“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
This is a famous quote from Henry Ford and no truer words have been spoken. Yet so many of us still walk around believing we can’t do the things we want to. We convince ourselves we ought to just play it safe and try to forget about our dreams because they seem too big or too far out of reach.
Where does this come from? How do we start to think this way?
When we are young, we don’t have these doubts. We believe in ourselves, we believe we can do anything we want. We have many dreams about who we’ll become and what we’ll do with our lives.
But, then we start hearing the words “no” and “can’t” from the people around us – usually adults.
We start to absorb those limiting beliefs. We start believing in those ideas and doubting our ability to fulfill our dreams. Instead of thinking what if I can do what I want? We think what if I can’t do what I want? We start to think about potential future outcomes with this formula: What if + negative consequence. This only serves to fuel our dwindling belief in ourselves.
But, there is another way to look at all of this. It’s incredibly simple, yet so many of us forget to even give it a moment of contemplation. Flip it on its head! What if I can? What if I do believe in myself? What if I do believe I can? Yes, the formula works both ways. We can choose to turn it around and adopt this version of it: What if + positive consequence.
If we just allow ourselves to consider the positive outcomes and the belief that we can do what we want, suddenly unlimited potential opens up. We may even find the courage to take a chance and explore some of the amazing possibilities if we come from the belief that we can.
Of course, it’s not easy because others may quickly dampen our new-found positivity and remind us that we can’t. Or, they may shake our confidence by peppering us with questions about how we’ll do it and why we think we can. Don’t be deterred. If this happens, it’s not about you; their questions are rooted in their own lack of self-belief.
Remember, if we allow others to determine our beliefs about ourselves, we’re giving up control of our lives. And, if we’re waiting for other people to determine our path or present us with a plan for who or what we are to be in our life, we’ll be waiting a long time.
Only you can decide what’s right for you. Only you can decide to believe in yourself. Only you can decide to consider the “what if” positive outcomes. And, only you can tell yourself, I can. Start today. Believe in yourself. Give yourself a chance. Believe you can and you will!
