The Real Cost of Excuses: Why Emotional Avoidance Disguises Itself as Logic

You know those moments when you almost do the thing you say you want to do?

You finally get time alone, the to-do list is clear, the urge sparks... and then… you decide to clean out a drawer. Or scroll. Or call a friend. Or “do it later.”

We’ve all been there. And we think we’re being logical. We say:

“Now’s not the right time.” “I’m too tired.” “I’ll feel more ready tomorrow.”

But those aren’t time management issues. They’re emotional decisions disguised as productivity logic.

At Turning Leaves®, we help people uncover the real reason their “goals” never quite gain traction. And it’s not because they’re broken or lazy. It’s because they’re emotionally overloaded and under-supported when it comes to honoring themselves through action.

Let’s break this down.

Excuses Aren’t Weakness — They’re Emotional Indicators

Excuses tend to wear a mask of logic. But beneath them?

• Fear of being seen or judged.

• Fear of not doing it perfectly.

• Fear of not knowing how.

• Fear of the discomfort that growth will bring.

Here’s the actual truth:

Avoidance is often an act of emotional self-protection.

And when you keep hitting snooze on your own potential, you’re not failing… You're just running outdated emotional programming.

The Real Cost of Excuses

YUP... Let’s go there.

What has the habit of excuse-making actually cost you?

• Emotionally: Self-trust, confidence, peace, internal alignment.

• Relationally: Authentic connection, self-expression, boundary setting.

• Energetically: Decision fatigue, overthinking, guilt hangovers.

When we help clients look at the pattern, it’s rarely about the surface-level habit. It’s about what they’ve been taught to fear when they try to put themselves first.

And the internal conflict... between the version of themselves they dream of being and the one they feel safe being... becomes unbearable.

That’s where we come in.

So What Do We Do Instead?

We don’t tell you to hustle harder. Or to “just do it.” We don’t believe in shame-based motivation or willpower tricks.

We teach emotional agility... the kind of internal skillset that allows you to:

• Recognize when an excuse is really a fear signal

• Build your nervous system’s capacity to tolerate discomfort

• Choose micro-actions that align with your real values, not outdated rules

• Rebuild trust with yourself through consistency, not punishment

Excuses dissolve when you’re emotionally prepared to show up for yourself.

And that’s exactly what we specialize in at Turning Leaves.

Want to Take It Deeper?

We’re currently guiding our Insight & Impact Focus Group through a transformative month centered around Setting and Achieving Goals with Purpose.

This week, we’re challenging every excuse, every avoidance loop, and every self-betrayal in the name of clarity, self-honor, and growth.

If you’re not yet part of the group... but something in you knows you’re ready to stop negotiating with your excuses... you can begin your journey at the level that’s right for you.

Explore the Insights blog on TriciaParido.com for a deeper, more advanced breakdown of this week’s work, or drop into our free app level and start rewiring the emotional code that’s been running the show.