Here are some common things we say:
I can’t lose weight.
I can’t have supper with you tonight.
I can’t get that project done on time.
I can’t be happy.
Here are some financial (and common) things we say:
I can’t pay off my debt.
I can’t save money.
I can’t budget.
I can’t make more money.
I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.
Does that sound familiar?
We say “I can’t” to ourselves all the time.
And in some weird way, it makes us feel better — like we become exempt from the trouble because we simply can’t do it.
But you and I both know, “I can’t” is just an excuse.
Really: I can’t = I won’t.
Ouch, that doesn’t sound so good, right?
Here’s an idea.
Instead of I can’t, try “I can if…”
Permit yourself to dig deeper.
I can if _____________________________.
(Go ahead, try it. Fill in the blank.)
What would happen if you became a “can-if” person?
Like everything is figureoutable.
How would your world look?
Could something so simple have a profound effect on your finances and your life?
I know it does.
Do you?
Tell me in the comments below.
I like this blog post Avraham. I always have a negative outlook on my finances and health. I constantly think that I can’t do it. Your idea of “I can if” sounds so positive. I just tried it out for my debt and finally feel positive about it.
Caroline, thank you for trying it out. I’m glad that it worked. Now you just got to take that positivity and make it happen. 😉
I can take control of my finances if…
– I have a budget system in place
– I respect my money more
– I can get my husband on board
– I hire Avraham
Thanks for writing this Avraham.
Kitty, the last one’s my favourate. LOL!
Okay, seriously, what does “respect money more” look like to you?
It means not to spend more than what you are blessed with. Respect what is yours and don’t take what is not yours. And by that I mean not relying on my credit cards.
Yes, Kitty. Love it!
I loved this post, Abraham! A shift in mindset can make all the difference. Thanks for the reminder. I can if… I am brave enough to set my financial goals without always knowing the answers to start with. My goals can also evolve as I get financially smarter!
“Brave enough to set my financial goals without always knowing the answers to start with.” Well said.
Thanks for your contribution Terumi!
Another great post Avraham. The power of positive thinking. The brain truly is the strongest part of our body. Continued success.
Ira, I love how you said: “the brain truly is the strongest part of our body.”
It’s so true!
Avraham, this is very interesting… I suspect our brains are built to default to the negative. Our first response is fear of what might happen, what we can’t do. Your suggestion is a clever way of short-circuiting this limitation by helping us to build a new habit. I’m thinking about all the things I told myself “I can’t do”. A good example is my fear of not being able to make sense of spreadsheets. I told myself that ‘if’ I work with somebody who is good with them and copy what they do, I’ll overcome that fear. And it is working, slowly, but it’s working.
The plain fact is that we have to be willing to respond differently to something we find challenging. And that’s why your suggestion is so powerful – no talent required, just a willingness to try something different.
Of course Nicholas, spreadsheets! I think the majority of people fear them. Thanks sharing that.
And you’re right about having the “willingness to try something different.” That’s one of the main ingredients in being successful with budgeting — and most things in life.
What if the “willingness to try something different” is a talent itself? How would that change our perspectives? How could we build that talent?
I’m curious to hear your thoughts…