When you come into this world, you begin to form beliefs about how the world operates.
For instance, you may discover that if you cry, someone will feed you.
If you have a particular expression on your face, someone will play with you.
Day by day you begin to form cause and effect connections between your actions and other's reactions.
Some of what you come to believe is changeable.
When you are three and you sneak into the cookie jar, you probably expect to get yelled at if caught.
As an adult, you have a cookie, and may have a passing thought about it spoiling your dinner or adding fat to your body, but you are probably not expecting mom to yell at you.
There are, however, what are called core beliefs.
These are foundational to how your approach life.
One such core dictum is "I can...
" Think about what happens in your life if you believe you can.
Take about 60 seconds and list all the things you "can" do.
"I can drive.
" "I can learn.
" "I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.
" Someone with what is often called a "can do" attitude finds a way to tackle any problem, resolve any issue.
That person is energetic, determined and motivated.
Projects are begun and finished.
The "can do" person is the "go to" person.
What happens if you believe, "I can't...
?"Think about "I can't...
" and feel the immobility of being caught up in that statement.
"I can't finish projects.
" "I can't learn math.
" "I can't find someone to love me.
" The "I can...
" person finds solutions and possibilities.
What others consider failures, the "I can" person considers learning opportunities, opportunities for problem solving, adventures.
The "I can't" person sees only roadblocks.
When you come face to face with the feeling "I can't...
," take a moment and ask yourself, "How old do I feel?" The age that pops into your head is the age of the core wound which convinced you, "I can't...
" Healing that wound may very well move you from "I can't...
" to "I can...
"