But what if you could?

The phrase “I can’t” is a disease.

TBH, there is not much that upsets me more than someone immediately responding “we can’t do that” or “that’s not possible” or “I can’t” in a conversation.

Oh, how do you know? …but what if you could?

Seven years ago, I really wanted to go to New York to take some courses that I thought would advance my career.

My immediate reaction when I came up with the idea was, “it would be so cool to do something like that, but I can’t.” I have a business. An office. Kids at home. Responsibilities.

Then, the idea crept into my dreams.

I saw myself sitting on the grass near the Brooklyn Bridge on a hot summer day. Biking around the city with kids in tow. Eating those freaking delicious roasted street nuts.

So, I started thinking “what if I could?”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was completely feasible.

I didn’t really need to report to my office every day. I could even shut it down if my team wanted to work from home during that time, too.

My kids didn’t really need to be surrounded by all of their stuff every day. And wouldn’t they have an incredible experience seeing the city for a month?

I didn’t need to stay in a five-star hotel. A one-bedroom Airbnb would do.

And so, I did.

That summer, and the summer after, we spent a little more than a month in Brooklyn. We packed as much as we could in a couple suitcases and drove to the city. We found a reliable babysitter for the mornings. Spent each afternoon exploring every inch of the city. Went back to work at night.

These trips awakened a sense of wonder and curiosity that wasn’t there before—or if it was, I didn’t know about it. And the strong desire to travel regularly that I still have today.

My mind could have easily shut down this entire experience before it even started.

In fact, it almost did.

I challenge you to start reframing what is possible in your mind. Ask yourself, “but what if I could?”

If you don’t have the skills you need to complete something, what if you could gain them? How might you go about doing so?

If a system at work doesn’t function the way you think it should, what if it could? What would that look like? Who would you need help or buy-in from? What is the path to make change?

If you think there is anything in the world you can’t have because you’re not good enough, rich enough, successful enough, or any other limiting belief…

What if I told you that you could have everything you ever dreamed of?

The first step is opening your mind to what is possible. And knowing that only you can make things happen for yourself.

Start today.

Photo: Arri & Olivia looking at New York from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Summer 2015.

#inspiration #personaldevelopment #mindset