What have you talked yourself out of lately?

Not because you couldn’t do it, but because somewhere between the idea and actually doing something about it, a little voice piped up with:

I’m not good at that.

People won’t approve.

It’s too late.

It’ll take too long.

I don’t have time.

It’s probably not possible anyway.

And just like that, possibility gets a “Yes, but…”

The interesting thing about beliefs is that we don’t always recognise them as beliefs. Sometimes they sound remarkably like facts. We repeat them. We collect evidence for them. We make decisions around them. And occasionally, we build quite a comfortable little case for why something cannot be done without ever asking whether the original assumption still holds true.

So, I’ve created a free interactive worksheet called Questioning Beliefs & Excuses.

It isn’t about positive thinking or pretending genuine barriers don’t exist. It’s an invitation to get curious.

Where did that belief come from?

Is it actually true?

What evidence challenges it?

How is it helping you?

How might it be holding you back?

What happens when you challenge the inevitable “but”?

You can type directly into the PDF, so grab a coffee, give yourself a little time and see what comes up.

Questioning Beliefs and Excuses.pdf

Download PDF • 516KB

Q. What’s one “Yes, but…” you’ve caught yourself saying recently?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share them below, because something you’ve learned, challenged, or changed might be exactly what someone else needs to read today.

Donna Burfield © 2026 Joy and Purpose Coaching ® All Rights Reserved