I found that I could find the energy… that I could find the determination to keep going. I learned that your mind can amaze your body, if you just keep telling yourself, I can do it… I can do it… I can do it!
This is a quote from Jon Erickson. ‘Can’ and ‘Can’t’ are both hugely powerful words: the former speaks of determination, commitment, ‘will’; the latter of defeat, lack of choice, limiting. It’s interesting to note how often we hear the words, ‘I can’t’ being used. And how less frequently we hear the words, ‘I can’. What is it that leads us to utter, ‘I can’t’ so often? Perhaps there are cultural reasons; the British like an underdog: someone who doesn’t think too highly of themselves and may well fail but try all the same. We Brits find solace in those that ‘can’t’ – I hear that so often in conversations – and have too ready a desire to knock those that do succeed off their pedestal.
Yet, having a ‘can’ attitude (something that our American and Australian cousins personify so much better) is so liberating. This is not about false-hope; misguided self-inflation that seeks to dominate and crush those around us but simply a sense of, “Yes, I CAN do that”. And even, “Yes, I WILL do that!” I personally find that when I determine myself to do something it gets done often in ways that I least expected. For me, there is no sense of failure: I can’t lose; only gain. My reason for saying this is a simple one: whatever happens I believe that I have succeeded. I win if I succeed in my task first time; I win if I don’t succeed first time because I’ve learnt new things and that will make my next attempt much more likely to succeed.
If you find yourself saying, “I can’t…” may be look at what’s behind that statement. Or get a Powerchange coach to help you explore what’s going on. You might find that it unearths some beliefs that you want to get sorted. You can, you know!
January 29, 2010 at 10:48 pm
This is so true… Sometimes hard to do when lack of motivation strikes or tiredness is creeping up your whole body and ready to invade and conquer your mind. Reading this has given me inspiration though and brought back the memory of my Mum’s favourite sayings ‘there’s no such word as can’t ‘ and ‘ I can and I will.’ I’ll try to put this into practise even when I really feel that I don’t want to!
January 30, 2010 at 8:19 am
Thank you for your comment, Debbie. It’s amazing isn’t it? The ‘Take off the t and it’s can’ is something my mum’s mum used to say to my mum and she, in turn, said it to me as well. See what happens when you put this into practice. If you can here, or privately, I’d love to know what happens.
February 1, 2010 at 6:02 am
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February 15, 2010 at 5:30 pm
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