Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

As you begin the new year, it’s likely that you have adopted the ancient tradition of the new year’s resolution. Four thousand years ago the Babylonians sacrificed to their gods and promised to repay their debts and to return borrowed objects. 

Later on, Julius Caesar began each new trip around the sun by requiring the Roman people to make their promises of good conduct that should last the entirety of the year. 

Then Christians adopted the practice of new year’s resolutions, but instead of orgies and sacrifices, they would hold all night “watch parties” where they would pray and read hymns. A practice that persists in many Christian churches today. 

But even if you adopt this sacred practice for something other than a religious tradition, it’s likely you have resolved or determined upon an action, course of action, method, or procedure to improve yourself in the new year. 

But here is the cold hard truth: 80% of resolutions will suffer at the altar of attrition before February. But they don’t have to become casualties at the hands of our fears and lack of discipline.

Here is one resolution that can change the landscape of your new year.

Resolve to make “I can” your default affirmation. Because

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

One story I enjoy reading to my daughter is the story of The Little Engine That Could. If you’ve never heard the complete story I encourage you to click the link and listen to it. I like the story because it illustrates how our beliefs are formed from a simple thought

There is a human propensity to be right. We avoid learning so as not to acknowledge our ignorance. We resist changing our mind so we can’t be wrong. We sabotage what could be if only to prove to ourselves that deep down we knew we couldn’t. Our ability to follow through rides on the sharpest of blades. Because there’s a stronger human proclivity for adventure. This is why we’re frustrated when we settle or give up. We beat ourselves up because of our ignorance. We default to what’s easy because at least we were right. And we wait for the start of something new while cursing where we are because the mundane doesn’t provide the same hope as change. And we quietly say to ourselves, well if “I can’t” change at least “I can” remain the same. But we don’t remain. We are always moving toward a stronger belief about ourselves.  

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

It was the first engine carrying the load which sets this story on track. Her spirit was willing, yet her body lacked the ability to act. 

Enter the shiny new object. A  train with many miles to spare. Surely it’s newness of the engine would relish such a noble cause. But the newness was fleeting. And the purpose, too dull. Though trends provide opportunity they cannot bring hope beyond the February grind. The new workout tech, the fancy new shoes or the next diet will not change an inferior belief of what’s possible.

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

Once the newness has warn off we see a big strong engine. An engine that could easily change the plight of the toys. The freight engine has pulled big trains loaded with big machines over big mountains. But not just any machines. These machines print books and newspapers for grown-ups to read. A very important engine indeed. The ease with which he could accomplish their dreams. The fast track to success. Going from tuck to the final destination in one simple pull. But beware of the ostentatious. And scorn not the days of simple beginnings. There’s no quick fix. No skipping the basics to accelerate the process. There’s no pill, only will and no easy way out. Only the daunting reward of what could be if you choose not to give up. As the great theologian Martin Luther said, “what will you do in the mundane days of faithfulness?” 

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

By the time you’ve convinced yourself this to be true, a third engine called willpower comes along, running on fumes. But WillPower can only take you so far before it needs to recharge. If you spend it on things with little reward, things that don’t fuel your passion or are lower in priority, there won’t be enough power for those things you love. Without that power we become like the old engine repeating to ourselves over and over again: I cannot, I cannot, I cannot. And after just a short time, after all you’ve been through,  you’ll find yet again you believe that it’s true.

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

But there is something beyond willpower that changes our resolve. It fuels our drive, transforms our imagination, and improves our ability to act. BELIEF! But it isn’t something that you gather from outside yourself. It begins with a thought. I think I can. It moves to a word. I think I can. It becomes a meditation. I think I can. I think I can. It’s recycled as a thought. I think I can. Until it becomes an in action. I think I can. I think I can. That action turns into observation. I think I can. Which feeds the imagination. I think I can. I think I can. Until it becomes our belief. I thought I could. And it becomes who we are. I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

So, you have a goal. Great! You bought the latest gadget and joined the coolest group of friends. Your willpower is high and you’re determined that this time things will be different. 

Before moving on, take a moment to assess where you are. If you’re down, what tripped you up? What external motivators are you putting false hope in? What preconceived notions are you clinging to? Are you able to identify the victories in your life? 

These are important questions to meditate on. They can help guide you to the beliefs you have about yourself that may be limiting you. Inaccurate beliefs produce hesitation, halt progress and steer you toward complacency. What you believe about yourself will reveal itself in your daily habits until you envision a new outcome.

But how do you envision a future you’ve never been to? 

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right

First, you must understand you are a goal striving being. That comes alive when striving for a goal. And your mind must get there before you ever arrive. You must determine why before ever knowing how.And you must move beyond your present comfort to a future hope. The winds of change must not deter nor define who you are.

The mind is in constant production. Creating a movie based on where you find yourself at present, the things you’re seeing around you, the smells in the air, the voices your listening to, the things you taste, what you feel around you, and it is continually influencing your feelings based on all the information you’re consuming each and every second.

But you’re designed to take these thoughts captive. By replacing them with more noble pictures. You can form a new picture of yourself and how you’d like to be. You can picture yourself acting and reacting according to your goals. You can capture the feeling of victory and become nostalgic for future moments of gratitude. And you can rest knowing that you are capable. Our senses help solidify our experiences whether good or bad. We must learn to sift through the moments that have created our present reality and be able to envision a preferable future. 

Whether you say “I can’t” or “I can” you’re right