a hack to empower ourselves…
The next time insecurity rears its ugly head, instead of being paralyzed by it, we can use that very feeling as the trigger to tack on the word yet. This word will make all the difference in our lives.
It takes things from the world of the perpetual and permanent to the world of temporary and transient.
We may have an easy time believing that winning isn’t forever, but somehow we often fail to recognize that loss and failure are equally temporary.
So…
Once we realize that we can get good at anything that we’re willing to put the time into, insecurity loses its power.
By remembering that we’re simply not good at something yet, we remember that we are in control. We can decide to get good whenever we want.
The key to making this work for us is truly believing the intoxicating idea that we can acquire any skill to which we set your mind.
Believing the opposite, that today’s version of ourselves is the sum total of who we will ever be, anchors us to insecurity.
So don’t focus on what you’re not good at today. Focus on what you need to do to get good at mastering the skill you’re missing. This moves your mind from the self-defeating loop of not being good enough, to the empowered mindset of the learner.
4 Comments
My list of “what I have not done yet” may be too long for this comment box. I have not written a meaningful book…yet. My contention is that anything that I might say about education, for example, has already been said.
It seems likely that someone may respond, “You could/should tell your story.” However, I am not sure that would interest anybody but me. Of course, there is always “How would I remember a story that spans nearly 75 years?” There is not a high degree of likelihood that the book will appear.
I haven’t traveled to Germany…yet. Since I have taught German, albeit forty years ago, and have German roots (my paternal grandmother spoke, read and wrote German), I have wanted to go to Germany. I can’t see this “yet” being satisfied any sooner than the first.
However, it was fun to think about! Thank you for the invitation for discussion.
Russ, it’s fun for me to see what sparks folks’ thoughts! Thanks for sharing.
“Yet” is a word I’ve used in my vocabulary for years, but frankly more to encourage others than to lighten my own sense of decline as I honor the aging process in myself. I hear myself saying “still” as in “I can still do…”, which inspires gratitude for all that is readily available to me today. I will find more opportunities to use the word “yet” for myself.
Your past encouragement to limit the word “just” in our vocabulary as an unconscious means of diminishing whatever we may be describing (i.e., just resting, just trying, just imagining), has stayed with me since that long ago talk at Unity of Walla Walla, and I thank you for it each time I realize I’m not using it anymore. Thanks Pat. I love your words of wisdom.
Barbara, so good to hear from you and to know that your remember that Unity talk tickles my soul! Words are so powerful AND so much fun! Thanks for sharing your use of “still”-I’ll be incorporating it into my thinking as I too am grateful for what I can “still” do!