What's Your Excuse?

We humans like to make excuses, and we tend to make them for a couple of key reasons. When it comes to managing our finances wisely, there's no exception...excuses abound for why we can't seem to move forward or why we don't have a plan.

1. We've done something wrong, made a mess of things, and now we feel the need to justify our action or inaction.

• "It's not my fault" (this is followed by the blame game...)
• "I deserve"..."I'm owed"..."I have a right"..."I need"

This is rooted in selfishness, and quickly leads to hopelessness, paralyzation, discontentment, ungratefulness, criticising and being judgemental. Ouch! Want to be know for those qualities?

2. We're trying to avoid doing something we don't want to do.

• "I'm not good at it"..."it's not my gift"
• "It's too time consuming"..."I'm too busy"...."I have more important things to do"
• "I'm doing fine financially so this is not for me"

This is rooted in fear and laziness, and quickly leads to bondage, distractions, and an inability to pursue all that God has for you.

Our excuses are like a boat anchor. As long as we're hanging on to them, they will pull us under and keep us from ever breaking the surface to grab hold of a life preserver.

What's your boat anchor? What practical steps can you take today to overcome and move forward?

Deanna Koffler, Nine36 Financial (936 Financial)