When speaking of things we can’t do, I have learned it is important to get into the habit of saying they word, “YET.” It is especially empowering when we teach our children and teenagers to get into this habit.
“I can’t,” directly correlates to inability, and the lack of power and strength. “I can’t,” creates a sense of helplessness, inability, and victimhood, weakening and chipping away at our confidence, and disempowering us, rendering us incapable of skill acquisition through relentless practice and persistence.
“I can’t, YET,” directly correlates to the ability and opportunity to learn how to do, and to practice doing, ANYTHING. “I can’t, YET,” gives us the opportunity to feel the feelings that we are good enough, smart enough, and we are strong, powerful, and capable. It denotes a presence of confidence, indicating we are capable of learning and practicing skills that will grow throughout this life, empowering each of us to successfully navigate the difficulties and challenges life will inevitably offer up to us.
Our SELF IMAGE, and the things that we choose to believe about ourselves, directly correlates the quality of the perception and the continuous creation, or projection, of our lives. When we experiment with and UP-LEVEL our SELF IMAGE and the beliefs we choose, we up-level the quality of the outcomes and results of our lives.
It is as if through up-leveling our beliefs and perceptions, we install an alternate filter or program through which we can view EVERYTHING more beautifully. It is a life-long process of upgrading these filters through which we progressively and eternally expand our abilities to create and perceive of things more beautifully.
The incredible Vusi Thembekwayo lives his life by these two principles, and it has served him INCREDIBLY WELL:
1- “EVERYTHING EVERYONE KNOWS, THEY LEARNED, AND I DON’T ACCEPT THAT I AM LESS INTELLIGENT THAN THE NEXT PERSON, WHICH MEANS I CAN LEARN IT, TOO.”
2- “EVERY SINGLE EXCUSE I HAVE IS VALID, BUT THAT STILL ISN’T GOING TO GIVE ME THE RESULTS THAT I WANT.”
Our excuses, and their validity, will not change the circumstances. Knowing the reasons why we aren’t successful will not empower us to move beyond our excuses. It is doing WHATEVER it takes, CONSISTENTLY, that will empower us to create ANYTHING, regardless of our valid reasons why we can’t. Using the word, “YET,” is EMPOWERING. It removes us from a victim state and transitions us into a state of strength, capability, and creation.
We are smart. We are capable. We are responsible. We are powerful. We are strong. We are resilient. We are adaptable. We can learn to do ANYTHING, given a long enough time line and an honest desire. If we don’t accomplish something, no matter what it is, it is because we choose not to, or because we don’t truly want to.
Today I will remember to use the word, “YET.”
The first time I was introduced to this concept was on an interview featuring Carol Dweck, who is the author of my favorite book of all time, MINDSET. I highly recommend buying the book ASAP, and reading it or listening to it often. Here is the interview I watched, on the show, IMPACT THEORY, on YouTube:
One of my favorite documentaries that serves as an EXCELLENT reminder and perspective upgrade EVERY time i view and listen to it is called, WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW. Even though it was released in 2004, it is entertaining and serves as a useful mind-expansion tool. I highly recommend finding and watching it.
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Remember: Mindset matters. Character counts. That which we choose to consistently focus on is what EXPANDS in our lives. WE CREATE our realities.