Have you ever noticed that when you commit to something new—whether it’s a fitness goal, a self-care practice, or a personal challenge—your brain suddenly turns into a master negotiator?
One moment, you’re all in. The next, objections start flooding your mind, offering every possible excuse why it’s not a good idea:
- I don’t have time.
- I should really do [insert anything else] instead.
- What if my old injury flares up?
- I can’t afford it
- I’m too old
- I’m too tired.
- I’ll start tomorrow/next week.
Sound familiar? That’s because this is what the brain does when faced with change. It’s wired to keep us safe, and stepping into something new—even if it’s good for us—triggers resistance. Our brains are hard wired for certainty. We like knowing what to expect because it feels safe and predictable.
When we step into something new, we move from certainty to uncertainty—and that’s uncomfortable. Even if the change is positive, uncertainty signals a potential risk, triggering objections designed to pull us back to the familiar. This means we can expect them to show up when we begin to learn, grow and or start new habits.
Objections Are Normal—Expect Them
Objections don’t mean something has gone wrong. In fact, they’re predictable. Your brain is simply trying to maintain the status quo. The trick isn’t to fight these objections but to expect them. When you know they’re coming, you can prepare for them instead of letting them derail you.
Let me give you a real-life example.
Restarting the Gym—And the Mental Tug-of-War
After many years of prioritising a daily yoga practice, I recently decided to add extra strength training back into my routine. I knew it was a good idea. I knew it would support my long-term health. I worked out a time when it would be easy for me to go to the gym and I paid the money. Paying the fees put some “skin in the game” and made it easier to commit (it certainly took away the financial objection because I already paid it)
Can you guess what happened?
On the day I have the gym scheduled, my brain became very creative:
- You don’t have time today. You have more important things to do.
- It would be better to start next week when you’re less busy.
- What if your old injury flares up?
- You’re too tired. Let’s just listen to your body and rest
- You’ve had a big week—you’ll be more motivated tomorrow.
Classic. None of these objections were true barriers; they were just my brain trying to keep things easy and familiar.
How to Make Friends with Your Objections
Instead of letting these excuses win, I did something different: I acknowledged them. I treated them like an expected part of the process rather than a reason to quit.
Here’s how you can do the same:
- Notice the objection. Instead of getting frustrated, recognise it for what it is: a protective mechanism, not a real roadblock.
- Name it. Say it out loud: Oh, here’s my brain telling me I don’t have time again. When you name it, you separate yourself from the thought.
- Challenge it. Ask: Is this actually true? Most objections fall apart under scrutiny.
- Plan for it. If you know your usual excuses (too busy, too tired, too sore), decide in advance how you’ll respond. Have a plan for when they show up.
For me, that meant telling myself: Yes, you might be tired, but you committed to this. Just go and do 30 minutes—then decide if you want to leave. Of course, once I started, I stayed and completed my programme.
Objections will always show up when you’re stepping into something new or taking things to the next level. But this doesn’t mean you should stop. It means you are growing. Another great way to bust through the excuses is to.
5. Make your WHY bigger than your objections
For me going to the gym means I can build my shoulder strength so I can swim longer distances without damaging my shoulder. It’s good for bone density and will add strength to my yoga practice. This is important to me as I want to live with strength, flexibility and balance.
So next time your mind tries to talk you out of something that you have decided to do because it is good for you.
Pause.
Recognise what’s happening.
And remind yourself: I expected this. I planned for this. It’s just my brain trying to keep me safe.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Building new habits and pushing through resistance is easier when you have support. That’s exactly what we do in my online yoga membership—we show up, even when our minds try to talk us out of it.
If you’re ready to build strength, flexibility, and balance (both in body and mindset), come join us. Our online yoga membership offers live weekly Zoom classes, a supportive online community, and countless replays to help you stay consistent. Those objections don’t stand a chance.
It’s only $45 per month and you join us today from your own home.
So, whether you’re restarting a practice or deepening it, when your why is bigger than your objections, your commitment becomes stronger than your excuses, and you have everything you need to keep showing up. Be the kind of person who keeps the promises they make to themselves, so you can move with strength, flexibility, and balance at any stage of life.