Every single day, whether we fully comprehend its potential or not, life offers us various options.
Some decisions are routine, other opportunities are significant. But we encounter them on daily basis.
Each carries with it the potential to shape our future. As we navigate these selections, there’s a phrase that, unfortunately, slips out all too often: “I can’t.”
Think about how often this phrase echoes in our thoughts and conversations.
“I can’t drop some pounds.” “I can’t declutter my home.” “I can’t exercise repeatedly.”
“I can’t handle this job.” “I can’t make time for myself.” “I can’t get out of debt.”
And we also utter this phrase on matters that weigh deeply on our hearts:
“I can’t forgive,” “I can’t rebuild this relationship.” “I can’t move past this pain.”
But here’s the issue, each time we use the phrase “I can’t,” we make the specified change in our lives almost not possible to really achieve!
Every time we are saying, and even think, the phrase, “I can’t”, we’re not merely expressing the load of the challenge (and opportunity) in front of us, we’re essentially closing the door on it becoming a future reality.
What if, fairly than saying “I can’t”, we began framing our thoughts and asking, “How can I?” as an alternative.
This isn’t only a play on words. It’s a fundamental shift in our mindset toward life change and opportunity!
“I can’t” results in despondency. “How can I?” results in opportunity.
“How can I?” moves us from feeling defeated and stuck to a spot of hope and exploration.
It acknowledges the change is difficult, however the query sparks a curiosity inside us to seek out the potential paths available to make it a reality.
Take, for example, the goal of eating healthier. “I just can’t eat healthy, I like sweets an excessive amount of” immediately closes the door to life change. On the opposite hand, “How can I eat more healthy?” opens up a world of opportunity. Even if we keep some sweets in our weight loss plan, the query immediately opens ourselves as much as small changes that we will make in our each day lives that move us closer to that ideal.
Consider the dream of decluttering your property. “I can’t declutter, I’m too sentimental” stops us in our tracks. “How can I declutter—despite the fact that I’m a sentimental person,” alternatively, immediately crafts a Google search that probably leads to 20 alternative ways for a sentimental person to start decluttering.
But greater than that, what’s truly wonderful about “How can I?” is its inherent honesty.
It doesn’t mean we mechanically know the answer to the issue. Just the alternative, it immediately admits now we have no idea methods to solve the issue! It expresses a desire to make it occur and the willingness, humility, and resolve to seek out an answer. It sets in motion the wheels of change, encouraging us to seek out resources, ask others, and draw strength from those that have gone before.
And the change in phrasing offers potential in even the weightiest of changes we desire in our lives.
“I can’t forgive her, not after what she did,” closes the book on forgiveness. “How can I forgive her—even after what she did to me,” alternatively, opens to the primary page of methods to relieve the load of carrying such hurt for therefore long.
Life presents obstacles each large and small. While it’s human nature to feel overwhelmed or defeated at times, these moments don’t must define our entire journey.
Problems could be overcome. Life change, in each big and small ways, could be experienced.
A straightforward shift from considering “I can’t” to considering “How can I?” turns obstacles into opportunities, providing a fresh lens through which we view life’s challenges.
So, if there’s a change, an improvement, or a dream you’ve given up on as now not being possible, regardless of how big or intimidating it is likely to be, ask yourself today: “How can I make this a reality?”
You is likely to be surprised who you turn into.
