There's No Such Thing As "I Can't"

Principle 2: There's no such thing as "I can't"

this is a continuation of my post last Friday about my Highschool days in ROTC.

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”

You see, early in my days of being in the program I learned quickly that there was no such thing as "I can't"

they wanted the word removed from your vocabulary because it set up a negative feedback loop for you.

the only acceptable thing was a can-do attitude. Nothing less.

Here's a story: Every Friday while I was there we had a PT test, meaning that we had to do a standard test to keep in good physical standing.

the test required 3 different modes of training to be passed and had levels to it,

the first sections being push-ups, the next being sit-ups, and finally, a mile run to top it off.

depending on how you scored during the test you would be awarded a ribbon for doing so well.

Every Friday was grueling for those who didn't exercise regularly.

I was part of that group, I would outdo myself in the push-ups, even in the sit-ups, but that mile run took the soul out of me, it was long, it felt like forever, and it was a giant mind battle the whole way round.

But it's not my journey I wanna talk about, its another kid.

This guy every Friday would only put in the minimum effort in all 3 sections, not only that, but he would always say to others and himself. "The mile is too hard, I can't do it."

It wasn't until one Friday morning when he came in and said the same exact thing again just like every Friday that my Commanding Officer had heard him.

and so did the Warrant (the teacher who lead the class)

He said the kid's name and asked: "why do you say that?, you know if you just don't stop running, I guarantee you pass."

the whole class fell silent, you could hear a pin drop.

and you know what he said in reply?

He gave every excuse known to man as to what reason he had to not pass the test, it was incredible to even listen to the whole thing looking back at it.

the teacher abruptly stopped him and said "Stop, you shouldn't think that way, if you tell yourself you can't do something, then you won't be able to do it. If you tell yourself you can, then you will, but stop telling yourself that you "can't" do certain things."

My Commanding Officer then stepped up and said: "I'm running with you today, you're passing this test."

The kid looked mortified like he had been sentenced to death by running.

and so we began our PT session, just the regular push-ups, and sit-ups.

Finally, it was time for the run.

Everyone laced up and was ready to start, all but the kid, he looked at our CO and said "I can't do it, it's so long"

to which our CO responded: "Just run with me, and don't stop"

Alas, the timer went off, we all went on our ways. after about 6-8mins most of the class had completed there mile, some being faster and some a little slower.

You know what's crazy tho? we all watched as our CO ran side by side with this kid giving him words of encouragement to keep pressing forward.

For the entire final lap of that guys run we watched, and then slowly one by one we joined them even though we were done.

I could see it on his face, it was the most intense run he had ever done, he was crying, even I was surprised.

And After 9min of running those laps, and running the final lap with the whole class behind him. He finished and passed the test.

We all cheered for him.

The fact of the matter is this. He believed who could not do something that he couldn't see himself doing, and because of his own limiting belief on himself, he was holding himself back. No one else, it was him.

It's the same for you, no matter what your current endeavor is. If you believe you can or can not, you are right either way.

My CO put the belief in that guy that he could do it, and so he did.

To those of you who have limiting beliefs or think you can't do something.

to you I say, you can break your boundary more.

Cheers.

~Tahseeb Bukhari