Turning ‘can’t’ into ‘can’

You wake up early wanting to go for a run or a walk, but there is a hint of autumn in the air. “I can’t go outside without a jacket because it’s too cold” is a common natural reaction when the thermometer reading drops a little. But, how often do we say ‘I can’t do this’, or ‘we can’t do that’, without actually stopping and thinking about why we can’t? Does ‘can’t’ exist in reality, or just in our minds?

The human comfort zone

As humans, we are creatures of habit and we can end up living within our comfort zones. However, always being within our comfort zones may stop us from maintaining and developing a free, interested, curious and open mind, which in turn can result in us losing the ability to think and act freely, rationally and creatively. In turn, we may lose the opportunity to try new things.

As we get older we start to form views of the world based on what we are taught and the environment around us. Some of this is important for survival (e.g. I can’t step off the pavement right now because a lorry is coming!). However, we can also the develop the habit of acquiring views that are merely other peoples’ views, particularly when absorbed in a ‘sponge-like’ manner. Let’s take the following phrases for example: ’you can’t do that, nobody would ever agree to that’, or ‘you shouldn’t do that, it ’s just a pipe dream and you’re better off sticking with this’. How often do these kind of views stop us from setting out on doing something productive, creative, rewarding or inspiring because we take someone else’s view at face value without considering first, whether that view is totally rational? Moreover, how often do these views stop us from embarking on helping in, or finding a solution to, a difficult situation, be it work or otherwise? It may be more often than we think.

The limits of processes

Many forms of work today involve following processes and norms, many of which are useful and helpful. However, there is always a need for new ideas and creativity in all walks of life in order to move forward and develop. Moreover,  it is only by challenging processes and norms and their rationality that allows new ideas and creativity to flourish.

Of course, this needs freedom of expression, dialogue, co-operation and open-mindedness by all concerned, in order to take new ideas forward in a collaborative way. But that is exactly where the word ‘can’t’ can be so restrictive.

A key to a new door

Turning ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can if…’ opens the door to creativity, to solution finding, co-operation and helpfulness. It just requires us to stop, think rationally and think freely without fear. It also allows us to give of ourselves and offer compromise in difficult situations. Saying ‘can’t’ slams the door shut on so much potential and possibility. Opening that door a little, may result in the achievement of so much more.

Of course, the above doesn’t help you to step off the pavement when there is a lorry coming, or does it?….Perhaps you can once the lorry has passed if there is no more traffic coming!