainty is rare in anything worth doing. This excuse keeps you in the safety of planning instead of the growth of doing.

The truth? You don’t have to know the outcome to take the first step. Focus on what you can control — your effort, your learning, and your next move. Confidence grows from action, not from guarantees.

Spotting these excuses is the first step toward freedom. The next is replacing them with small, intentional actions that move you forward. Every time you choose action over avoidance, you prove to yourself that you can grow, adapt, and keep going - no matter how “good” the reason to wait might sound.