Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” – Henry Ford
Recently I had a conversation with a friend over lunch, and we were discussing who and what inspired and excited them. As they began to discuss a colleague who had recently competed in an Ironman, you could see them positively light up with excitement and wonder of how this individual was able to achieve this feat. They were undeniably inspired and impressed with this person who had set a goal, pushed the envelope and went after it. Hearing how jazzed my friend was about this type of event, I then asked her why she didn’t consider doing something similar? Why didn’t she consider setting a goal, mapping out a realistic plan of action and go for it? She instantly deflated and responded with “Me? I wish! Oh no…I could never do something like that! I’m not athletic or in shape or anything.” And sadly, when she says something like that, she’s probably right…if she doesn’t change her mindset, she will never line up at the start of an Ironman.
Go to any athletic event, whether it be a marathon or powerlifting competition, and you will see some stunning feats of human athleticism and pure grit of spirit. You will also hear murmurs from the crowd along the lines of “I could never do that.” (Not to be confused with “I would never want to do that.”) I find this so incredibly sad. I believe the power of the mind – and how you choose to see yourself and what you are capable of – is such a powerful force. It does not matter how badly you’d like something to happen or how much you wish you could accomplish something, if you don’t believe that you can, you probably won’t.
What if you simply stopped thinking about who you aren’t (and what you aren’t capable of) and instead shifted your paradigm of thought from “I can’t” to “I can”? How many times do you put self imposed barriers in your way of going after what you want and of accomplishing more than you thought was possible? How do your thoughts hold you back from achieving extraordinary results in life?
What is it in your life you’ve wanted to do but always thought you couldn’t? Stop thinking “I can’t” and start thinking “I can – and I will!” You’ll be amazed at what you accomplish when you change your mindset.