5 Steps to Take Before You Say I Can’t

My son and a few of his friends were hanging out in the kitchen one evening last week keeping up their nightly tradition of finishing off all the leftovers and the cereal and milk. I overheard one of them say this quote by Henry Ford …

Whether you think that you can or you can’t … you are often right.

At the time, I’d been trying to decide if I could do a 10-mile trail run this past weekend. I’ve heard the quote many times, but hearing it come from a teenager was the kick I needed. I did the run and not only lived to tell about it, but enjoyed it.

This has me thinking of other things that I wrestle with, but often talk myself out of it before even attempting, because I assume I can’t. And not trying proves me right, because if I don’t try, I can’t.

I know I’m not alone in this because I often hear people say …

I can’t do …

I could never …

There’s no use trying…

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What you tell yourself is usually right … so stop saying I can’t!

Whatever the issue is … whether it concerns your body, mind or spirit … give yourself  credit and try the steps below before you assume you can’t.

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Think

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Taking time to think is too often overlooked. Maybe it’s our instant gratification world, but too often we answer before we seriously think about something. I’m not an unrealistic optimist who thinks anyone can do anything, but why do you think you can or you can’t? What ‘voices’ are you listening to? Maybe you can, maybe you can’t … but the only way you’ll have an honest answer is by researching.

Research

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Research is not reserved for scientists. Thanks to the internet, we can research any topic our heart desires. A few years after my accident, I dreamt of running again, but I wasn’t sure if my body could handle it. Instead of simply saying I can’t, I researched. I read medical reports about how gently nudging our bodies to do more can help them heal. I also read reports that didn’t recommend running with injuries like mine. This helped me honestly process the pros and cons. I read stories of people overcoming severe physical injuries and doing things doctors said they couldn’t do. (all but one of my doctors had told me running was a thing of my past)

Process

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After researching, I didn’t jump up and go for a 5-mile run. I thought about it. I asked questions. I read some more,  But I couldn’t just rely on reports, I had to know my body. I tested it by going for walks … increasing the distance each time. To my surprise my body healed more. I asked opinions from other doctors. One doctor’s advice was priceless, “Your body was beat up, so you have to be cautious, but you’ve done what you need to help it recover well. If you want to try running, try it. Trust yourself — you know your body better than anyone else. Don’t allow what others say to hold you back.”

Plan

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Anyone can create a plan, even if it’s not a skill you were born with and/or taught growing up. Researching and processing gives you the information you need to plan. You take what worked and what didn’t work for others to create a plan that fits you … knowing that the plan will probably need to be adjusted. When I realized running might be a possibility, I began planning. I increased my walks. I did stretches. I ate better. I knew it would be a slow process, so I tried to mentally prepare myself. 

Do

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Each of the above steps is important, but there comes a time when you must do. You cannot keep thinking about it and/or modifying the plan until it is perfect. There is no perfect plan. You begin by taking baby steps, adjusting your plan as needed. I began running by shuffling my feet for 30 seconds at a time, then slowly increasing the time. After a few weeks, my body felt too aching, so I took two weeks off. Then I slowly tried it again. My body felt better … the rest was exactly what I needed. I adjusted my plan to include more rest days. I’ve been back to running for three years now and my body continues to get stronger.

Do. Evaluate. Modify. Adjust. Try again!

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Remember what you tell yourself is usually right, so instead of automatically saying I can’t … do the research and give yourself an honest answer. There are some things that after an honest  evaluation, you might find that you can do and some others that you can’t. My singing not only makes others cry, it even makes me cry … so therefore I can’t sing in a musical and won’t waste my time trying. Instead I’ll go for a run and listen to the birds sing.

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Do you automatically respond with I can or I can’t instead of thinking it through? Is there something that you used to think you can’t do … but now you can?