Can you think of a word that stops progress and personal growth more effectively than can’t? This word is a real killer. Let me give you a few examples of how this evil word does its destructive work.
“I can’t change the way I think”—and you’ve just closed the door to advancement that demands a change in your thinking. “I can’t do that”—and you’ve just killed the desire to try something that might lead to a valuable new skill. “I can’t do anything about the way I feel”—and you’ve just surrendered control of your thoughts to your fickle emotions. “That can’t be done”—and you’ve just doomed the lightbulb, the iPhone, the moonwalk, the airplane, heart and kidney transplants, even such a simple thing as the mousetrap: none of those were brought into being by “can’t” thinkers, were they?
I could go on and on, but I trust you’re getting the picture. Are you? It’s sad indeed how often, perhaps without realizing it, we let the deadly virus of “can’t” thinking enter our minds and poison our ambitions, hopes, and desires—not to mention our God-given potential to do and accomplish amazing things. The real kicker about “can’t” thinking is that it prevents us from even starting a thing, because once you’ve told yourself it can’t be done, there’s obviously no point in even trying. “Can’t” thinking is a close cousin to “what’s the use?” thinking. Both leave you sitting in the dust of the can-do folk. Just remember that if you think “I can” or “I can’t”, you’re always right.
What does it take to get out of this trap of “can’t” thinking?
- Admit you’re in it.
- Make up your mind you’ll fight it.
- Get on your knees and ask God to help you overcome it.
And then watch your life change!
‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? —Jesus (Mark 8:18)
Read what God says in Scripture, and “can’t” thinking won’t remain a problem in your life.