I was talking with a colleague the other day. He was marveling that a mutual friend had published his first book. (Which turned out to be a bestseller in its genre!)
He was happy for our friend and said that he would love to publish a book himself someday, but finished with, “I could never do that…”
To his shock, I told him he was right… he couldn’t do that.
He got a little indignant and shot back, “Why not?”
I said, “Because you just told me so.”
Start Saying You Can
What are you telling yourself you can’t do?
At home, at work, and in life?
It’s up to you, either you think you can or you think you can’t.
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” – Henry Ford
Either way, you are defining your own reality. If you tell yourself that “you can’t” enough times, you start to believe it. You set your own limits, real or not.
You are also shaping others’ perception of you and your abilities. If you tell people you aren’t ready or can’t accomplish something, they will believe you. In many respects, you define how others view you.
Believe You Can
It is life-altering when you start saying… you can.
Stop self-limiting talk of what you can’t accomplish.
Soon, you will start believing you can.. and that can make all the difference.
Question: What have you been telling yourself and others that you can’t do? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
So true. Many people seem to prefer the comfort of the impossible to the uncertainty of possibility. It’s just easier to believe you can’t.
Great point… it is easier to say you “can’t” than to do the *work* required.
Its surprising how often we fail to see what we are capable of. What’s even more interesting is that this often happens even with people who are quite successful! I believe it’s important to keep asking ourselves once in a while – what more can I achieve?
Exactly. As I like to say, “We are stronger than we think.”
I am really working hard to check my inner thoughts on what I tell myself I can’t do. This ties in perfectly with an article I just read here: http://lifeasmom.com/2014/08/yes-yes-you-can.html . Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, I bet your friend was floored when you agreed with him, I would love to have seen his expression!