We’ve all been there—caught in the act of making an excuse, whether it’s about something we said, something we didn’t say, or something we didn’t do. It’s human nature to try and protect our pride, but the truth is, pride often leads us down a path of excuses that keep us stuck. Humility, on the other hand, is what leads to true growth and transformation. I love the quote, "pride makes excuses; humility makes adjustments."
The Power of Pride and Excuses
At some point, we’ve all blamed external circumstances for our shortcomings or missteps. Maybe you’ve said, “If only I had more time…” or “I didn’t have enough resources…” These are excuses we tell ourselves to justify actions (or inactions) and avoid taking responsibility. We all make mistakes, but when we lean into our pride, we look for ways to deflect or avoid accountability instead of owning the situation and making the necessary adjustments.
Pride can be a sneaky thing. It disguises itself as self-protection, but what it’s really doing is keeping us from moving forward. When we make excuses, we remain stagnant, stuck in a cycle of blaming and rationalizing instead of learning, adjusting, and growing.
Humility: The Key to Growth
Here’s the truth: We don’t have to submit ourselves to that mindset of pride. Humility, on the other hand, is where growth happens. It’s about acknowledging our mistakes, understanding that we’re human, and using those moments to make adjustments rather than excuses. Humility allows us to own up to what we could’ve done differently and pivot in a way that leads us to better outcomes.
Instead of justifying our mistakes, humility encourages us to reflect, learn, and adjust our behavior. It’s about taking responsibility, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. When we’re humble, we embrace feedback, we embrace learning, and we embrace change. This is how we evolve. This is how we move forward.
Making Adjustments, Not Excuses
When we choose humility over pride, we empower ourselves to take real action. Here are a few ways to shift from making excuses to making adjustments:
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Own the Mistake: Instead of avoiding responsibility, take ownership of what went wrong. Recognize it without judgment and understand how it happened.
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Learn from It: Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this?" and "How can I do better next time?" Mistakes aren’t failures; they’re opportunities for growth.
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Make Adjustments: Once you’ve identified the lesson, make the necessary adjustments to your behavior or actions. This is where true progress happens.
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Move Forward with Confidence: Once you’ve adjusted, keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on the past mistake—use it as fuel to propel you toward your next goal.
Let Go of Excuses and Step into Your Growth
You don’t have to be trapped by excuses. The moment we embrace humility, we free ourselves from the cycle of justification and allow ourselves the space to grow, learn, and evolve. Humility makes adjustments; pride makes excuses—and those adjustments are the very steps that lead us to the success and growth we’re striving for.
It’s time to let go of pride and take full ownership of your actions. Embrace humility, learn from your experiences, and make the adjustments that will propel you forward.
You have everything it takes to break free from excuses and step into a space of growth. Let’s choose humility and make today one of powerful transformation.
