I could never…

This week, let’s THINK about when you say to yourself, “I could never…” Whatever the dream might be. Move alone to a new place, find a new job, leave a relationship, write a book – whatever it is.

We actually begin to form an opinion about what we’re capable of at a really young age, and it might not just be what someone tells you about our abilities, but what is role modeled inside the family.

This ‘world view’ sends signals to a child about what they can hope to accomplish, about the ability to make smart decisions, about how they should behave as an adult. And much the same picture is projected from generation to generation because it is what we carry forward.

Many women then move into relationships where the partner’s world view is similar or where their intellect or ability is challenged in subtle ways, causing beliefs to be embedded further. THEN there is social programming throughout our lives around what women, and especially midlife women, should believe about themselves.

What I’m sharing with you is that when you say, “I could never….” the belief is coming from bits of information that you’ve assimilated. It is NOT REALITY.

Most of us are born with at least an average intelligence and have the ability to learn almost anything that we put our mind to. But you won’t do that if you don’t first have the belief that you are CAPABLE of it.

When this thought bubbles up for you, I want you to try replacing it with something like “I can learn anything I need to”, “I am smarter than I’ve ever given myself credit for”.

It really comes down to trusting yourself to figure out a new thing (being willing to make a few mistakes) and knowing that you are capable of handling any outcome of a choice you make.

This perspective has changed not only the way I make decisions, but what I believe about myself, and it can do the same for you.