We all do it. Making excuses sometimes helps us get out of undesirable situations, or feel better, or even justify past behaviors. Sometimes an excuse can be better than revealing the truth, especially one that might be embarrassing.  

But when you meet those people who seem to always have an excuse for everything, it might be time to call it out. Are excuses or white lies getting in the way of leading a responsible life? Attaining goals? Securing a job promotion? If you or someone you know is a habitual excuse maker, read on how to spot it and what to do.  
 
The Co-Worker
“I was on my way to the office, but…”
Does there seem to be a consistently empty cubicle at work? Does this person have every ailment in the book, endless doctors appointments but really seems quite healthy? Besides being a hypochondriac, this is the co-worker who possesses a total inability to accept responsibility for their own actions and mistakes. They can bring down the morale of the whole team and force everyone else to pick up their slack. Holding employees responsible for their actions regardless of their excuses will hold them accountable. If you are a fellow co-worker, alert someone above you about this persons behaviours, in an appropriate manner. No one likes a tattle tale. If you are in a management position, take this person aside and have a discussion. Make it known their excuses will not be tolerated.
 
The BFF
“Did we say dinner tonight? I completely forgot …”
Yes, life gets busy sometimes and people can forget plans they’ve made. If you have some absent minded friends, you’ll have to take it upon yourself to remind them extra. But if your friend is always escaping your plans, or calls at 7:15 to say they aren’t up for seeing that film at 7:30, you’ve got an excuse maker on your hands. “Forgetting” is a hard thing to dispute. You can’t tell someone they didn’t forget, or that they did it on purpose, because you really have no proof. It’s very possible they did forget, but the difference is, your friend shouldn’t forget your plans all the time. Stop making plans with this excuse-making friend. When they realize you’ve stopped trying to get together, they will be the one calling you. If you don’t hear from them, your friendship probably never mattered in the first place.
 
The Boyfriend
“I promise, baby…”
When someone says they promise you something, say, a boyfriend, always take it with a grain of salt. Life happens, and things change. A promise made today won’t be the same tomorrow.  If for example, your boyfriend promises you’ll be engaged in three years time, and three years later there is still no ring, it might be time to reassess where you're headed. The problem with promises is that they are too weighted, and someone usually ends up being let down. If your boyfriend promises everything, and continues to break them, you’ll have to question how trustworthy he really is. Why does he break promises? If he can’t keep his word to you, does it really even mean anything? Sit him down and talk about it. Love is strong, but the truth is stronger!
 
Yourself
Are you being totally honest? We hate to say it, but it takes one to know one.  Sometimes when you can spot the flaws in someone, say, making excuses, it’s very likely you yourself do the same thing. Only you can know yourself one hundred percent. If you know you make excuses compulsively, make a conscious effort to change. Be honest with people, and talk to people you trust; family, friends. Ask them to tell you when they see you are making an excuse. Remember, it’s always better to deal with a problem head on and be honest, if not for anyone, but yourself.
 
Have another excuse-maker we didn’t catch here? WOMAN.ca wants to know who, how you deal?

Image from MorgueFile

Hilary Lauren Fox
		About the author:
		Sometimes she's a redhead, sometimes she's a blonde. Some days it's H&M, and on other days, it's Chanel. What ever the mood, she is a woman who is passionate about the arts, fashion and social media. Born in Toronto, Hilary Lauren Fox is an only child to artist parents - mom was an illustrator and pattern maker, dad was a painter.  Rather then studying the arts as her parents hoped for, Hilary opted for a degree in psychology with dreams of working in a clinical setting. But after graduating she realized that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that the arts was in her blood, applying her education within the art and fashion world.
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