Dr. Hibbs - Consider It Done

"Helping People Change for Good"

NEW! Dr. Hibbs'  book in paperback: Consider It Done: Ten Prescriptions for Finishing What You Start

The Consider It Done Newsletter 
"To help you finish what you start" 

Volume Three 
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Stanley E. Hibbs, Ph.D. 
Psychologist 
Personal & Executive Coach 
Phone: 770-668-0350 x-224 
E-mail: drhibbs@drhibbs.com 
Web Site: www.drhibbs.com 
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Contents: 
I. Article: Overcoming Excuses (Part Two) 
II. Send me your favorite excuses 

I. Overcoming Excuses: (Part Two) 

In my last newsletter, I taught you the technique of 
writing out your excuses in advance, finding the lie in 
them, and writing a gentle but firm rebuttal for each one. 
I then suggested that you write each rebuttal on an 
index card, carry the cards around with you, and memorize 
the rebuttals. If you're willing to do this little bit of 
work, you'll see great increases in your ability to follow 
through with what you set out to do. 

Here are some examples having to do with following through 
with an exercise program: 

Excuse: "It's too cold to run today." 
Rebuttal: "Yes, it's cold, but I can bundle up and be 
nice and warm. I'll feel great when I'm finished." 

Excuse: "I don't have time to walk two miles." 
Rebuttal: "If time is limited, walk for as much time as 
I can afford. Even if it's just a few minutes, every 
little bit helps." 

Excuse: "I'm just not up to it today. I don't have the 
motivation. I don't feel like it." 
Rebuttal: "As long as I sit here and think about it, I 
won't get the motivation. But if I go ahead and do it, 
I'll be glad that I did." 

Here are some examples for overeating: 

Excuse: "It's the holidays." 
Rebuttal: "Yes, it's the holidays, but there's nothing that 
says I have to overeat. If I want to reach my goal, I need 
to follow my original eating plan." 

Excuse: "I'm just starving, I have to have ice cream!" 
Rebuttal: "A craving is not a sign that I "need" anything. 
Most cravings pass if I give it some time. Something in 
my plan can give me some of the same satisfaction." 

Tips: 
+++ Write excuses and rebuttals in the first person present 
tense. That gives you a sense of ownership of what 
you're saying. 

+++Be gentle with yourself. Don't make your rebuttals 
critical or harsh (E.g. "You're just being lazy."). Be able 
to acknowledge the truth in each excuse. 

My clients swear at this technique but then they swear 
by it. So try it! No excuses! 

II. Send me your favorite excuses: If there are tasks that 
you often avoid or put off, you probably have some well 
practiced excuses. Send them in. If you have come up 
with a good rebuttal, send it in too. If you need some 
help coming up with a rebuttal, I'll give you some ideas. 
Let's have some fun with this! Of course it will all be 
confidential. 
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Dr. Hibbs is now accepting new clients for personal, 
business, and executive coaching. As a subscriber 
to this newsletter, you can receive a free 30-minute 
consultation to see if coaching is right for you. 

Contact Dr. Hibbs at: 
drhibbs@drhibbs.com 
770-668-0350 x-224 

The Consider It Done Newsletter is offered to you free. If 
you know of others who might like to receive it, please 
forward it on to them. Feel free to quote from this issue as 
long as you give credit where credit is due. 

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