Footsteps To Freedom

A counseling session can last fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five minutes or even an hour. Every session, no matter how long or short will always garner something that may help or hinder the clients. Those sessions also garner excuses for behaviors, for pain, for illicit use, for hitting or maiming someone, there is an excuse for every single action or indiscretion. Excuses do not require any thought.

Excuses can be given through tears to seek empathy or compassion. In any of my counseling sessions my new clients or my clients who have not learned to trust me, often gives me excuses. Some of my seasoned clients who are not ready to change, give me excuses. And the client that learned to trust me and may be in recovery, will also give me excuses. Because excuses are easy, they allow the clients to offer a solution to their problems.

Excuses allow us to remain stuck in bad decision and minimal growth. They are used when we don’t want to face our truths or want others to think at times we act irresponsibly. But Star Jones said it best- “Excuses are tools of the incompetent. They build monuments to nothingness, those who excel in them, excel in nothing else!”

Own your stuff people. Stop making excuses for your behaviors.