Editorials / Opinions

False justifications are erroneous beliefs that are used to support specific behavior. When your actions are based on an incorrect understanding, you will either limit yourself or go down the wrong path. Your mind directs you based on your beliefs. It doesn’t care whether or not a specific tenet is correct.

Throughout history, human progress has been hampered by erroneous concepts. Prior to the exploration of Columbus, ships would limit their travels for fear of falling off the edge of the earth. Today, it seems ludicrous for anyone to have ever thought the world was flat. However, at the time it was accepted science.

Another false premise of the past was the idea of the sun revolving around the earth. As another example, many civilizations throughout history panicked during a solar eclipse, fearing it signaled the end of the world.

Just as false justifications impacted societal progress, the ones you hold affect your accomplishments. You have to be careful what you convince yourself of. As far as your mind is concerned, your outlook is the truth, even when it is based on a flawed assumption. Let’s look at some often-used false justifications.

“I can’t do it.” This is probably one of the most used justifications for failure. It’s also employed to avoid any attempt at all. The truth is that you can do whatever you set your mind to. With enough of a burning desire, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. Replace “I can’t do it” with “I can do it.”

“There is no solution.” Everyone encounters problems and there is a solution for every problem. When you don’t believe this, you abdicate control over your life by feeling and acting like a victim. Solutions may be elusive, but they always exist.

“I don’t know how.” There isn’t any way to know everything. There will always be more you don’t know than you do. You always have two options. You can acquire the knowledge you need or you can utilize someone else’s expertise. Regardless of the subject, the information you need exists.

“I’m too busy.” Why do some people accomplish so much more than others? Their key is setting priorities and working toward their goals. Those who aren’t as productive lack focus. By devoting time to that which is most important, you will achieve more than before.

“I’ll be criticized.” So what? It doesn’t matter what other people say, think, or do. All that matters is what you do. Every person who has accomplished great things has always done so in the face of criticism. If you are criticized, you are in the company of the greatest minds in history.

“I’ll fail.” In order to increase your success rate, you must increase your failure rate. Besides, you only really fail when you stop trying. To succeed, get up one more time than you fall down. Failure is nothing more than the discovery of something that didn’t work as planned.

“I’m too old.” You are never going to be as young as you are today. If there is something you really want, get started now. What are you waiting for? Life isn’t a practice run.

Don’t waste any effort justifying why you are not attaining all you want. Examine your beliefs and make the necessary adjustments. There are countless examples of people accomplishing everything you think is not possible. Get off of the sidelines and get on the path to achieving your dreams.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. © 2026 Bryan Golden

You've had it happen, probably more than once. You make a decision or take some action, but there is that little voice in the back of your mind telling you not to do it. Then latter on, if it turns out you made a mistake, you'll readily admit that you knew you shouldn't have done it.

But you proceeded anyway, in spite of your so-called better judgement. Why? Is there something within your subconscious mind that is able to make better decisions than your conscious self? Everyone has that little voice called intuition. Too often, to our detriment, it's ignored.

Surprisingly, there are people who refuse to pay attention to their intuition, even when it's proven that it is correct. Repeatedly, these people ignore their better judgement only to continually make mistakes. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake. Ignoring guidance that could help avoid making the wrong decision is a waste.

Exactly how intuition works is not really known. However, its uncanny accuracy is proven time and time again. Some people develop a highly tuned sensitivity to it. Others block it out to the point that they are not even aware of its existence.

Your intuition is a special internal navigator. Your brain has much more power than you consciously tap into. It's capable of doing things you don't really understand. Whether you call it a gut feeling, a little voice, a nagging inside you, or a bad feeling is irrelevant. It is all the same thing.

Here's another example. Someone you meet for the first time makes you feel uncomfortable. You can't put your finger on anything specific. The person is pleasant yet you don't feel right. Your subconscious mind is picking up something you can't see. If you have enough interaction with the person, the reason for your uneasiness will eventually come to the surface.

You can develop your intuition. First recognize it exists. Next listen to it. Your intuition works best when you step back and take some time to contemplate your situation while considering various options. Allow your mind to work to bring the best course of action.

Whenever your intention conflicts with your intuition, it's time to pause without taking any action. You first need to resolve why there is a conflict with your inner voice. If you proceed without further thought and analysis, you are increasing the odds for unfavorable results.

Your inner voice is there to serve you. It's your ally, not your adversary. People get into trouble when they act before they think. Often, they behave as if they are in a race with time. This haste is self-imposed causing them to act impulsively rather than prudently.

There is really no rush. It takes relatively little extra time to step back, listen to your inner voice, and fully analyze your various options. A little introspection yields big benefits. You don't want to lament having rushed into something.

If you analyze bad decisions you have made, you will probably find you acted hastily, didn't think first, and ignored your gut feel. This cycle doesn't have to repeat itself. It's easy to break out of it. People who reiterate this pattern invariably complain that they don't understand why problems consistently seek them out.

Everyone has intuition. Some have ignored it so long they don't realize it exists. Others pay attention when those internal alarms go off. You decide which category you want to be in. The more you use your intuition, the better it will get.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

Bryan is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits." Contact Bryan at Bryan@columnist.com or visit www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com Copyright 2026 Bryan Golden