"All things are possible until they are proved impossible - even the impossible may only be so as of now." - Pearl Buck
Ever notice how easily one "no" can dissuade you from trying something? Think of how much we could accomplish if each time we heard no, we immediately re-framed it to "not right now" or "this wasn't the right person to talk to". Those simple substitutions for no would allow us to endlessly recycle ideas that were initially rejected, searching for a "yes".
I'm not encouraging anyone to surround themselves with uncritical people. I am suggesting that possibilities we'd like to explore often deserve more chance than we give them. The next time you re-frame a "no", let me and others know what you said to yourself instead.
About Me
- Pat Barton
- My most recent single release - "My True North" - is now available on Bandcamp. Open my profile and click on "audio clip".
This will be great with my students! In my classroom, failure is not an option, and so the students are only allowed to say, "I can't do this YET."
ReplyDeleteThanks for validating my point with them, Pat! I love the connections I am able to make with them because of your work on the Bell Curve. d.
d; Good to hear from you again and thanks for the incredibly affirming feedback. When my daughter was growing up I tried to help her re-frame each "I can't..." into "I'm having difficulty ...". She tells me (at 27) that coaching has stuck with her to this day.
DeleteThink of young children trying to get a "yes" out of their parents. How quickly kids learn which parent to approach on a certain issue, which line of persuasive reasoning to use, how to spot an opening when good feelings prevail, how to recognize when "no" means never, maybe or try me later. The young are masters of re-framing a "no."
ReplyDeleteSo why not harness your inner child? Remember that you are your own best advocate. Get out there and search for "yes."