The Excuse Epidemic: Why You’re Failing Your Own Damn Self

You ever notice how someone decides they want to get into shape—and they say it with their whole chest?

"I’m doing this for my kids. I’m doing this because I’m tired of being tired. I’m doing this because I want to feel ALIVE again."

Cool. We love that. The fire’s lit. They sign up. They show up. One day, two days, maybe even three in a row.

Then?

The first excuse hits.

“Work was crazy today.”

“I didn’t sleep well.”

“My ankle feels weird.”

“It’s raining.”

“It’s sunny.”

“I’ll get back to it next week.”

And just like that, poof—the commitment dies. The goals vanish. The excuses win. And here’s the part that should haunt you:

“They bail on that commitment to themselves.”
— Steve Woolridge

Read that again. Slowly.

This isn’t about failing your trainer. Or your schedule. Or your diet app. It’s about betraying the one person you’re supposed to have in your corner 100% of the time: YOU.

The Brutal Truth: You’re Lying to Yourself

You told yourself this mattered. You looked in the mirror and said you wanted to live longer, be stronger, and show up better for your family.

And then what? A bump in the road and you folded like a lawn chair?

Let’s call it what it is: You’re not tired. You’re undisciplined.
You’re not “busy.” You’re just not prioritizing your own damn life.

And that’s exactly how people die young while dreaming about one day getting healthy.

The Brain is a Master Manipulator

Here’s what no one told you: Your brain is out to sabotage you.
It's an expert negotiator with a PhD in self-deception.

It whispers:

• “You deserve a break.”

• “Missing one day isn’t a big deal.”

• “Let’s start Monday.”

News flash: The brain that got you into this mess is not the one that will get you out.

The only way forward? You shut the excuses down and you MOVE.

You Don’t Need Motivation. You Need Integrity.

Motivation is unreliable. It’s a sugar high. It’s great when it’s there—but when it’s not? You need integrity.

You said you’d show up. So show up.

You said you’d change. So change.

The promise you made to your future self is the only thing that separates you from being the person who talks about change vs. the person who actually changes.

Your Kids Are Watching. So Is Your Body.

Let’s make it personal.

That little voice in your head that says, “I need to do this for my family”—they’re watching how you show up.

Do they see a fighter or a flake?

Your body? It’s tallying every skipped workout, every broken promise. And one day it will collect. Maybe in the form of medication. Maybe in the form of surgeries. Maybe in the form of you not being around as long as you should have been.

You Don’t Need a New Plan. You Need to Keep the Damn Promise.

You don’t need new shoes.
You don’t need a better schedule.
You don’t need some perfect version of your life to begin.

You just need to do the thing you said you’d do. Every single day. Whether you feel like it or not.

That’s discipline. That’s transformation. That’s how warriors are made.

The Next Time an Excuse Shows Up…

Punch it in the face.

Show up anyway.

Tired? Show up.

Busy? Show up.

Unmotivated? Show up.

Because every time you do, you’re not just working out—you’re building trust with yourself. And when you trust yourself? You become unstoppable.

Ready to stop breaking promises to yourself?

Come find us.

STEVE WOOLRIDGE’S KRAV MAGA & FITNESS CENTER
Where your excuses come to die—and your commitment comes to life.