Your excuses are predictable — they show up in the same situations, wearing the same disguises. We rationalize most effectively when vulnerable. Writing excuses down exposes them; creating counters in advance arms you against them. “I deserve this” → “I deserve to feel good tomorrow.” When the excuse arrives, deploy the prepared counter.
This companion covers why excuses work, the exercise of listing and countering, using counters, and identifying underlying patterns. (3 min read)