No More Excuses: Reignite What You Love
There are three types of excuses we tell ourselves that keep us from living a life full of passion. Left unchecked, they quietly extinguish our spark with fear, doubt, and apathy. But when we challenge those excuses, life expands – filled instead with courage, belief, and action.
Every time I deliver a keynote about passion, the audience lights up. I ask, “What do you love but aren’t doing because you think you don’t have the time or money?”
Hands immediately shoot in the air. People call out, “Travel!” “Hike!” “Play an instrument!” “Garden!” “Golf!” “Cook!” These are the things that make them feel alive, yet they’re not doing them.
It reminds me of the old Arsenio Hall show when he’d say, “It’s one of those things that make you go hmm.” Why do we stop doing what we love?
The number one excuse I hear is, “I don’t have time.” Number two is, “It costs too much.” And number three, though less obvious but just as powerful, is belief – or rather, the lack of it. We hesitate to pursue our passions because we’re afraid we won’t be good at them, or we tell ourselves we’re too old to start. Sound familiar?
It’s time to stop letting these excuses control the narrative. Let’s look at them one by one – and replace them with practical, doable solutions that can reignite your passion for life.
If time is your biggest obstacle, you might hear yourself saying, “I’m busier now than when I had a job,” or “When I finally have time, I don’t have the energy,” or “The days just slip away!” The truth is, we all make time for what matters. You simply have to want it enough to make it a priority.
Think about how disciplined you once were when you had a job. You showed up, met deadlines, and scheduled your time because it mattered. The same principle applies here. If you truly want to bring passion back into your life, schedule it. Put it on your calendar – not as a “someday” idea, but as an actual appointment with yourself. And if energy is the issue, plan it during the part of the day when you feel most alive. Treat your passion with the same respect you once gave your career or commitments.
Now let’s talk about money. Maybe you’ve said, “How can I afford that?” or “I’m on a fixed income!” or “I have bills to pay!” Money is a real concern for many, but passion doesn’t always have to cost a fortune. The key is to plan for it. Create a separate “passion account.” Each week, set aside a few dollars – whatever you can manage – until you reach the amount you need to do what you love. When the time comes, spend it proudly. You’ve earned it.
If your passion requires a larger investment, find a creative workaround. Travel locally instead of internationally. Borrow equipment before buying it. Trade skills or volunteer in exchange for access. Passion thrives not on perfection, but on creativity and persistence.
And then there’s the belief factor – the one that can be the most paralyzing. Maybe you’ve caught yourself saying, “I’m too old,” or “I need a partner to do it,” or “People will think I’m crazy.” When that self-talk starts to creep in, counter it with one simple word: maybe. “I’m too old – maybe.” “I need a partner – maybe.” That single word cracks the door open just enough for possibility to enter.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to become a master at your passion. You don’t even have to be particularly good at it. You just need to do it. If it brings you joy, that’s the only measure of success that matters.
So pause for a moment and ask yourself – is there something that’s been tugging at you lately? A project, a skill, a hobby, or maybe an adventure you’ve been quietly dreaming about? Capture that idea. Write it down. Then start exploring. Read a book. Watch a video tutorial. Take a class. Talk to someone who’s already doing it. Passion doesn’t appear out of thin air – it grows through curiosity and action.
We all have activities that light us up – things we wish we did more often. But too often, we wait for the “perfect time,” forgetting that time isn’t waiting for us. One tiny spark, one brave decision to begin, can open the door to an entirely new and inspired chapter of life.
When you do something that excites you, that positive energy ripples outward. It fuels your health, strengthens relationships, and sparks creativity. Passion is contagious. When you’re energized and filled with delight, you naturally attract others who feel the same way. Together, you amplify each other’s joy – a beautiful exchange that keeps the fire burning.
And isn’t that the way you want to live? Not just existing or passing time, but feeling alive, curious, and connected. At the end of life, people rarely regret the things they did. They regret the things they never tried – the passions they tucked away for “someday.”
So here’s the challenge: make today your someday. Prioritize your passion. Schedule it. Save for it. Believe in it. Then let it lead you where it wants to go.
Passion isn’t a luxury – it’s a life force. When you make it a priority, you make a commitment to live your best life, to be your best self, and to let that spark of joy transform you from the inside out.
Life is short. Don’t extinguish your passion with excuses. Ignite it with courage, belief, and action – and watch how everything else in your life starts to glow a little brighter.