Procrastinators always have an excuse and the word ‘can’t’ is usually the culprit. With the right mindset, positive attitude, and a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, it’s easy to stop procrastinating – the only thing that is holding you back is yourself.
By saying you can’t do something, you’re already doubting yourself, submitting to defeat, and you’re making that barrier around your life tighter – so remove that word for good.
Attitude Is Like A Tattoo
Your attitude is everything; it’s your reason, your why and how, your facial expression, emotions, body language, and potentially the end result. How you approach an opportunity, and the result of it, is solely based on you – not your boss or your co-worker or friend.
If you enter a business meeting with a sour attitude, that negative energy can spread like wildfire. People can feel it. This is not an impression you want to leave.
Now imagine you enter a business meeting with a positive attitude, that whatever happens in here is going to be your result, in your control, not someone else’s. Of course, we can’t always win, but even if the outcome is negative, your attitude and perception can turn it into a positive.
It’s much better to be known for your positive attitude – your poise, your energy, the reason why things go so well because you are able to maintain such character. A negative attitude is easy. It’s easy to complain, it’s easy to be mad, and it’s even easier to do nothing to change it.
Your attitude is like a tattoo because you wear it. People can see it and sometimes, they will judge you on it. If you maintain a negative attitude, then it is permanent until you change it.
Believe You Can Do It
Do you know why most people say “can’t” and doubt themselves before trying anything?
It’s our lack of self-confidence and fear on many different levels. The one thing we have to purge from ourselves is fear – fear of bad results, fear of change, fear of denial, fear of loss, the fear that makes us worry and lose sleep. Worrying is the same as going outside with an umbrella, waiting for rain to hit it. Stop worrying and move on.
Confidence is fragile: It builds up slowly, but can shatter like glass. Project your confidence and energy into believing in yourself. This is a very important and groundbreaking step – one that is usually the hardest to take. Start telling yourself you can do something, anything, and you will do it the best to your ability. Remove doubt, remove fear, and stick with positive energy.
Embrace Failure
Do not fear failure. Do not run away from it. Face it, learn from it, grow, and take action. Just remember: You will never know success if you have never failed.
Your confidence will bolster after embracing these facts. You will be immune to demoralising results, and instead you will find ways to fix it, improve upon it, and make it better than before. You will learn to never say “can’t,” and will realise how many more opportunities you can create by removing that one word.
Start Making the Change
But starting the process of change can be challenging.
It’s because what we’re doing is unlearning what we know. We are used to doing things a certain way, and chances are we’ve been doing them for years.
So here are some ways that I avoid using the word “can’t”, and actually take the steps to put forth change in your life.
Write down What You Want to Change
Write it on post-its, notecards, whatever makes you comfortable – something you will always see.
Stop Yourself from Saying the Forbidden Word
Treat the word “can’t” as the worst word you can possibly use. Stop yourself from saying it, mid-sentence if you must, and turn your whole perspective around – you can do it, you will do it, and nothing is impossible!
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
You think this change will be overnight? No way. This is a practice. Something you’re going to be doing for the rest of your life.
Practice this everyday, a little at a time, and before you know it, the word ‘can’t’ will not be part of your language.
Do Anything That Can Relieve Your Uncertainty
Sometimes, we think we can’t do something because the whole idea of it seems too large. We skip the small steps in our head and only focus on the end.
Before you say you can’t do something, rewind and slow down a little bit. Focus on what the first step is, then the next. Take it a step at a time, and before you know it you will have done something you previously thought you couldn’t do.
Final Thoughts
Once you start noticing changes in yourself, you’ll realise opportunities are everywhere and procrastination will not get anywhere you need to be.
