The can't vs won't mindset tricks

When it comes to our limiting beliefs, there are 3 primary things that stand in our way according to the author of Everything Is Figureoutable, Marie Foleo, they are: our beliefs, our fears, and our mindset.

But no need to worry friend, cause your girl here has listed below a three-step plan to access your inner potential:

1. Change your belief system.

The most POWERFUL words you can say are the ones that you say to yourself. It can sound like this: I'm not enough, I don't have the time, money, or belief in myself to do what I want. With these statements, you end up making them all true by not doing any of them at all.

"If you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you’re right” ~ Henry Ford

That belief is the first thing that holds most people back from going after their dreams. The belief in YOU is the first step in taking charge of your mindset—if you step into it, everything else will become available to you.

2. Step into your fears.

Once you step into changing your belief system, the next limiting belief that will probably come up for you is fear. Research shows that once people are able to realize that anything and everything can be possible for them, they tend to let fear creep in which keeps them stuck. This fear is what holds your dreams hostage.

“It can be kind of scary, because you’re like, "What do I now do?". The secret to this is to seek support, learn from others, and create a strategic plan on how to move towards your goals and dreams.

One of my powerhacks I share with my clients is to let your fear be your GPS for where your intuition is guiding you. When you're feeling fear creep in, let that be your sign that what you seek is also seeking you, so pay close attention to the signs.

3. Adopt a new mindset.

Once you’ve changed your belief system and reframed how to step into your fear, the third step in achieving your goals and dreams is to adopt a new positive mindset that avoids self-limiting excuses.

There are two words that can stop you from achieving your next level of success, can’t vs. won’t”. In theory, 99% of the time, when any of us say we can’t do something, can’t is actually a euphemism for won’t. And what does won’t mean for you? It means you're not willing. You don’t really want to. It’s not enough of a priority for you to step into the uncomfortable. It’s not important enough. We don’t want to go through the discomfort. We don’t want to go through the risk.

When I started my business, I had so many fears and insecurities come up. Fears that I didn't even know I had. But my dream was bigger than my fears so I sought out support on how to navigate the unknown. I also had an opportunity to expand my business but kept saying I had no time to focus on that project, but yet, I mysteriously found time to binge-watch a new favorite show on Netflix.

Whenever you find yourself saying things like, “I can’t find the time to pursue my dreams,” or, “I can’t workout because I don’t have the time,” or, “I can’t speak up for myself—no one will listen to what I have to say,” these statements are limiting you without you even realizing it.

If you replace can’t with won’t, what you get from that is the opportunity to start showing up authentically. “We don’t really want to. It’s not a high enough priority. Facing that fact doesn’t make us lazy or bad or unambitious. It makes us honest. And from that place, we can take full responsibility for how we’re spending our most precious resources of time and effort, and attention.

Replacing can’t with won’t puts you back in a position of power so you’re no longer a victim of your circumstances.

When you remove the excuses that had you playing small, you get to empower yourself to make better choices, You start to go, Hmm, how am I spending my time from moment to moment? Is this really aligned with where I say I want to go? And if not, what changes am I willing to make even if they make me uncomfortable, even if they force me to break some bad habits?”

This new mindset may lead to difficult conversations, letting go of some responsibilities, resetting boundaries, and saying no to things. If you really want to design a life you desire, then that’s the price of admission you got to pay.