“An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie….”
Alexander Pope
Wayne Dyer writes in his book Excuses Begone,
There’s statistical evidence that the conscious mind occupies approximately 5% of the total workings of the brain, leaving 95% to the realm of subconscious. Percentages interest me less than the ability to sense your mind as some amorphous component of your being that’s constantly changing from one ego-based thought to another, but rather as evidence of your nature, or your connection to the infinite intellect of creation. This style of magnificent respect alerts you to your ability to access the highest function of your mind.
According to Tor Norretranders, the author of The User Illussion, the subconscious mind has been calculated to process millions of environmental stimuli per second versus only a few dozen environmental stimuli per second that the conscious mind can process. Conventional psychological wisdom says that much of what you believe about yourself, along with almost all of your daily actions, is programmed into your subconscious or habitual mind. You spend a great deal of your time operating on automatic pilot, so to speak. In fact, you could visualize your two minds as co-pilots: the conscious mind is aware of its thoughts but is a minor player, like a real pilot in training; while the subconscious takes care of virtually everything you need to think, say and do.
I take exception to this assertion that the habitual mind runs the show, doing everything that the creative mind isn’t paying attention to. According to this view, the habitual mind is like a computer running a downloaded program that will play through out your life – it’s been permanently programmed from the moment of conception, and it’s next to impossible to get new software to rewrite existing programs. I simply cannot agree that a part of your mind was nourished by ideas, images, and input that continue to be necessary for your sustainability today. It’s my contention that this is a false belief that’s easily revealed as an excuse. I don’t believe that anyone has to live with the belief that they have programming in their subconscious mind that can’t be rewritten. I’ll explain my perspective on this issue.
If you’re the way you are because of something that’s subconscious – that is, below your level of waking consciousness- then it’s clearly something you can do nothing about. You can’t even talk about it, since it is beyond your conscious mind. For the same reason, you can’t understand it; you can’t challenge it; and, most egregiously, you can’t change or fix it. How can you fix something that’s totally inaccessible? It would be like attempting to repair a broken watch that was sealed away in a vault: obviously, you need the combination to enter into that previously inaccessible space.
If something is subconscious and thus automatic, it’s believed that you don’t have a choice in the matter. And to me, that’s the most regrettable thing about this subconscious model: believing that you don’t have a choice. The truth, as I see it, is that every thing you think, say, and do is a choice – and you don’t need to think, speak or act as you’ve done for your entire life. When you abandon making choices, you enter the vast world of excuses.
Right now, while reading this book, decide to begin choosing instead of excusing. You can instantly decide to reprogram and direct your life toward the level of happiness, success, and health that you prefer. (Wayne Dyer)
While reading this book, and I am only in the beginning of it, this affirms what I have walked.
Did you hear what he was saying, that if you can explain the excuse, you know!
If you can show me what your excuse is, you know!
And if you know, than it isn’t hidden and subconscious, but rather you are allowing the excuse to run your world! You gave up choices for excuses.
This has been nagging at me, of how my sisters and brothers didn’t seem to have a choice.
What Wayne Dyer is saying is that they have excuses instead of choices.
This will ride with me forever.
Knowing that if you can form an excuse, it is no longer in your subconsciousness! You are aware of what is in your vault, your safe, what you haul out as an excuse. Amazing!
What power this gives to those who feel they are forever doomed because the childhood environment etc, this will allow you to have power over anything you can label.
If you can label it you can change the label.
I am only on page 22, but so far I find this very insightful.
Imagine trading choices for excuses!
How powerless that even sounds.
It just seemed so off balance that some have choices and others don’t, this really evens the playing field, an equal opportunity for all.
It takes away the excuse of excuses.
Here is the definition, for of course I had to look it up.
-forgive something: to release somebody from blame or criticism for a mistake or wrongdoing
– overlook something: to make allowances for somebody or something
– release somebody from obligation: to release somebody from an obligation or responsibility
When I read the definition and applied it to what Wayne Dyer is writing about, the excuse is not for the other person, it is for you.
It allows you to be powerless, choice less, which equals to hopeless and helpless.
If all knew that excuses were so self-defeating, I am sure no one would utter one again.
To use an excuse is to show how weak you are. Imagine that.
I will have to watch how often I use an excuse instead of having the will of choice.
Will of choice, it surely will take will to erase the excuse.
I M Perfect lady 