Why We Make Excuses?

You know that one friend who always has an excuse?The one who could have done better if they had more time.The one who was going to start but wasn’t feeling motivated. Or just was late because they sat up late knowing they had to catch up tomorrow?

Or maybe—that friend is you.

Failure isn’t the enemy, but fear is. It keeps us stuck and small. Making excuses instead of taking action.

And this is where self-handicapping comes in.

What is Self-Handicapping?

Self-handicapping is when you build your own obstacles/excuses that limit your chances of success—so if you fail, you have something to blame other than yourself. It’s a safety net for your ego, stopping growth, success, etc to slip away. And before you even begin, you've already set yourself up to fail.

It’s the perfect escape hatch, always there, open, ready to let you shift the blame anywhere but where it belongs. It’s a way to protect your ego, but at what cost? Growth? Achievement? The life you could have had if you just faced your fears and tried?

Here’s what it sounds like:

❌ “I didn’t have enough time to prepare.”

❌ “This isn’t really my thing, so it doesn’t matter.”

❌ “I could have done better, but I was too busy.”

Sound familiar?

We all do it. But recognizing it is the first step toward breaking free.

Why Do We Fear Failure?

Failure isn’t just about messing up—it’s about what failure represents. And that fear is rooted deep in our psychology.

✅ Perfectionism – If success isn’t perfect, it feels like a failure.

✅ Social Judgment – Worrying what others will think if we fail.

✅ Fixed Mindset – Thinking ability is fixed, so failing feels like proof we aren’t good enough.

✅ Past Experiences – Old failures that left scars, making us hesitant to try again.

How Self-Handicapping Holds You Back

Self-handicapping isn’t just a bad habit—it’s a roadblock we all use. It slows your progress and kills confidence. It keeps you from reaching your full potential.

Here’s how it plays out in different areas of life:

🎯 Career – You avoid challenging projects, afraid you won’t perform well.

🎯 Education – You procrastinate, so if you get a bad grade, you can blame lack of time.

🎯 Personal Goals – You skip workouts, blaming low motivation instead of committing to consistency.

Every excuse is a missed opportunity.

How to Overcome Self-Handicapping

✔ Shift Your Mindset – See failure as feedback, not defeat. Mistakes aren’t proof of incompetence—they’re proof you’re trying.

✔ Set Process-Oriented Goals – Focus on progress, not perfection. Small wins build confidence.

✔ Be Accountable – Tell someone your goals. When you commit publicly, you’re more likely to follow through.

✔ Take Action Despite Fear – Fear feeds on inaction. The best way to shrink it? Do it scared.

✔ Reframe Excuses as Opportunities – Instead of “I don’t have time,” ask, “How can I make time?” Turn obstacles into solutions.

The Takeaway

Excuses might protect your ego today.But they’ll steal your success tomorrow.

The more you avoid failure, the stronger your self-doubt becomes. So let go of the fear. Take action. Chase growth.

🚀 What’s one excuse you can stop making today? Drop it in the comments!