“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
John Wooden
I really love this quote as I’ve been thinking a lot lately on the phrase “focus on the solution, not on the problem” which was one of the quotes from last week. It is amazing how easy it is to allow oneself to focus on why things can’t be done, as opposed to what can be. It drives me crazy to hear, “that will never work” or “oh, I can’t do that.” Not that I haven’t been guilty of it myself more than a few times… How do you flip this around when it comes up?
I’ve found that focusing on one simple question can reframe the thinking when I, or others, get caught in the “excuses trap.” Because let’s face it, if you are focused on what you cannot do, you are making excuses. The question is this; “What one thing can I do to create change in this situation?”
Success in anything requires taking ownership and finding the path forward. Getting caught up in the reason why something won’t work is a guaranteed way to get bogged down and achieve less than you are capable.
