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“I Can’t” (The Voice, Part 9)

In spin class yesterday, I heard this:

“You can do so much more than you give yourself credit for.”

(Or something like that.  I mean the music is loud and I am exhausted.)

But I got to thinking.  (Because it’s easier than focusing on pedaling) and I thought, you know it’s true that we don’t know what we can do if we haven’t tried it.  This is a universal truth because it even has a well-known saying:

“You never know until you try.”

But it is useful to hear this a lot of different ways because it is so important.  What we think we can do – in our heads – often dictates our actions.  The voice that we’ve been speaking of for many weeks now says a lot of different self-sabotaging things to us, not the least of which is, “I can’t.”  This seems to be a more common internal voice than, “Yes!  I’m sure you can!  You might fail, but go ahead and give it a try.  It will all work out!”

I am going to assert that if there is something you want to do and you have never tried it, the voice saying you CAN’T is NOT the truth.  It is remarkable what we CAN do.  It’s amazing.  Miraculous.

“If we did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

–Thomas Edison

And so try stuff.  Interrupt that crazy voice.  Say,

“Yeah I know you think I can’t but I’m gonna try.”

or

“Just watch me.”

or

“Let’s find out.”

or

“I know you’re scared.  It will be okay.”

And then do things, try things, play around, experiment, leap.

You may “fail,” but you will learn.  And more likely, you will astound yourself.

 

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About the Author

Picture of Cami McLaren

Cami McLaren

is the owner of McLaren Coaching. She has been coaching professionals and leaders since early 2008. She runs Transformative Coaching Essentials, a coach training program that produces first rate Professional Coaches and "Coach-Style Leaders." She coaches individually and works with organizations to improve communication, time management, productivity and ultimately bring greater results.

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